The Stress of House Repair: Ways to Lessen It

House repair can be a daunting and stressful task. Moving from a newer four bedroom colonial to a smaller and older Cape Cod style house, the author has experienced the reality of house repair for the last five weeks. In this article, we discuss some effective ways to lessen the stress of working on a home.

Know Your Limits

Doing house repair projects yourself can save a lot of money, but it is not always the answer, especially if you are not too handy. Know your limits, and don’t take on complex projects that may add more stress than it’s worth. In such cases, it is better to call professionals and have them do the job.

Work Alongside a Pro

Working alongside a pro can give you a great learning experience. Ask the contractor if they would mind you shadowing them for a few hours each day, so you can learn some tricks and skills. From tiling to laying down flooring, a contractor can show you the ropes in no time.

Watch the Big Rocks

For significant projects like electrical and plumbing, it is best to hire someone who knows what they’re doing. Over-tightening a kitchen sink or playing with electrical currents can cause added stress down the road. Therefore, it’s always better to hire a professional to avoid such complications.

Anticipate Delays

Delays are inevitable even for the best of contractors. Weather, other open projects needing attention, or unexpected things can pop up during your house repair. If he tells you that it will take four days, add two more days, and you will not be surprised when the project lagged on.

Treat Yourself

House repair can cause a significant upheaval in your home, and it’s easy to feel guilty about indulging in treats. However, it’s essential to find ways to counterbalance the stress of being without the hub of your house. If your kitchen is being redone and you’ll be without a sink for a week, why not treat yourself to a dinner out every other night? By building the expense of eating out into your repair budget, you won’t feel guilty when ordering at your favorite restaurant.

Avoid Entertaining

While it’s nice to have people stop by to see the project in its various stages, entertaining during a house repair can be quite stressful. Cleaning up and preparing a meal can add to the workload and stress. An alternative could be to meet up with friends at a local park for a picnic or have a meal at your favorite restaurant.

Get into the Mind of your Contractor

It’s essential to get into the head of the person you’ve hired so you can understand their lifestyle and approach to things. Remember too that their standards of “finish work” may differ from yours, and you should state your expectations and repeat them with respect and tact.

Be Nice to Those You Hire

Offering small things like a cold drink on a hot day, coffee in the morning, or a newspaper at lunch can go a long way in building a positive relationship with the people you’ve hired. Getting along with those who are spending vast amounts of time in your house can ease the stress of the project.

Drop a Few Hints

Dropping a few positive hints can help keep things moving along and get more out of the process. Promising good referrals for the contractor or letting them know how great a new backsplash looks can motivate the contractor to work harder. You could also walk around with them, showing them other projects you may have in mind for the future.

Conclusion

House repair can be taxing both emotionally and physically, but with a little planning and forethought, you can reduce the workload and ease the stress. It’s essential to know your limits, work alongside a pro, and consider hiring professionals for significant projects. By anticipating delays, treating yourself, avoiding entertaining, and getting into the contractor’s mind, you can keep things running smoothly. Moreover, by being nice to the people you hire and dropping a few hints of positive feedback, you can create a good working relationship, lessen the stress of home repair, and improve the overall quality of the work.