A building/remodeling project is more than just blueprints, nails, and wood. Your project involves transforming your home and working within the delicate boundaries of family, lifestyle, and privacy. Here are some helpful tips for making your experience as stress-free as possible.
 

Put Safety First
Concern for the safety of your family and property is a prime concern for both of us. Taking positive steps to put safety first can allay fears and bring you peace of mind.

• Keep children out of harm’s way. Provide enough supervision for your children in a separate area of the home, and make sure they know not to enter the working area without an adult’s permission. If small children are present, discuss the use of physical barricades around the work area to keep out curious little ones.

• Disruption and noise can frighten and upset pets. Make sure to keep pets away from the working areas at all times. Alert us to your pet’s location, as well as your pet’s temperament.

• Protect valuables from dust and dirt. Even the cleanest construction site can generate enough dust to damage improperly protected valuables. Make sure to cover VCRs, TVs, computers, stereo equipment, etc.

Maintain Lines of Communication
It's important for you to remain personally involved in the project, its day-to-day progress, and its scheduling,  Use daily telephone and personal discussions as well as regular weekly and milestone meetings to discuss concerns honestly and openly. Keep written records of decisions so that both you and we can remember what was decided and what actions you  can expect.

If you’re concerned about an issue or item, let us know about it as soon as possible. Unresolved issues that are ignored or delayed can sometimes cause problems later in the process. Keep us accountable to you and your project -- that's what your Project Manager is there for.

Attend Builder-Requested Meetings
These review meetings are critical for evaluating construction progress and making important decisions that affect the project.

The meetings will be held at different milestones in your project’s schedule -- your builder will let you know when a milestone meeting is appropriate. The topics for these meetings can range from the locations of electrical outlets and light fixtures, to the placement of cabinet handles and drawer pulls, to the selection of appliances for a new kitchen.

Take a Mini-Vacation
The daily presence of workers, dust, and noise can make even the most resolved of homeowners feel stressed from time to time. One way to ease this is to take a mini-vacation once or twice during the project. It can be something small, like a weekend at a nearby hotel, or something more extravagant like a sports or spa package at a resort. Either way, getting away from the hassle and inconvenience of a remodeling project can refresh and revitalize you for the rest of the project.

Also, during periods of heavy construction, it might even be safer and less distracting to take your family on a mini-vacation. If, for example, you're having floors refinished, you'll need to vacate your home for several days to allow the finish to set and the fumes to dissipate. We will let you know when this approach can be a good idea.

Be Flexible
Usually, remodeling is a compromise between your dreams for a perfect house and the reality of what you can and cannot accomplish or afford.

A flexible attitude is essential at the beginning phases of a project, when first creating a design for the work. Later, a flexible attitude is still important in dealing with the problems that may arise — problems with materials or supplies, delays in installations or repairs, changes to plans or additional charges.  So it's important to stay open to new options. A positive outlook can turn a stressful situation/problem into a successful milestone.