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experience of a homeowner , or dismiss their desire to be informed or involved in decisionmaking , and many homeowners are naturally wary of contractors because of horror stories they ’ ve heard of remodeling gone wrong .
Setting Expectations
Once construction begins on your property , subcontractors will begin working most days , often starting early in the morning . On smaller projects that allow the homeowner to continue living at home while the project commences , the daily routine of getting the kids out the door to school or daycare , and getting yourself to work on time will be interrupted . It becomes a chore knowing when to arm or disarm the security system if a sub should be onsite for all or part of the day . Certain stages of a remodel create environmental hazards or discomforts , such as fumes or dust that can cause frustration or even headaches to occupants living in the home .
The noise and disruption can cause anxiety in pets as well and may require temporary re-homing to avoid unnecessary stress . For larger projects , it is often recommended or required that the homeowner vacates the property for the duration of the build . This can result in added expenses to secure temporary housing , and another level of disruption from a family ’ s normal routine , particularly if there are school-aged children who rely on bussing for daily transportation .
One client was so flustered by the disruption that one morning they backed their car into a dumpster parked in their driveway . Another fell off a stool while packing to vacate their space and broke their foot . During my own renovation , I was startled by a subcontractor who arrived later than expected and opened the corner of the car door onto my forehead . The scar from the stitches reminds me every day of the importance of clear communication .
▼ Before
▼ After
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