July 1, 2024
STYLARC
Are you in the middle of remodeling your luxury home? Renovation stress is a real thing! Even if building your dream home is exciting and mostly fun, it’s also a massive undertaking. You can run into unexpected delays, unexpected expenses, and communication breakdowns.
How do you overcome renovation stress during a high-end remodel? Let’s find out.
To manage renovation stress, you have to identify what’s triggering it.
● Are costs spiraling out of control?
● Is the project falling behind?
● Are you having trouble getting reliable information from contractors?
Feeling some stress when embarking on a luxury home renovation journey is natural. By identifying your triggers, you can proactively address them before they become problems.
Worrying is common, especially when you’re already facing decision burnout. Other stressors you might run into during a high-end remodel are:
● Exhaustion from living in a construction zone or away from home during a remodel.
● Relationship tension due to so many choices to align on.
● A lack of understanding or communication on the project timeline or what to expect and when.
While you likely can’t avoid all renovation stress, you can anticipate some of the big ones and defuse them. Thoughtful planning, clear communication, and efforts to maintain some level of normalcy can go a long way in keeping things smooth and fun.
Now, let’s look at some stress management techniques during a luxury home remodel.
Don’t let the pressure of building your dream home steal your joy in the process. Try these seven stress management techniques so you can go into the project feeling confident in what’s to come.
It’s worth it to take the time to map out every design detail and line item before the project begins. By planning ahead, you can eliminate some of the surprises you’ll encounter along the way. Many people like to include a buffer for unexpected costs. You can plan for that, too! Communicate with your team to determine your budget and to finalize as many design details as possible so you aren’t stressing out over decisions in the heat of the moment.
Miscommunication or a lack of communication can add so much unnecessary stress to a luxury home remodel. Regular check-ins allow you to get progress reports, ask questions, voice any concerns, and ensure everyone is aligned on the project. While a detailed budget and plan will eliminate worries about cost, communication is going to be number one throughout the entire project.
Hiring a project manager, like our Planning and Management Services team, is one of the best things you can do to remove a lot of stress from your plate. Imagine a wedding coordinator who handles all the big day's processes, vendor coordination, and details. They allow you to sit back and enjoy the experience. The same is true for a home design project manager. Their job is to handle all the communication and scheduling with contractors and solve problems along the way.
If you’re staying in your home during the renovation process, it can feel pretty chaotic with construction going on. Preserve your sanity with at least one construction-free zone in your house that is off-limits to contractors and materials. If you’ve hired a project manager, you can even plan a short getaway during the building process to recharge. Some people recommend renting a home during construction to remove yourself from the chaos completely.
When you’re in the nitty-gritty of details and decision-making, it can be challenging to remember the big picture of what you’re creating, especially if surprises like delays or problems arise. Remember to zoom out. Maybe that means looking at the 2D and 3D visuals your designers created to kick the project off. Imagine yourself in your chef’s kitchen, swimming in your impressive new pool, or entertaining a ton of guests.
Schedule a massage, go to the gym, have a coffee date with your best friend, prioritize sleep and exercise, and eat healthy meals to ensure you’re keeping your mind and body in tip-top shape during this demanding time. Building a luxury home is exciting and requires you to care for yourself physically and mentally. Don’t skimp on this one.
You don’t have to wait until the project is finished to celebrate the small wins. Have a glass of champagne after demo day. Appreciate your new hardwood floors. Toast to meeting specific milestones along the way. Better yet, create those milestones with your designer or project manager before the process starts, so you can plan ahead for how and what you’ll celebrate.
Let’s hear from some past clients who have been through the experience of hiring STYLARC to bring their vision to life through architectural, landscape, and interior design services or our planning and management services. They share their knowledge and the biggest pieces of advice for anyone building their dream home.
● “Hire a designer you really click with and can trust their vision. It took so much pressure off making every little decision myself.”
● “We scheduled regular check-ins with our contractor to get progress updates. Knowing what’s happening during each phase of the build is extremely helpful.”
● ”If you’re doing a major renovation, consider moving out during the messiest parts of construction. It’ll be worth the extra expense of a rental. Trying to live in a construction zone is a nightmare!”
● “I didn’t have time to micromanage the construction process. The best decision I made was hiring an experienced project manager who shared my vision and could handle the day-to-day oversight.”
● “Think about how you’ll actually live in the space, not just how it will look in a magazine. Function is just as important as form in a luxury home.”
Building your dream home is worth the time, money, and effort. Your home reflects who you are and is a place to relax and recover from life's stressors. Avoid luxury home renovation stress with these seven tips, and reap the many benefits of a newly remodeled or built home.
Overcoming the stressors of a high-end renovation takes intentional effort, but you can do it! You can bring your dream home to life with the right mindset, strategies, and team.
