Overcoming Common Remodeling Challenges

Remodeling is exciting! You’re making your home more beautiful and functional, customized to your own family. But it can also be overwhelming. There are so many decisions to make and so many potential hiccups in the process. Knowing what to expect and how to prepare helps reduce your stress level and keep your project on track. With some upfront planning, careful design, good communication, and a sense of humor, you can walk through your remodeling process calmly and with confidence.

Typical Remodeling Challenges (and How to Handle Them)

In our years of remodeling homes, we have learned the most common remodeling challenges homeowners face, and what the best tactics are to avoid or manage them.

Delays

When your home is a construction zone, you want the work done fast. Nothing is more frustrating than an unexpected slowdown in the process. While some delays are out of everyone’s control (weather issues, for example), others can be mitigated. Try these tips to help you handle remodeling delays.

Build in a buffer when planning your schedule. If you have a deadline for your project (the holidays or a family member visiting, for example), talk to the team and find out when the process should start. You’ll probably need to get the remodeling process going earlier than you think!

Some delays may be due to your contractor not managing schedules as well as he could. Permitting and inspection hold-ups, scheduling issues with subcontractors, and materials not being ordered early enough are common issues that you can’t really control. What you can control is hiring a team that communicates clearly and sets realistic timelines, keeping in mind that some delays are normal and inevitable.

On your end, as the homeowner, be decisive early in the design process. Ask all your questions and consider potential upgrades or modifications you may want to make, to avoid last-minute changes in the scope of work that could cause delays.

Decision Fatigue

Another common obstacle in home remodeling is the onset of decision fatigue. This uncomfortable feeling comes from being overwhelmed by too many choices. You might feel paralyzed or start second-guessing yourself. You’ll be exhausted, and the process won’t seem fun anymore. 

You can reduce decision fatigue in a few different ways.

• Make the majority of decisions during the design phase (not during construction) and with the help of a professional designer. This lets you make selections without pressure.
• Work with a design team that helps you narrow down your options and presents curated choices, so you can be confident in your decisions.
• Use tools like 3D renderings and Pinterest boards to help you visualize your space.
• Break big decisions down into smaller ones to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Check out this blog for more on dealing with decision fatigue.

Budget Overruns

Sometimes in a remodeling project, the unexpected occurs (We’ve all seen Fixer Upper—we know about unpleasant surprises!). When problems are uncovered during demolition, there can be unexpected costs to deal with these issues. This isn’t always avoidable, and the best way to protect yourself is to have a contingency budget to cover the unexpected. There are other ways that your budget can creep up—ways you do have more control over.

Be careful when making changes mid-project. If you decide you want marble countertops instead of quartz, or if you add a window to the kitchen plan that wasn’t originally part of the design, you can expect your cost for the project to rise. It may be worth it to you. It’s just something to consider, being aware that changes to the scope of work will raise your final cost.

Poor initial estimating is a common home renovation problem. Sometimes, a contractor will give you an estimate that includes “allowances” instead of line items (for example, an appliance allowance instead of money for a specific range you have already chosen). This can lead to you needing to spend more than you planned to get the remodel you’re hoping for. 

One of the best ways to prevent budget overruns is to have a very detailed plan in place before demolition and construction start. When you work with a design-build company, an in-house designer will help you to choose all the finishes your home needs, and you will know before you start exactly what your final cost will be. Make sure you communicate openly, ask questions about any parts of the estimate or contract you don’t understand, and be clear about your wants and needs.

Read more about how to successfully budget for your Lancaster home remodel here.

Scope Creep

Ah, the slippery slope of “while we’re at it.” It’s tempting to change your project’s scope when you think of new ideas or want to fix other issues. When a client decides to add or change part of the remodel mid-project, the timeline, cost, and scheduling components of the project are affected. This isn’t always a bad thing—again, it might be worth it to you to have your project cost more or take longer to get something you really want. But you do need to speak with your contractor and be clear in your understanding of how these changes will impact your timeline and budget. 

Be clear and upfront before work begins on what is and isn’t included in the scope. Ask questions. Again, this is the part of the project where design-build remodeling solutions really shine. With design-build companies, so much effort is spent on planning before construction starts, that many of the ideas you would normally not think of until mid-project have already been considered and implemented. The design-build process leads to creative ideas, collaborative solutions, and teamwork that you won’t find with other methods of construction.

Communication Gaps

We’ve all heard the stories: a contractor doesn’t show up when he’s supposed to, or does come when you weren’t expecting him. You learn that there was a breakdown in communication between your contractor and subs, and something wasn’t ordered or scheduled correctly. Or you call your contractor to ask him a question, and you don’t hear back for a long time. There are a lot of moving pieces in a home remodel, and that means a lot of opportunities for communication issues.

One of the best ways to deal with this is to use a company that has a project manager—one point of contact for you throughout the process. Many companies also use tools like daily updates, shared timelines, emails, and project portals to keep you in the loop on what to expect. And a design-build team will prioritize proactive communication.

Don’t assume that your contractor knows what you’re thinking about any given issue. Ask questions and communicate with them as much as you need to.

Stay Calm and In Control

Even with the best planning, something will go off course. Your saving grace at that point is to keep a sense of humor, be flexible, and keep the end goal in mind. Trust your team to offer workable solutions and don’t let small setbacks overshadow the big picture. Remind yourself why you started this remodel in the first place and spend some time dreaming about what it will be like to live in your new space. Temporary stress, inconveniences, and frustrations will melt away when you walk through your remodeled home for the first time.

Design-Build Solutions

The design-build approach to remodeling offers the best solution to help you budget for your home remodel, manage stress during the remodeling process, avoid remodeling mistakes, and be satisfied with the finished product. Having a single team from start to finish:

• leads to fewer surprises since the design is complete before work begins.
• provides better communication between you and the team, and the team itself.
• allows for faster decisions as designers and builders work together to help you choose smart options you will love.
• gives you a more accurate budget since costs are established up front.

Enjoy the Journey

Remodeling is a big investment of time, energy, and money, but it doesn’t have to be full of stress. By preparing for common challenges and partnering with the right team, you can actually enjoy the process. A thoughtful design, clear communication, and a flexible mindset go a long way toward the end goal: a space that fits your life and family. Read about our process to see if our design-build model is a good fit for you. Ready to get started? Contact us today and let’s talk about how to make your home just right for you and those you love.