Love where you live even more—without the anxiety
In April 2022, the 30-year mortgage rates rose to over 5% for the first time in more than a decade. Plus, the May Federal Reserve meeting earlier this month led to even higher rates. Add that to a competitive real estate market and a period of inflation, and we’re looking at the worst time to buy a home in the last 15 years (at least!).
But what if your home isn’t working for you anymore? Whether it’s too small, needs a new layout, one bathroom just isn’t cutting it, or you need to transform your spooky basement into a cozy WFH space, this challenging market doesn’t mean you’re stuck with what you have. Moving may not be an option right now, but home improvement definitely is. Renovations are a great way to adjust your home to fit your current lifestyle—even if it means taking on a big project like an addition or major remodel.
But like a move, major renovations can come with complex challenges. Budgeting, financing, finding pros, timelines, and messes can test even the calmest of nerves. In a recent Angi survey, nearly 40% of people reported feeling anxious leading up to a major renovation or remodel. But fortunately, there are several key ways to make your next renovation more “smooth sailing” than “emotional rollercoaster.”
Here are our top tips to protect your mental health and come out of the remodeling process with a home you love even more than before.
It’s official: We’re entering home improvement season. May traditionally kicks off increased demand for home projects, which lasts throughout the summer. And it makes sense: better weather, more schedule flexibility, and longer days make it easier for pros to get work done on time—but it also means more demand for high-quality pros.
Planning ahead can help make the process easier in a variety of ways, and nearly half of U.S. adults who did a major renovation or remodel in the last five years would agree. Looking back on their project, the biggest regret was not planning farther in advance (49%).
Nancy B. of New York City, who recently completed a major renovation with Gaudioso Contracting, agreed that it’s important to plan ahead. She also notes that you should also anticipate a few changes in the course of renovation that could adjust the overall cost or timeline. She says, “It’s critical to manage your expectations going into the renovation, especially when it comes to finances, and to know it’s going to be disruptive.”
Our survey also confirms what we already knew: Life’s easier when you hire a pro. Over 40% of respondents who hired pros for the full project reported feeling calm both before and during the renovation, while just over 20% of DIYers felt the same.
DIYers expected to feel in control (35%) or excited (34%), but ultimately felt anxious (36%) as they prepared for the renovation. So, even if you’re handy, when it comes to the bigger projects like kitchen or bathroom remodels, additions or gut renovations, it may be best for your mind—and your home—to leave it to the experts.
It’s important to know your limits when it comes to DIY projects. They can be great ways to learn new skills, bring your family together or flex your creative muscles, but they can also be risky, dangerous and sources of anxiety. At Angi, we encourage people to think about the three T’s when deciding whether to DIY or hire a pro: time, tools and talent. If you’re lacking in any of these areas, the DIY route can end up being much more expensive, stressful or dangerous than you’d like. In those cases—especially for the bigger renovations or remodels—it’s best to look for a local expert to get the job done right the first time.
Doing your own research before starting the renovation can make a big difference. Nancy adds, “Put in the time to research your options and choose the right contractor, because ultimately, they will make or break your experience. Having a responsive, honest and high-quality contractor will save you money, stress and chaos throughout every step of the process.”
In addition to checking for ratings and reviews online, ask any potential contractors for references—and actually call them. Ask how communicative the pro was, whether timeline and budget estimates were accurate, how they handled delays or surprises throughout the process, how the final result turned out, and anything else you’d like to know about working with that particular pro.
Get to know your pro and their process before committing. Here are a handful of questions to consider asking:
How many years of experience do you have?
Do you have all necessary licenses?
Does your work come with insurance and warranties?
Are you insured and bonded?
How long have you worked with your subcontractors?
Will the same team be in the house each day?
How do you handle change orders?
How do you resolve disputes?
What is the process if there’s a disruption?
How do you handle garbage and waste disposal? Who handles cleanup after the project is complete?
Can you show a few examples of recently completed projects?
Are there any fees I should anticipate throughout the process?
Do you help with obtaining permits?
Do I have to get all my materials through you or can I use outside suppliers? Do you get any discounts on materials that will help keep my costs down?
How do you accept payments?
You should be comfortable asking these questions, and any others that come to mind, and be confident in their answers. If any of their responses make you second guess the pro, trust your gut and keep looking for the right fit.
Of all the different parts of the process, budgeting and financing caused the most anxiety among those who completed major renovations or remodels in the last five years, with around 40% selecting each. To keep the financial stress under control, add a buffer in your budget to cover any unexpected costs. Your contractor can’t see through walls at the beginning of the project (if only!), so they can’t anticipate every electrical, plumbing or pest issue that may pop up once they start working.
How can you account for a buffer? Give your pro a top price of 10% less than what you actually budgeted.
It’s one thing to live in your own clutter (no judgment), but it turns out renovations make bad roommates. Over one-third of people who lived in their home through the full renovation process reported fights between family members, while that number drops to 19% for those who only lived in the home through part of the process. People who took a break from the process also reported lower levels of anxiety attacks, emotional breakdowns, and tense moments with contractors.
On the other hand, those who lived and worked from home during a renovation reported even higher levels of anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and a need for medication for someone in the household.
“My apartment was covered in plastic for three months, but I was prepared for that and had somewhere else to go during the day, which made everything more manageable. I knew it was temporary and because I worked with such a great contractor, the final result made it completely worth it in the end,” adds Nancy.
Ultimately, if you have the means and ability to spend some time away from the renovation and give everyone a break from the hustle and bustle, it can make the process much more manageable.
Not everyone can move out for part or all of the renovation process, but there are still ways to set boundaries even if you plan to live (and maybe even WFH) throughout the whole project. Start by determining a regular schedule for check-ins with your contractor (ideally daily) to provide feedback and raise any concerns. These brief chats can help quash issues that may be causing you stress or anxiety and help keep overwhelm at bay.
Before the renovations actually begin, create a code of conduct with your contractor. This may include:
Hours when work is allowed to be done
What bathroom(s) workers can use
Areas that are off limits
Worksite organization and clean-up protocols
How and when the contractor and workers can contact you with questions or issues
Healthy boundaries start with open communication with your contractor and any other pros. Find a pro you feel comfortable with and who has someone available to help you at any time. Ask who to call when your contractor is out-of-pocket to give yourself peace of mind that no matter what happens, someone will be there to help.
Survey Methodology
This data is based on a survey commissioned by Angi Inc. and conducted using the online survey platform Pollfish. The consumer sample of 1,000 U.S. adult homeowners all went through a major renovation or remodel within the last five years. The sample was surveyed between April 20, 2022 and April 21, 2022. The margin of error is 3.1% and no additional weighting was applied to the sample. Pollfish’s survey delivery platform delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the desktop web.
