Designer TIPS
Ways To Avoid Building/Remolding Stress
By Cynthia Metts Draper

I’ve come across so many people during different phases of their home building who are stressed out for the duration of the construction. There are several ways to eliminate stress before it starts. Purchase a BIG ring note binder, dividers for approximately 10 rooms (more if needed) and clear pocket sleeves, one for each section.

Look at your blueprints; starting with the exterior, begin to label dividers as if you were walking thru the house i.e. Exterior, Foyer, Living Room, etc.

Go through magazines; cut and paste pictures of things you’d like for your house and place them in the proper areas of your binder.

Make sure you receive price change authorizations when you’ve made changes. Every time you make a change after being quoted…the price will change.

When you make a selection, whether sofa fabric or marble for a fireplace, ask for a sample. MOST places can accommodate you even if it means ordering a sample.

The kitchen and master bath are two places where you don’t want to skimp.  The kitchen is the area where all will gather. Therefore, have fun and think about your options beforehand. 

As far as the master bath, consider raising the sink to 36” or add two sinks and a built- in cabinet between so you can reach for items without bending down.  Do you want a toilet closet or a full wall?  Two shower heads or one?

When you make revisions, don’t throw out the old paper. Take a red pen and draw an X on the old page and date. Save your notes so that you can remember where you started!

Take photos as the house is going up and place photos in their appropriate sleeves. These photos may prove useful to future remodeling. (i.e. plumbing or wiring.)
When on a tight budget (and who isn’t these days!) cut things that can easily be changed later.  For example, you don’t need wallpaper to get in the house but you would need to install the ceramic tile that you love. You could choose the $20 chrome faucet now and replace with $120 brass faucet’s later.
 
Remember, deadlines are meant to be broken.  There are so many variables when it comes to building a home - weather, change orders, things back-ordered or damaged.  And at Smith Mountain Lake there are fishing tournaments, turkey and deer season to consider.

Make sure you have a place to stay for the duration and don’t plan to host any functions until you’re actually moving the furniture in.  (P.S. Don’t move any furniture into your home while work is in progress - you’re only asking for trouble!)