My emotional patterns...
There are the moments when the renovator feels he or she is almost done.
And there are many more moments when the renovator feels buried in "to do" lists, receipts from every hardware store within a thirty-mile radius, and thinks only of choices, choices, choices.....
I cannot imagine these feelings are unique to me. Over the course of the renovation, I've had a big handful of visitors say to me, "It'll never be done. Once you think it's done, you have to start fixing things."
Here are some patterns I noticed in my emotional process:
-When I felt daunted by a certain task, I did little or poor work until an experienced outsider assissted me.
-After completing a big step in the renovation, my enthusiasm was boosted to a point where I wanted only to keep the ball rolling; however, if I had any sort of frustration, I was brought to a new level of despair. It was a harder rut to climb out of than normal disappointment.
-Distractions and interruptions in the workday was inefficient and made me feel ineffective. I was annoyed when I had to leave a project midway.
-Missing tools or walking up and down the stairs to find them irked me.
-I was frustrated by mess. "Clutter and crap" made me anxious and unwilling to work.
-I often lost my estimates, forgot to bookmark my research, or mismatched bridesmaid budget choices and the companies whose estimate with which I was dealing. I would have to re-research, re-email, re-file; I wasted an absurd amount of time and energy due to this.
- I was frustrated when I lost my projected timelines and would create new ones every week to try to alleviate stress. The stress returned when I couldn't find the "to do" lists and calendars.
Emotional Stress Suggestions
-Accept help. More importantly, ask for help. People are delighted when given the chance to teach something they know and share a skill you may not have.
-After a big success, do things you are confident about. Wait to do anything too new or difficult unless you're getting help with it. Take a breather and prioritize the next steps.
-Working many hours and for several days in a row is more productive and satisfactory than several minutes here and there with pauses in between.
-Having the proper tools all in place at the beginning of the project took discipline but made the process inifinitely smoother. Wear a tool belt.
-Cleaning up every day after working makes the next day easier: tools in the proper place and easy to find, nothing to trip over, less clutter to distract the mind.
-Keeping clear documentation of ideas, research, and estimated costs for system, envelope, and finish options saves time and energy.
-Creating a weekly, monthly, and quarterly schedule of estimated deadlines helps put into focus the steps needed to achieve the next project. Clearly documenting these projected deadlines saved Time/Energy. They are also fun to look back on (projected deadlines are almost never met.) NOTE: always add 1/3 of how long you think the project will take.
Financial Stress suggestions
There are ways to mitigate financial stress, but few ways to avoid it (having lots of money from the get-go might be a solution, but isn't always guaranteed...). Here are some techniques I employed:
Go into a store (be it hardware, showroom, antique shop...) and ask if they have any broken boxes, samples, or discontinued models. I had very little luck at chain stores (such as Lowes or Home Depot) because the workers are specifically told not to give anything away. Visit their dumpsters.
Visit dumpsters in general. Transfer stations always have goodies. If you are looking for something specific, let the manager know and see if he or she will set it aside for you.
Have work parties. Provide food and drink. Promise a good time advertised through signs outside the house, Facebook, e-mail, Twitter, or other means of communication.
Borrow tools and expertise. Skilled workers, especially the older ones, are keen on teaching. Electricians, for example, have a less popular field than plumbers, so seeing young interest in learning the trade is a boon for them. Pay them to teach you and then to check on the work you've done.
Look for rebates. State, federal, local, and utility rebates are plentiful and generally go to Energy Star rated products. Be sure to read all the specifications before applying.
Vocalize your needs. Let people know what you're doing, what you're looking for, and what your goals are. People love to help.
Get at least three estimates. Each one will teach you something new about the element or system you are hoping to install or apply. Get informed.
Remember that the cheapest option is not always the best or the cheapest in the long run. Think long-term efficiency.
Slow down and speed up. Time is money in terms of mortgages and loans, but haste makes waste. Don't throw money at projects or objects because of time. Often times things will just appear or happen because it is the proper moment.
Perception
As a single, 20 (now 21) year old female who was dubbed a "hippie-redneck" by her parents--who act as her money lenders for the house in rural New Hampshire--perception took a toll on the project.
Building is stereotypcally a job for men. Electricians and plumbers are usually male. Sheetrockers and painters are more often men than women. In the course of the renovation, I had only one hired worker who was a woman. She and I were so delighted to see each other, though she got quiet when around her coworkers.
When companies sent over a representative to give me an estimate for my heating system, roof, rebates, water pump, et ceterra, I made it clear right from the beginning that this was my house, that I was doing most of the renovation work myself, that I was working other jobs to pay the mortgage and then hammered them with technical questions. The few times I didn't were the exact times that I was given an extremely high quote or a shoddy suggestion.
I let everyone know the financing behind the project. I mentioned that my parents were acting as my bank and financing the project while I paid them mortgage.
I held demonstrations at the house to educate locals about sustainability and eco-renovations so they wouldn't be irked by the odd landscape, PV system, and chickens in my front yard. They spread word for me that I wasn't just turning the yard into a mini-golf course.
My mother used to tell me, "Perception is reality." It frustrated me because I didn't understand it. I thought she meant that what is perceived is truth. I finally realized that what is perceived is what is truth to others. This is where education and openness comes into play. Invite the doubters, gossipers, disgruntled neighbors, and naysayers into your home. This is where understanding begins.