BLOG 10
During a renovation, it seems you are constantly waiting for something. Waiting for supplies to come in, waiting for a room to be done, waiting for a vendor to show up. You wait for answers to questions, you wait to see what will work best, you wait to see how much something will cost. You wait for the final result. You just always--at some point--wait. I don't know about you, but waiting has never been my strong suit. I am not sure if I have that trait by "nature" or by "nurture" since one of my earlier memories of my mother is her being frustrated waiting in a line at the store. I have conquered that one for the most part. I don't constantly jockey for position so I can run to next open lane, and I don't complain while I stand in line. Not usually anyway... BUT, sometimes waiting and waiting is just the worst and if I can help one person be able to handle it better than me, then I will at least try my best!
It's Not as Long As It Seems - When we are waiting for something, it always seems longer than it is. If we timed most of our tasks in life, we'd see that generally the tasks take the same amount of time nearly every time (unless there are some really out there circumstances). It's the whole "a watched pot never boils" concept. Because we are excited or anxious, it seems to take longer. If you can pull back and see how long a task has taken (considering the level of difficulty as well) maybe you won't think it was too long to wait. When we moved into our home mid-reno, I got to see for myself how long some things took to accomplish and how much hard work went into those things. Instead of noticing how long it took, I was constantly amazed at what all they got done each day. It's all about perspective.
In a Hurry, Do it Again - During a renovation, most tasks that are done take some time. Sometimes a significant amount of time. If you have ever watched "My First Flip" on DIY TV, the novices usually say how much time something will take (having NEVER done it themselves) and find out that they were way off and that it (usually) took much longer for them to do a project then they thought. (Especially with hanging drywall. Pros make this job look so easy--especially when they show it in fast motion on TV!). AND, if certain jobs are hurried, chances are they might need to be redone because of a mistake-or two. Better to do it RIGHT the first time, even if it takes a bit. Keep that in mind when it seems it's taking a while for something to be done.
Worth the Wait - I have told this to my kids 1000 times "something that is worth having usually doesn't come easy". I believe that. It's the same with a renovation. It's not an instant thing that just happens. We think it is because when you watch it being done on TV it "appears" to be done right away. If you notice on some of those shows, the seasons may change in the final scene of the show! It's just made to look like it went quickly. Even when they put the number of days on the screen, some how we ignore that. It's all about the end result and not how we got there. But, if you have a good team that you have built trust with, it will be well worth the wait when they are done. Your home should be the way you wanted it to be. It should be "better" than expected because you helped make decisions along the way and put your own heart into the project. Hard work, effort and care are always rewarded. I believe that, too.
Hindsight is 20/20 - Of course, when the project is complete, you can look back and see that for what was done, it really didn't take as long as you thought it was when it was going on. You will see how the things you worried so much about didn't even actually happen, and some that may have happened you lived through and made it out on the other side stronger and smarter! I realize that there are people out there that may take years to renovate their home--because it will always be an ongoing project. But, for the average majority of us, it will usually be a reasonable amount of time for what you are having done. When you look back, you will see what I mean. Since I just went through this, I can honestly say that it feels like a "blip" in the scale of time that it took now. When I stand in my "new" home I really have to work at remembering what it was like just a few short months ago... So hang in there. The wait really won't be forever and it will be so worth it in the end...you will see!
Until Next Week!
Jen Lush, Realtor Assistant and Realtor Mother
