Ask anyone who has remodeled and they will mention it.

The stress. The chaos. The feelings of anger, despair, frustration. It happens with the best and worst of contractors, whether the project proceeds on schedule or not.

In essence, it's the process, the change, the loss of control. Remodeling often has home owners on edge because it disrupts their routines and their ability to control their environment.

The keys to managing the stress:

·         plan ahead to avoid being surprised

·         retain your daily schedule as much as possible

·         learn about the process and how it will affect your routine

·         be realistic about what aspects you can control

Throughout the project, remain flexible and remember that some things may not proceed as planned. Also, try to focus on the positive aspects of the renovation. Remember that you have made a decision to move ahead and the project won’t last forever.

Plan Ahead

Begin by talking to the contractor about what to expect. Discuss your daily routine and ask whether certain events will be disrupted. If you are doing the work yourself, estimate the amount of time it will take to complete the project.

Proper planning also should include talking to your family or roommates about when the project will occur. You want to consider what else is going on in your life to see what other stresses are present. If you have a family, you have to take into account what else is going on, such as school programs and activities.

Retain Your Daily Schedule

During the remodeling, try to maintain as many routines as possible, even if it means having your morning coffee at 5 a.m. so you have plenty of time to prepare for your day before the contractor arrives.

Make a list of activities that could be disrupted by remodeling and reschedule the activities or move them to another location. Arrange to have dinner at a friend's house a few times while the kitchen is being remodeled, for example. This approach will provide you with a retreat from the mess and reduce the cost of eating out during the project.

Learn About The Process

Sharon and Joe Benigno learned to adjust their expectations when remodeling the kitchen and bathroom of their Cape Cod style house in Chicago. Sharon said the contractor they hired was juggling too many jobs, leaving them to watch in frustration as a project that was supposed to take two months stretched to almost four.

"It's very stressful," Sharon said. "Here a stranger has total control over your life--the kind of control you wouldn't give to anyone."

Remodeling ranks high among life's stressful events, and is similar to moving in how it disrupts one's life. This can involve not only the physical living environment, but social events and daily scheduling.

Exercise Control

·         Talk to the contractor about your needs and discuss issues as they arise.

·         Celebrate the completion of small stages of the project instead of longing for the end to arrive.

·         Picture the end result – it makes the process easier when you keep in mind how beautiful your home will look with the new changes.