Remodeling

I've heard that couples have split over remodeling or building a house. I can see where this could be an issue for some marriages.

We're remodeling our kitchen, master bathroom and hall linen cupboards. Luckily, we have a very stable relationship and it will take more than remodeling a fourth of our house to change this.

Everyone has different taste and we are no exception. I had my vision of the finished product and Mark had his. You can't have more than one person planning a project without a little conflict. I bet if identical twins worked on decorating or remodeling a room they would have disagreements too.

Luckily, we have similiar taste in decorating so things have gone pretty well.

A few things that can arise during a remodel are:

1) The cost is more than expected. (And how!)

2) Your idea isn't going to work as you envisioned.

3) You can't find someone to do the work due to increased home building. (This has been an issue for us but with new construction slowing down things are getting better)

4) Workers don't show up to work when scheduled.

5) Workers move to another state. (Only happened once)

These are just a few of the problems we have experienced so far. I know friends who have had different problems; some worse some not as bad.

The 80's movie "Money Pit" with Tom Hanks comes to mind. By the time we are finished we will have sunk thousands of dollars into this house and we aren't even planning on staying here for the rest of our lives. After spending all of that money and time I thought we would stay here a year or so to enjoy the work and then look for a place in the country away from the noise of suburbia.

Sound proof windows, a cement wall around my backyard as well as a picket fence around my front yard may sound like a better solution but time will tell. The trouble with living in town is that you can't pick your neighbors and we have some lively ones living around us; to say the least.

Oh well, it will all be worth it in the end. :0)