For many couples, building a life begins when they break ground on their dream home. In the beginning, you walked hand-in-hand through the home improvement store and laughed together while picking out subway tile for the guest bathroom and carpet for the master bedroom. Unfortunately, all that good will didn't last and the otherwise simple choices are turning into week long battles. Instead of wasting this once-in-a-lifetime experience squabbling over paint swatches and granite countertops, here are a few things you and your spouse can do to help keep the peace while completing your new home construction:
Get On The Same Page Right Away
Before you meet with your architect and builder or set foot in a home improvement store, it's best to get on the same page about as many aspects of the construction as possible. This includes:
Is This a "Must-Have" or "Can Live Without?"– Are you unwilling to budge when it comes to the size of your master bathroom? Is your spouse adamant about including a finished basement in the design plan? During the initial planning stages, create a list of features that you both believe are critical – and ones that you can both live without.
You Like That Print? – If you're a fan of French provincial and your spouse is wild about modern minimalism, you'll probably run into problems in just about every room. Instead of fighting for your aesthetic preference, choose a design scheme you can both live with.
Determine Your Strengths and Weaknesses – If you're a wizard when it comes to choosing accent colors and your spouse is better with numbers, allow one another permission to focus on their strengths.
Finally, while it's okay if one of you is in charge of making the minor decisions, such as the finish on the outdoor light fixtures, it's best to agree on the big purchases. From the color of the siding to the type of flooring used throughout the home, providing one spouse with too much control of how the money is spent can lead to several unnecessary fights down the road.
Identify Potential Problems Before They Occur
Despite all your best efforts to stay on track, your construction project will be fraught with setbacks and disasters. This is why it's important to identify potential issues and devise a plan that avoids them, or at least lessens their impact:
Overestimate Your Budget – As a rule, Houzz recommends adding at least 10 to 20 percent to your original budget. This money is intended to cover any mistakes, miscalculations and all the other unexpected expenses that occur during construction.
Set Money Aside – Even if you've overestimated your budget, it's still best to find extra ways to raise money for the build. For example, you can take a few extra shifts at work, cancel a vacation or stay in instead of dining out every weekend.
Remain Flexible – As the construction continues, it's vital to remain flexible with your budget. For example, if your master bathroom budget is stretched too thin, consider taking money away from a less critical project.
Know When to Walk Away
Finally, if the construction begins to have a profoundly negative impact on your marriage, it's time to take a break. For example, spend the day together at a spa far, far away from the construction site, or take a short trip to your favorite bed and breakfast. While you're away from the build, make it a rule that talking about your budget, the cost of drapes for the living room or any other aspect of the house is off limits.
Building a home from the ground up can be an exhausting, exhilarating and frustrating experience. However, if you remain united, flexible and willing to compromise, it is possible to make it through this experience with an even stronger, happier marriage.
For more information about new construction options, you can go to websites of local construction or realty companies.
Share14 November 2014
Once I paid of the mortgage on my house, I decided I wanted to buy an investment property. I had no idea that the buying process would be different, but it really was. There were so many things to consider that I hadn't thought about, and even the loan application process was different. It occurred to me that if I didn't know about it, others likely didn't either. I built this site to help others see what I went through buying my first investment home. I hope that it helps you to approach the process with more confidence and understanding.
