I’d like to say that the Barn project is officially done.  (it’s not really - there are minor things to be done, but it's close enough!)  We moved in at the beginning of April and have been chipping away at some exterior projects all spring and summer.  We built a deck and a pergola.

And it was awful! 

If you don’t know the backstory, the Barn wasn’t what we originally intended to build last year. I had a fully designed home that we were planning to build on our property, but due to the cost of construction and our urgency (my impatience) to move out of the rental we were in, we decided to build the Barn first, and build our forever home a few years down the road.  

The Barn was something we someday wanted to build since it would house my husband’s workshop and both of our offices. And since it was going to be a much easier build than the house, it was going to cost a lot less than the house. So we decided to build the Barn, make it a 3-bedroom livable space for a few years, then convert it to the workshop and offices once we build the main house.

Long story short, I rushed with the design of the Barn since we very quickly switched directions. 

I didn’t have the time to get all of the details figured out and materials selected before construction started. I also elected myself to oversee the project during construction, so I was constantly faced with making decisions and solving problems.  And holy moly did that lead to burnout.

By the time summer rolled around and our outdoor projects started, I couldn’t bear to make any more design or material selection decisions.  The finishing touches, our budget, and my sanity suffered because of it.

Don't do what i did

The moral of the story is that construction takes a looooooong time. And by the end of it you are so done, you just want to be in your house. And that’s when bad decisions are made. 

I don’t want you to go through what I did.  So... 

Here are some tips for avoiding burnout when building or renovating your home.

Plan ahead

This is the most important tip!

Work out all the details on paper before you start to build.  This means that you’ll want to get as much figured out in the design phase as possible.  

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating, you need to have a set of plans drawn up that shows the intent of what you’ll be building.  The more decisions that are on the plans, the easier construction will go for you.

This is everything from how big your bathroom vanity will be to what the toilet paper holder will look like.  (However, I do recommend that you start with the big picture decisions first, then work your way down to toilet paper holder selections.)

This is key:  If you don’t have to make a single new decision once construction has started, you’ll be so ahead of the game. 

Problems always come up in construction. (Like the sink you wanted is out of stock. Or the tile you chose is a much weirder color than you expected.)   So decisions will still need to be made, but if those are the only ones you’re making, then you’ll be happier. 

What it boils down to is: 

Make the decisions in the design process when you aren’t overwhelmed by construction yet.

Keep yourself organized

Have a spreadsheet.

At the beginning of a project, I like to start a super simple spreadsheet where I keep track of any products I’ve come across that I like.  I might also jot down design ideas and throw some images into the spreadsheet so that all of my thoughts are in one place. 

That way, when I’m trying to make design or material decisions later, I can go back to the spreadsheet to see if I’ve already found what I’m looking for.

Here’s the super simple spreadsheet I use to dump all my product and design style ideas into.

Bonus:

Making all the decisions and getting detailed on your drawing set will allow contractors to give a more accurate cost estimate before construction starts.

Get expert help

A lot of times homeowners like to wait and see what their spaces feel like before making final decisions, so they hold off on finalizing things like kitchen layouts, window placements, bathroom sizes etc. until the house is under construction.   (This is especially common when not working with an architect or designer.) 

Unfortunately, this is where things can get really stressful and costly during construction. It’s very expensive to make changes to a house once it’s being built compared to making changes to a design when it’s still on paper.

If you’re having a hard time making decisions about how a room should be laid out, or how big it should be, consider working with an architect or designer to help you visualize your home before construction begins.  This doesn’t have to include full design services.  Many architects offer design review services to help you when you’re stuck.

Don’t rush the design process

Yes, there are a ton of decisions that need to be made when building a house, so it might sound crazy to try to make them all before construction even begins. 

But if you give yourself enough time leading up to breaking ground, you won’t get decision fatigue nearly as badly as you would if you try to cram it all in in a short amount of time, or if you try to make decisions once construction has begun.

If you aren’t sure how long designing your home will take, read this article. 

Don’t wait until the contractor absolutely needs your decision

In a perfect world, you’ve selected all your finishes, fixtures, built-in furniture etc. before construction started, but as I clearly know (based on my story above), there are always circumstances that can make that impossible.

So if there are still design decisions you need to make once construction starts, make them right away.  Don’t wait until the contractor needs your answer, because then it becomes really stressful, and generally that’s when bad decisions are made.

Know Your Limits

Typically a homeowner hires a contractor to build their home, but that doesn’t mean the homeowner can just step away and not be part of the construction process. 

There are lots of things that can go wrong or be missed during construction and someone besides the contractor should be checking in on the progress on a regular basis.  If you’re working with an architect or designer, they should be observing the construction for you, but if there is no architect, this role will fall on the homeowner.

And this role is very time consuming.  Be super realistic about how much time you can invest during construction.  If you don’t plan for the time spent working through construction related issues, you’re going to get burned out.  If you don't think you can manage it all, ask for help from your family or consider hiring help.

Helpful Tip: if you’re working with an architect, keep them on during construction.  They will be your biggest ally and diverter of exhausting problem-solving when issues arise.  

Know the road ahead of you

And lastly, keep in mind that construction takes a long time.  And even if it might look like you’re getting to the end, there's generally quite a bit of fine tuning or fixing that needs to happen. There may be some tweaking that the contractor needs to do even after you move in.

Anticipating those or knowing that they’re probably going to come will help you when you just want to be done and in your house. It won’t be a surprise when it happens, which will help with your stress levels.

Final Thoughts

Building or renovating your home is an amazing experience.  And it should be an enjoyable one.  If things are rushed and you’re stressed out the whole time, you’re going to hit burnout before the house is done.  

The best thing you can do is prepare yourself mentally for the long road ahead, and prepare the design properly by making as many design decisions as possible before construction begins.  

If you’ve mentally prepared for the adventure you’re about to embark on, you’ll be able to take the curve balls it throws at you with a lot more patience (and ultimately a lot better decision making).  

And at the end, you’ll move into your home with all your sanity intact.