Home renovations can be stressful and disruptive to the people living in the household where the work is happening. However, in many cases these projects can also be annoying to residents in the nearby properties.
Lately, there have been a lot of news reports explaining that residents of one San Francisco neighborhood aren’t too happy with the renovation being done by a social media bigwig. Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook) bought a home there and has been renovating it in a seemingly endless—and very extensive—project that has now stretched out over more than 17 months. People in the area have complained of noise, rumbling and dust. In addition, heavy equipment and large trucks are occupying some of the coveted parking spots on the block.
If your property is in a rural area and not in close proximity to other homes, you may be lucky enough not to have to worry about how your renovation will impact others. However, for most people, there are other homes nearby close enough to be affected in some way by your home improvement work.
While there are some things that cannot be totally avoided with this type of project, you can do everything in your power to try and minimize the negative impact, to avoid frayed nerves and tense relations with neighbors. Here are a few quick tips:
Anticipate problems beforehand. As much as possible, it’s a big help to try and nip potential issues in the bud before they become stressful sources of disagreements. Talk to your contractor before work begins and ask for some honest insight on exactly what you can expect while the work is in progress—and what impact this may have on nearby residents. Perhaps you need to make special arrangements to accommodate parking, or there may be steps you can take to protect nearby properties from dust, debris and other construction byproducts.
Established some ground rules. Let your contractor and crews know what you expect as far as how they will manage and maintain the jobsite, with particular emphasis on certain things you find unacceptable. If you don’t want workers making noise before or after a certain hour, for example, you need to be sure everyone is clear on that fact. Your community or neighborhood may also have some rules dictating things such as when renovation work can be performed.
Keep things on schedule. Most people are willing to put up with some short-term noise or inconvenience (within reason), but once the project seems to be dragging out forever, that’s when patience often starts to be in short supply and tempers can flare. You don’t want to be one of those notorious homeowners with the never-ending renovation. Spend some time at the beginning of the project hammering out a realistic schedule that keeps the project moving as quickly and efficiently as possible. Then be super strict about adhering to that timeline.
Wrap things up on a positive note. You want to show your neighbors how much you appreciate their patience and understanding throughout this process, so it can be a classy move to host a get-together after the job is done. This gives you a chance to show off your great new space, while also smoothing over any ruffled feathers the project may have caused.
Return the favor. Remember, patience and courtesy is a two-way street. Just as you ask your neighbors to be generous and understanding during your renovation, you must also extend them the same consideration if they embark on any improvement projects with their own home.
One of the most important things you can do to keep your renovation from becoming a neighborhood nightmare is to choose your contractor carefully. You want someone who will have respect for you, your property—and your neighbors’ peace and quiet.
At Republic West, we understand the stress and annoyance that can come with a home renovation project. Our expertise gives us a valuable advantage in anticipating potential issues and helping to prevent or minimize them as much as possible. Your happiness is our top priority, and we know that having harmony with your neighbors has a big impact on your happiness in your home. We will do everything in our power to ensure your Phoenix home renovation project improves the street and pleases your neighbors, as opposed to perturbing them.
