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Tips on Overcoming Problems on a Home Improvement Project

DON’T BE ONE OF THE 38% -ERS

More than 1/3 of home improvement projects are abandoned after they get started.  That’s a lot of homes with knocked down walls and floors waiting for tile.

There are many reasons why home improvement projects get started, but not finished.  The most common reasons aren’t permanent.  They can be overcome.  You can get your home improvement project back on track.

REASON # 1:  LACK OF CONFIDENCE

Something like 10% of people embarking an a home improvement bought the equipment, but never started the project.  Which means that somewhere between the planning and the execution, they decided that they couldn’t do it.   It’s unlikely that you suddenly realized that you don’t know how to lay tile after you purchased the tile. What’s actually happening is that you’re looking at the entire project and getting overwhelmed before you even begin.

HOW TO OVERCOME THE FEAR

You didn’t set your kid on a bike the first day without training wheels and tell him to ride across the city by the end of the day.  If this is your first home improvement project, don’t start with a complete kitchen remodel.  You need to get your feet wet with small projects to build confidence.

Want some inspiration?  Check out some of our home improvement projects like our  backyard pergola , or our jaw-dropping fireplace built-in.

If you have a few small projects under your belt and you’re ready for your first big project, remember that big projects take time.  You shouldn’t expect to be able to complete a big home improvement project in a day.  Break the project into small, achievable goals.  Then set a realistic timeline to accomplish them.  Remember that your life won’t pause simply because you have a project you want to get done.  Plan accordingly.

REASON #2  BECOMING OVERWHELMED

You’ve pulled up 800 square feet of old tile and now your back aches and your kitchen looks like a war zone.  It suddenly hits you that this is a huge project and you have no idea how you’re going to get it all done.  It’s a classic case of becoming overwhelmed mid-project.

HOW TO OVERCOME THE STRESS

It really helps me to clean up between stages.  For some reason this makes one big home improvement project feel like a bunch of small projects that are getting finished one by one.  It also helps with home life because your wife isn’t complaining about the mess.

REASON #2  A BAD DIY EXPERIENCE

We’ve all had a bad home improvement experience.  We didn’t have all the information we needed.  We lacked the proper tools, or we didn’t have the right help. Maybe you weren’t ready for the for a big project.  See if you are ready to tackle a big home improvement project here.

I could have quit altogether after building my first covered patio.  It looked like something the Boy Scouts built with a hatchet and some rusty nails. Luckily, the first big Wyoming wind knocked it down (yep, it was that sturdy), and gave me an excuse to try again.

HOW TO OVERCOME A BAD EXPERIENCE

Most bad experiences are born from the lack of a plan.  You need a very solid visual picture of what you want the project to look like once complete.  I suggest an actual picture of a project similar to what you want.  This will keep you on track.

Recognize when you need help and ask for it.  Putting in a counter-top or a sink is a two person job.  Concrete is a multi-person job.  Having the help you need reduces stress and increases success. You’ll also to check out our 5 favorite tools for home improvement projects and make sure you have the right tool for the right job.

We think you would love all of our Ultimate DIY Guides to improving a builder-grade home, like How to Turn Your Bedroom into a Suite and How to Create A Spa Bathroom Retreat.

Let’s start the discussion in the comments below.  What worries you about home improvement projects?  What helps you to dig in and get it done?

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