Home Renovation – Keeping Neighbors Happy

Planning a home renovation? You will have a lot on your plate during a home remodel, like handling the budget, making numerous design decisions and having workers on your property. However, it is important to realize how the work will affect your neighbors as well. Most renovation projects can be disruptive even under the best of circumstances.

What to do?

Everyone wishes to have a cordial and friendly relationship with their neighbors. This can get quite difficult during house renovations. No one likes their days to be disturbed with loud noises, having to move through the debris and mess on the street and not having a place to park. Renovations in your home can impact your neighbors, as well. If you do not want your relationship with neighbors to be compromised, there are some simple steps that you can take.

Get proper permits

This is not only about being courteous but also ensures that you are in line with the law as well. When you decide to go ahead with remodeling or construction of any kind, it is crucial to get proper permits. This will also come in handy if you decide to sell the property in the future.

Know all the details

You might have to notify your neighbors in case of remodeling. This is not a requirement legally but would ensure that you sustain a positive relationship with them for the most part. However, before you talk to your neighbors, you need to know all the details of this renovation. Therefore, do your homework properly and make sure that you are prepared to answer any queries that your neighbors might present.

Communicate with your neighbors

A lot of problems can be tackled with effective communication. Think about it. Would you like it if you were woken up one morning due to loud noises and have no idea about the cause? Not informing neighbors about upcoming home renovations is among the worst mistakes that you can make. They need to be prepared for what is about to happen.

You can always write a brief letter to them, which notifies them about the details of your remodeling. The letter should include all the required information, such as the dates and times when the neighbors might expect some inconvenience.  Assure them that you have gotten a permit for the construction and also mention how they can contact you if they have a problem.

In some areas, notifying neighbors before renovations is necessary. This not only makes sure that they are prepared for the problems but also sends a positive impression of your conduct.

The working hours

Letting your neighbors know the working hours can make quite a difference. For instance, it might be that the work has to be done in the wee hours of the morning or late at night. Perhaps, some of it has to be tackled with on the weekends. Needless to say, your neighbors will have to face inconvenience with such working hours. It is necessary that you let them know of this beforehand.

Furthermore, you might want to think of ensuring that the works which create loud noises are not extended to the evening. Everyone wishes to rest and relax when they come back from work.  Try to get the workers to restrict their timings to working hours. This will be better for all parties concerned.

Keep the mess in control

Remodeling and construction have the potential of creating quite a bit of mess. Old materials are demolished, and there are scraps all over the place. This is annoying for everyone but you were prepared for it. The same cannot be said about your neighbor. Therefore, make sure that your contractors keep the mess controlled, and the cleanup process is done on time.

Furthermore, try to ensure that your workers do not extend the mess to the roads, making traveling or parking difficult for your neighbors.

Address their issues

You might have tried your utmost best to make sure that your neighbors do not feel any inconvenience. However, despite all your efforts, it is quite plausible that someone would not be completely satisfied. Try to address their complaints kindly. Do not flare up if they mention any issues that they are facing. Instead, try to come up with solutions that solve the problem.

Express gratitude

A simple thank you goes a long way. Once you are done with the renovations, make sure that you thank your neighbors for their cooperation. You can invite them for a little get-together or send them a small token of appreciation. Little gestures count quite a lot and make sure that you form a friendly and close-knit community.

Final words

It is always a good idea to maintain healthy, cordial, and positive relations with your neighbors. This saves you from a lot of problems. The sad thing is that most people do not think about this aspect when they decide to go ahead with their home renovations. As a result, not only do they cause a lot of inconveniences, they also leave a bad impression on the people around them.

It never hurts to be a little courteous. It is your right to remodel your house. However, ensuring that you keep your neighbors happy in the process can make this task a smooth one for all parties concerned.