Halt renovation stress at the door

How to enjoy the journey towards your new space

If you’ve never been through a major renovation, the very idea of it can cause you a good deal of stress. Your renovation will be a big change and a big disruption in your life, no matter how beautiful the end result.

At Lagois Design·Build·Renovate, we understand this. All of us on the team do our best to balance our own work and home life, too, and we know about using time efficiently. We also know about budget, and how important it is to get it right and to keep it on track. It’s why we promise to be on time and on budget with your project.

We do this with good design and our tried-and-true differentiated approach for more than 40 years – a process that helps us meet your needs and our project goals together. (Click here to learn more.)

There are some initial things you can do to lift some of the stress even before you begin.

First, start a list

Before you have your first visit with us, make a list. To do this, think about what you want. For example, list the most important aspects of your lifestyle now and what you expect for the future, whether it’s towards a net zero home or being able to live in place.

Preparation is the first way to halt stress at the door.

Second, ask questions

Here are some questions to get you started. Afterwards you’ll probably add to the list as you get deeper into the thinking-and-planning process, especially when you begin first meetings with us.

  • Will you be moving out during construction, or will you live through it at home?
  • What will you do to keep pets and children safe?
  • Will renovations disrupt children’s school year(s)?
  • Are you okay being disrupted at work for last minute decisions or do you prefer a process that avoids this?
  • Should you talk to the neighbours to warn them about possible noise and disruption?
  • Will you be working from home? Will there be distractions, and if so, can you handle them?
  • What will you do about cost overruns? Is there a contingency? What do you need to know beforehand?
  • Will you have to pack up dishes and other belongings? Do you have a system for that ‒ storage containers, for example?
  • Will furniture be covered up or moved to a storage unit?
  • Will you have access to a stove and fridge, or will you rely on takeout/parents/grandparents/neighbours?
  • Ditto about daily access to a shower and laundry facilities.
  • Will your renovator clean up properly at the end of each day, and can you have that written into the contract? (Answer: with Lagois, yes and yes!)

About Lagois Design·Build·Renovate, Renovator of the Year

Lagois is an award-winning company that has helped homeowners for more than four decades to love where they live. We back it up with a peace-of-mind, no-fee, five-year warranty.

We go above and beyond in planning your home design with our unique three-phase design-build process that has no room for surprises. With our depth of design and construction expertise, we turn your vision into an impeccably constructed home, on time and on budget. We’re your renovation stress-busters.