The Psychological Phases of Home Renovation: A Brief Case Study

Phase One: Ignorant Excitement

This phase may begin during house-hunting and extend for a brief period after the acquisition of the home.  During this phase, the homeowners (or in some cases, hopeful homeowners) find themselves excitedly looking at paint swatches and flooring samples.  They pat themselves on the back for recognizing the "hidden potential" of what is, in reality, a dump that most people run from as quickly as possible.  Additionally during this phase, the homeowners may sketch out a list of projects they will complete to make their new home lovely, perhaps even budgeting for the expenses of these projects.  Most likely, they will fool themselves into thinking they have accounted for additional costs and have even "over-budgeted."

Phase Two:  False Security

Usually, this phase will begin immediately following the purchase of the home, and extend no more than two weeks into the renovation process.  During this phase, homeowners dance with glee over the transformation of wall colors.  The phrases "We've got this!"  or "I can't believe how it's coming together!"  or "Look at the progress we've made!" are likely to be heard repeatedly.  

Phase Three:  Weight of Reality

During this phase, following the completion of the easiest (and likely the cheapest) remodeling projects, things start to look less peachy.  Suddenly, the beautifully transformed dining room walls aren't looking as gorgeous against the flooring in desperate need of replacement.  The upstairs bathroom no longer being Pepto Bismol pink isn't compensating for the fact that nothing can be stored in the filthy kitchen cabinets that are still waiting for demolition.  Emotions run high during this phase, and the wife may be likely to burst into tears about things like living out of boxes, being scared of the carpet, or having to chase her toddler away from piles of power tools.  

Phase Four:  Calling in Reinforcements

If professional help is ever needed, the time is now.  Homeowners are likely to call independent contractors for help with the big stuff during this phase.  

While help from family and friends was likely utilized prior to this, these folks will really up the ante at this point.  A father in law, perhaps fearing his daughter in law is heading for a pre-mid-life crisis, will likely give up holiday vacation time AND get the flu in order for real progress to be made.

The following photographs and captions exemplify a family experiencing phase four of this psychological process:

 Shown above and below, B. Reese, a successful optometrist, moonlights as a manual laborer to appease his stressed out children.  Unbeknownst to him, the toddler in polar bear pajamas is infecting him with the worst case of the flu he will likely ever experience. 

Shown below, B. Reese uses the greatest tool ever invented (i.e. a crowbar from Big Lots) to demolish existing, water damaged, hardwood flooring.  

Every one of the tiny dots in the photo below are in actuality staples that the crowbar method did not remove.  These would need to be painstakingly removed by hand.  The family pictured in this case study might have cruised around the Lowe's parking lot more than once, looking for illegal laborers to assist in the completion of this project, before remembering they were too cheap to pay for that. 

 Piles of staples.  The honeymoon phase is over, folks.

 While tears may have been shed and blisters gained during this experience, the giant square of hideous carpet and stained kitchen linoleum became the biggest blessings in disguise--no nasty staples to remove there!

Phase Five:  Comfort and Complacency

At this point, the major projects are complete, and the owners actually start to feel like they can call this house a home.  They aren't embarrassed for someone to step through the front door.

Living and Dining space, after quick cleanup and before renovation:

After new floating hardwood flooring, paint, and light fixtures:

Kitchen, after quick clean-up and before renovation:

Kitchen, after new cabinetry, paint, and flooring (appliances and light fixtures still to eventually be replaced):

On a more negative note, at this point the homeowners are sick of paint brushes.  They don't want to see another nail gun.  The mention of a trip to Lowe's or Ace Hardware can send them over the edge.  Things like trim that needs a second coat of paint, or shoe molding that appears to be missing in a five foot space, or unfinished thresh holds . . . suddenly those things don't really bother them . . . at least not enough to motivate the completion of the projects.

Phase Six:  Completion

During this phase, every last project is completed.  This phase is most likely to occur when preparing to sell the home to a new potential buyer.  The cycle will then repeat when the family purchases their next home.       

We are definitely in Phase Five, but it feels pretty good.  Still some little projects to cross off our to-do list (like getting a fridge that doesn't leak and installing it in the kitchen, instead of our shelf-less gem that we're keeping in the garage), but we have floors!  We have a kitchen!  We were able to decorate for Christmas! There's always still work to be done, but for now, it feels good to be able to look around and say, "Oh, we'll get to that later."  I still need to post before and afters of what we have accomplished so far upstairs, but this is a good start for now.