I want to preface this blog by saying that in no way am I intending to demean the process of childbearing in any way. I cannot imagine what a woman experiences when she goes through pregnancy.
Having said that, though, I believe – and my spouse agrees to a point – that having your home renovated is like giving birth. Follow along with the analogy, and see if you agree.
The childbirth process starts with the woman finding out she is pregnant. The initial emotions are joy and excitement; something new and wonderful is about to happen. Time is spent talking and making plans. If not shopping for “baby stuff,” you are at least window shopping. This is one of the most enjoyable parts of the experience.
So too with a renovation project. Something new and wonderful is going to happen. You plan; you pick out the items that are going to be part of the renovation. It’s exciting!
Then comes the first trimester, or the beginning of the job. Reality sets in. A woman’s feet swell. She has morning sickness. She starts getting uncomfortable. Not fun. In a renovation, the exciting design work has been completed. Now you are in the middle of demolition Demolition can be a challenging part of the renovation process but of course we know how important it is to have as little disruption as possible of your normal flow of life.
In the second trimester, my wife says, women like to nest. My wife used this time to look for cribs, furniture, worked on decorating the nursery, etc. My wife’s demeanor had changed drastically; she was more relaxed about the pregnancy and life in general.
Think of the period right after demolition as the second trimester of the renovation project. You are establishing the backbone of the job; rough carpentry, electrical, plumbing and HVAC are being worked on. Additionally, you should be buttoning up the last of any open design decisions. You are now more relaxed with us working in your personal environment as well.
Well, then its time for the last trimester. What does a pregnant woman experience? Discomfort…misery…frustration. “I just want this thing out of me.” The emotions undoubtedly are warranted.
Clients are experiencing similar emotions as the remodeling job nears completion. At Michael Menn Ltd., we call it the E.J.S. (end-of-job-syndrome). It’s the time our clients are sick and tired of waking up everyday and seeing Bob the carpenter in their house. “I just want you out of my house,” they seem to be saying with every passing day.
But then…one last sharp, intense, mind-blowing burst of pain. And then you are looking at the most beautiful and precious thing in the world…your new baby. The swollen feet, the weight gain, the lack of sleep – they are all distant memories.
Now, the joy of seeing a beautifully remodeled home cannot compare to the miracle of childbirth. But, similarly when you see your beautifully renovated home, chances are you will have forgotten about the dust and demolition, and even Bob the carpenter.
The moral: keep reminding yourself that the remodeling project – just like pregnancy – is a process that is worth the ups and downs. And our job – just like the job of the husband or partner – is to be sympathetic to the pain, get you ice cream if you need it, and to gently remind you to keep focusing on the end result.
Sincerely,
Michael
