How to Approach Your Neighbors When Expanding Your Summit County Home

You’ve decided to do some major renovations to your home in Summit County. Congratulations! You’re now joining many other homeowners who have also chosen to get involved in extensive home remodeling projects. 

According to Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, residential spending on additions, remodels and other significant home improvement projects for October 2012 through September 2013 is estimated to total $145.5 billion. This is a 19.6 percent increase from last year. So you are not alone when it comes to tackling considerable renovation efforts. Residential remodeling is now on the rise.

However, a home expansion project requires much more than blueprints and building permits. You also have to take your neighbors into account. Outdoor construction is bound to affect their lives, too, especially if they live close to your home.

So before you start breaking down any walls, notify your immediate neighbors of your upcoming plans. Whether you’re building a new deck on your property or putting on an addition, make sure you tell the people living around you within at least 30 days of the project’s start date.

It’s also a good idea to show neighbors your finalized design plans. This will help them visualize your remodel. You should also tell people when the renovation is set to start, how long it’s expected to take and what types of equipment will be used.

Addressing Any Concerns

When you first approach your neighbors, let them know that if they have any questions or issues with the project they should contact you. But don’t be surprised if they bring up concerns right away. It’s natural for your neighbors to feel anxious about a construction project that’s close to where they live.

So take the time to answer all of their questions. Be sure to inform them that your remodel is legal and that you already have all of the required permits and other permissions necessary for this renovation.

If your project is a bit on the unconventional side, you might want to consider sharing specific details of the construction before the remodeling begins. For example, show them the color of your siding so that they are better prepared for the changes you plan to make. 

Courtesy During Construction

Construction projects are often very messy and inconvenient for everyone in the vicinity. But you can minimize any frustration by managing the work crews. Make sure the work day begins after 8:00am so that the noise doesn’t wake your neighbors. Tell crews to keep dumpsters or equipment away from neighbors’ driveways as well.

Also, have workers clean up regularly so that debris doesn’t stray into other people’s yards or cause any property damage. In addition, it’s a good idea to block off the work area so that unauthorized people don’t wander around your construction site. You want to do everything you can to maintain safety standards and prevent neighborhood complaints.

When Construction is Completed

Once your home remodeling is finished, you might think about going around the neighborhood again to thank people for their patience. A gesture such as baked goods or gift cards could go a long way to show your appreciation, too.

If neighbors are interested in seeing how your home now looks, you could schedule an open house type of party. This is a great way to make people feel part of your project and build camaraderie in your neighborhood at the same time. 

Want More Information on Home Renovations?

As you can see, there is a lot involved in home renovation projects. If you’d like other tips on effective ways to get started on remodeling plans, let me know. I’m ready to assist you in any way I can.

Also, I’m available to help you buy a home in Summit County. Just tell me the type of property you’d like and I can put together a comprehensive list we can go through together. Feel free to check out the latest listings on my website before we schedule a meeting.

You may also have certain questions or concerns that are addressed in my Kelli Sells Blog. So take a look and then contact me at your convenience. Send me an email at [email protected] or call my office lines whenever you’d like. I look forward to hearing from you!