by Sharon Jones

A home renovation is an exciting project. Whether you’re making some dramatic improvements to your home, expanding or transforming your backyard, the end result can make a big difference to your home.

But while you might be getting excited about your home renovation project, the chances are that your neighbors aren’t. The noise and disruption can be a nuisance, especially over the long-term. 

Make sure you keep your neighbours happy during your home renovation with the following tips.

Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons

Speak to them in advance

One of the easiest ways to ease tensions about any work taking place in your home is to warn your neighbors in advance. The more prepared they are, the better they’ll feel once the work starts. Let them know how long the work is going to go on for, how they might be affected and what the anticipated problems could be. This involves being able to manage your home remodel effectively and understanding everything that’s taking place.

Some contractors will drop their rates if they have two jobs to do, especially in close proximity. So having a conversation with your neighbors could spark them into renovating their home, and sharing some of the cost with you!

Keep noise to a minimum

Most home renovation projects involve some degree of noise, but keeping it manageable can keep your neighbors happy. Choosing the times to carry out the noisiest work as well as using the right approaches and materials can help you keep the noise disturbance at a minimum.

You’ll want to consider things like using the right anchors for your foundations. There are different benefits that come with different types of anchors, and some are designed to help reduce noise and disruption. Removable anchors can be useful for smaller projects, while using helical piles minimizes disturbance in environmentally sensitive areas, like a residential area. Make sure you consider all of your options to help you create as little disturbance as possible.

Check in on them

Resentment is something that can build over time, but checking in on your neighbors could diffuse the tension and iron out any concerns they might have while the work is being carried out. Having those conversations can also help to reassure you, as some issues might not be as bad as you think they are. Try to work with them rather than against them, you’ll end up with a much better outcome.

Take them a thank you gift

When everything is over and your home renovation is complete, don’t forget to say thank you for all of their patience. A bottle of wine or taking them out to dinner makes for a great thank you gift, and can help you keep up a good relationship with your neighbors going forward. 

Managing your home renovation project can be stressful enough, without having to worry about upsetting your neighbors too. Whether you’re working on making your home more self-sufficient or you want to add value by making better use of your space, your project should be something to enjoy, which you can with all of the potential risks and concerns ironed out early. Give your neighbors a head’s up and all will be right in the neighborhood!