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 This
article was written and distributed by the Federation
of Master Builders, the building industry's largest trade
organisation, representing over 13,000 small and medium-sized
companies throughout the UK. If you'd like to know more
about the FMB, or would like to find a reputable builder,
try the Find a Builder web site at: http://www.findabuilder.co.uk.
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Having builders in ranks as one of
the most stressful times of your life – almost half the
population say it’s as stressful as arranging a wedding,
buying a house or even having a baby – and, would you
believe, worse than spending a week with the in-laws!
Top on the irritation list are builders who don’t finish
on time, ones who don't turn up when they say they will
and those who run over budget.
"It’s a massive
invasion of your personal space. It means you have to
adjust your private life to fit in with these strangers
and this can put real strains on the family,” says psychologist
Donna Dawson. “The key is to keep cool, keep talking and
keep it friendly.”
Some of us, though, have sorted out the stress - around
20% of us move out during building work, 16% go on holiday,
22% use a recommended builder and 11% use a written contract.
Asked about other ways of finding solace from the stress,
40% said they would visit the gym or take up yoga, 14%
said they would turn to alcohol and one in ten said they
would get counselling.
The majority - 75% - said they would employ an accredited
builder, such as a member of the FMB, to keep stress levels
down.
Top ten stress busters
1. Check that your builders are FMB members
2. Provide a detailed specification and make sure the
builders’ estimates cover everything.
3. Completely clear the building area
4. Ensure children and pets are kept away from the building
area
5. If you don’t want builders sharing your loo or kitchen,
make other arrangements
6. Warn your neighbours
7. Seek any necessary permissions
8. If you are unhappy, talk to your builder as soon as
you can
9. Make sure you are on hand for any quick decisions
10. Once you are happy with the work, pay them promptly
Regional differences as to how people would deal with
the stress of having the builders in :
NORTH
WEST: More homeowners in the North West - the highest
number nationally - said they would turn to counselling
to escape the stress of builders. 14% of North West homeowners
said they would seek counselling
EAST ANGLIANS:
East Anglians stood out nationally as the homeowners most
likely to hit the bottle to escape the stress of having
the builders in. 25% – as opposed to 14% nationally -
would turn to alcohol as their solace.
LONDONERS:
Exercise is the Londoners’ escape from builders. Almost
half Londoners (48%) – the highest number nationally –
said they would escape from the stress of having the builders
in by turning to the gym or doing yoga.
SOUTH
EAST: Exercise is the Southeners’ escape from builders.
Almost half of South East homeowners (48%) – the highest
number nationally – said they would escape from the stress
of having the builders in by turning to the gym or doing
yoga.
MIDLAND: Midland homeowners vote
with their feet when the builders move in. One in three
(33%) – the highest figure nationally – move out to beat
the stress of building work.
SCOTLAND:
Almost half of all Scottish homeowners (44%) would turn
to exercise to escape the builders – either off to the
gym or taking up yoga.
Scottish homeowners were also by far the most likely nationally
(84%) to get insurance or a warranty against something
going wrong.
90% of Scottish homeowners – the highest nationally -
said they would employ an accredited builder, such as
an FMB Member, to reduce stress.
SOUTH WEST:
South West homeowners say they’d vote with their feet
when the builders move in. The majority (80%) – the highest
figure nationally – said they’d like to move out to beat
the stress of building work.
WALES: Welsh
homeowners vote with their feet when the builders move
in. Almost one in five (19%) move out to beat the stress
of building work.
NORTH EAST: North East
homeowners are more chilled out than the rest of Britain
about builders moving in. While almost 50% of Brits compare
the stress caused by builders with buying a house or having
a baby - and 55% find it worse than spending a week with
the in-laws, only a third of North East homeowners are
stressed out by the same experience.
More than half of North East homeowners - 60% - said they’d
go on holiday to reduce the stress, but the majority (86%)
– one of the highest nationally - said they would employ
an accredited builder, such as an FMB Member. |
| © 2003 Federation
of Master Builders. You can find more useful articles
like this at: http://www.buildingarticles.co.uk. |
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