Remodeling EQ: The Homeowner Emotional Roller Coaster

Annemarie Diaz, Development and Engagement • Sept 14, 2022 • September 14, 2022

What are the typical emotions a homeowner goes through with their remodeling project?


While every person and every project is different, there are some commonalities we experience on a daily basis that we thought were worth sharing with homeowners preparing to enter into a remodel - especially if it is the first one.


Everyone knows remodeling can be stressful. The stakes are high both financially and emotionally, I mean this is your home! The family nest, where we go to relax and enjoy time with the people we love most, our respite from our daily work. Of course these days, the home has also become the workplace, which is another reason to remodel we will cover in a future blog!


Remodeling your home is fun and exciting… and it is also normal to experience a certain amount of anxiety and uncertainty, especially when undergoing your first major project. Homeowner emotions aren’t spoken of much externally, but within our industry, there actually is a term for it - The Homeowner Emotional Roller Coaster. Google it and you can find several examples! We thought it valuable to create a video to help familiarize our clients with the “roller coaster” we see many clients go through, the emotional states you (and/or your partner, spouse, children, parents…) can expect to go through during your home remodel or addition. 


This video walks through the main project phases - Design, Permit, and Construction - and the typical emotional experience people have as they ride the roller coaster of their home improvements. The fun and creative process of developing the design with new floor plans, 3D virtual walkthroughs, and selecting the beautiful new materials that will adorn your home; the tedious but necessary process of obtaining permits from the City, County, and Homeowner Associations; then finally the Construction phases, starting with demolition (when it gets real!), and over time seeing your designs come to life through the construction work. And finally… the final walk through (aka Substantial Completion), after which you can take occupancy of the space, and be able to relax and fully enjoy the beauty and improved functionality of your new home. 


Bear in mind, once all is done and the punch list complete, there will still be an adjustment period. Just like moving into a new home, moving into your new kitchen, master bath, or home addition will inspire new habits and movements, especially in kitchens where there may be new locations for appliances, dishes, and pantry items. For most people it takes from a few weeks to several months to adjust habits and behaviors to these new surroundings.


Thank you for checking out our blog, we hope this will be helpful in preparing for your next project!

The TRS Build Process: From Design to Completion

By Annemarie Diaz • April 8, 2025
At TRS Build , we believe having good processes in place is essential to support efficient and smooth project delivery, from initial project development through design and construction. That is why we take great pride in our Design-Build process, ensuring every project we take on in Austin , Georgetown , and surrounding areas is completed with the utmost care and attention to detail. From the initial design consultation to the final walk-through, our goal is to provide a seamless and rewarding experience for our clients while delivering outstanding results. If you’re considering a home remodel , home addition , or custom home in Austin , understanding the process can help you feel confident in your decision to move ahead with a home remodel or construction. In this blog post, we’ll take you through the step-by-step process of working with TRS Build from design to completion, giving you insight into what makes our approach unique and why it’s trusted by homeowners throughout the Austin area.

Stability and Durability Start with a Solid Foundation: The TRS Build Approach

By Annemarie Diaz • March 10, 2025
The home foundation - one of the unsung heroes of new construction! It lacks the natural beauty of a hardwood ceiling, the refined finish of fine tile, the sparkle of a new quartz counter. It has its brief but fabulous moment as the star of the show when first breaking ground, then is soon covered by beautiful things that will carry all of the attention and applause. A good foundation's raison d'etre is to be forgotten below the beauty and never thought of again. But as builders we know, that massive block of cement (or collection of piers and beams) is one of the most crucial components of a new home or home addition, and deserves consideration as well for a major home remodel. When embarking on any home project, a key player in the final product that cannot be overlooked is the foundation. At TRS Build , we understand that a strong foundation is, literally ... the cornerstone of every successful new build and home addition. Whether you’re adding a room to your home, undertaking a complete remodel, or building from the ground up, the foundation ensures the long-term stability and durability of your entire project. In this blog post, we’ll explain why stability and durability begin with a solid foundation, and how we make sure the foundation of every TRS Build project is done right.

Why is it important to hire a NARI contractor?

By Annemarie Diaz, UDCP • February 3, 2025
My husband (who is also my business partner, apparently we truly can’t get enough of each other!) frequently says that we will become like the five people we spend the most time with, that we are shaped by the environment we choose to immerse ourselves in, and more importantly, the people in that environment. I think the same is true of our companies. That is why at TRS Build we choose to surround ourselves with fellow members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) . I was reminded of that this month during our Austin NARI Builder and Developer Roundtable meeting where I had the opportunity to engage with like-minded business owners, exchange ideas on what is working best to deliver to our clients, employees, and tradespeople, and I could personally share from our SERVICE value focus and the importance of trust and remaining trustworthy to our clients and team. We choose to spend time with other NARI members because they run reputable businesses, provide amazing results, and like ourselves, invest in knowing other reputable contractors and finding opportunities for us to learn from one another. Each of our companies is different in our value proposition and project focus, but we are all the same in our drive to raise the bar on customer experience and affirm the trust we have established over years or even decades of delivering to homeowners in and around Austin.