Okay, we are almost there and just wanted to make a couple more points before we start talking about custom home features again.
Timing is Everything
Never discuss the home build in certain situations. For me, I can flat out tell you when I am hungry or tired, I can be difficult, so if you are similar, this is not the time to have a discussion about what color tile you want or can we eliminate a more costly feature out of my man cave. Tired, hungry, sick, and stressed out about something else are simply not the times to engage in these conversations.
And here is a very important one… do not hit your partner with this as soon as they walk in the door from work. Everyone needs some time to decompress, so give it to them before you get into the conversation.
One final point here… if your partner tells you, “Hey, just let me grab something to eat first, then we can sit down and talk about it,” give them that time. Do not dismiss it as them putting off the conversation. They have literally just told you what they need to have a calm conversation about this, so don’t dismiss it or you may be lighting a candle you cannot put out.
Have a Sense of Humor
You cannot be serious about everything all the time, right? Being stressed out all the time just does not work, so remember to keep that sense of humor because sometimes you just have to let these things roll off your back. More importantly, sometimes you need to destress your partner and make him or her laugh, so keep it light.
Take a Break
We discussed this above, but I really want to stress the fact that there are times when you just need to walk away and get refreshed. Staring at the same problem for hours is not going to change anything because you start to get tunnel vision. Sometimes, you just need to walk away, clear your head, do something else, then come back to it. It will still be there, but that little break you took may give you a new approach.
Don’t Be Afraid to Say “I’m Sorry”
If you lose your temper or know you were flat-out wrong, just admit it when things cool down. Sometimes those two words are all that is needed to fix the situation. If you are the one being apologized to, don’t just dismiss it, accept it, and move on.
Talk to Someone Else
You more than likely have friends that have been through a custom build, so talk to them. Find out the challenges and ask them how they got through it together without ripping off each other’s head. Learn from their challenges so you do not go through the same thing.
Okay, we are going to get off the couch now and get back to doing what we do best… which is offering design and building ideas for custom homes! We hope these tips help keep the peace!