Helpers from the family, friends, and acquaintances circle

Since I was able to work quite hard for the last three quarters of a year, I can only agree. My friends, with whom I have been doing nonsense every weekend for the past 10 years, almost all had no time after helping three or four times on the weekend because they already had other plans. Of course, it's clear that the motivation was missing, I can totally understand that and wouldn't do it much differently myself.

By the way, the after-work helpers are almost a disadvantage. I quickly stopped taking care of helpers because I noticed that I finish tasks that can be done alone faster on my own. When after-work helpers are around, more chatting and beer drinking happen than actual work.

But you can't expect your friends to really put in hard work either. I would simply find that inappropriate; after all, it is a favor among friends. Anyone who has a bigger project planned should be clear from the beginning that they will almost be doing it alone.

My father and I have each spent 8-10 days of vacation so far on personal work.

In addition, for the past six months, we have added three days on weekends per month.

We do a lot together and really put in effort, but I do not include friends.

Preparing the land, rough staking, roof structure, fitting the attic, garage roof, and constant tidying/cleaning have been done by us so far; insulating and cladding the attic, insulation under the underfloor heating, and tiling in the basement are still planned as personal work, plus the classics laminate flooring and painting at the end.

Even though it is for myself and not for friends, and even though it is nice to see successes and progress, I notice how it becomes exhausting over time.

I have now been renovating for 5 months. And I have to say, it really takes a toll on your own strength. At the beginning, it is no problem to be on the construction site for 12-14 hours on the weekend. After 4 weeks, it’s over after 10 hours. And sometimes that is already a struggle. But if you take breaks now and then and don’t do anything for one or two weeks, you immediately have more energy again. On the weekend, the family is usually there. They pull you along. And it goes on again. One problem is also the self-motivation when working without immediate results. Meaning working all day but, for example, only having laid a water pipe from the basement to the upper floor. For a few weeks now I have had a new job and am only home at half past five. Which has the disadvantage that usually nothing more happens after work. This was also an adjustment. Because otherwise I would be home by half past three. And back then you could do a lot more.

Hello,
very well written post, I find myself in many points. Keep it up!
Best regards

I also think there should be a balanced ratio between paid helpers and friends. Personally, I would never have asked a friend to help me several times a week. After all, it is my house and not theirs. In addition, voluntary helpers should definitely always be kept in a good mood with delicious food and drinks.

I do almost everything here alone, advantage: since I don’t work, I don’t have to use up any vacation, I have vacation every day, so to speak. Since I live on the construction site, I constantly have the work in front of my eyes, including a bad conscience if I haven’t done anything for a while. The problem is the construction stop when materials are missing again and I have to wait for weeks until I get taken to the hardware store. Even when I need a third hand, it takes ages for my husband to get moving. When he has vacation, he wants to really have vacation... Consequently, progress is slow. But by now I have quite a few things that I can look at with pride, and that makes the view of the huge pile of work still left more bearable. I don’t have any family helpers, I tried it once, but that was a total failure. The gracious gentleman came, drank beer, and pushed me to clear away the pile of stones (1.3 tons...) faster, saying I was holding up the work. Before that I was already scolded when I carried a crate of drinks, that was not allowed because of the "mother bands"... good that a ton of stones is lighter. I can’t use a pascha on the construction site. I’m estimating 15 years from our shell home to a ready-to-move-in house (although we have been living in it since day one), of which 5 years have passed now... fits.