Home improvement increases property value, but can be a strain on relationships

On paper, investing in your home can sometimes make a lot of sense.

Minor kitchen remodeling jobs, for instance, have brought homeowners an average return of 82 percent since 2002, according to a recent report by Remodeling Magazine. Adding a deck/patio or converting the attic to an additional bedroom yielded a return of around 80 percent.

But dont forget a crucial variable: A successful remodel can hinge as much on strong relationships as savvy math or smart design. Poor communication with a contractor or spouse can lead to higher project costs and it might just ruin your marriage.

Your home is so personal, theres so much emotion tied to it, that its a mine field, said Stuart Klein, a licensed clinical professional counselor in Helena.

In a 2013 survey conducted by home improvement website Houzz.com, 12 percent of couples reported that their home remodels drove them to consider separation or divorce during the project. Almost half of respondents found the experience frustrating.

Klein has seen the fallout from home remodeling in his practice. He joked that the best way to get to know a partner might be to build a house with the person.

Youre seeing someone in a different role than youre accustomed to, he said. Bad things can happen.

Money is a common point of tension. Couples must negotiate how much to budget for a project, then manage any overruns that might arise during the work.

Differences in taste account for many tussles, and disputes with contractors can end up affecting a couples relationship. Do-it-yourself projects inevitably require teamwork during construction or installation.

These pressures can reveal aspects of your partner that you werent aware of, or the stress might lead you to take out frustrations on each other. You might think of it as weeks, or months, of shared decision-making and conflict resolution.

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Home improvement increases property value, but can be a strain on relationships