Lots of things you do with your spouse can put your relationship to the test: have children, move across the country or start a new business, for example. But one couples activity might be the cause of more divorces in this country than any other, at least according to a recent survey.
HomeAdvisor conducted the survey, which involved 975 people who had undertaken a home improvement project with their spouses. Seventeen percent reported that the project directly led to their getting separated or divorced. Think about that. Projects like remodeling the kitchen and replacing the roof caused nearly one in five of these people’s marriages to end.
Money and taste
Anyone who has undergone renovations on their home knows how stressful it can be. Whether you do the work yourself or hire professionals, it can take a long time and cost a lot of money. In fact, money was one of the biggest challenges mentioned in the survey. Eighty percent of people said that the worst conflict they had with their spouse was setting — and sticking to — a budget for the project. Different ideas about what the project should cost can certainly lead to relationship problems or at least exacerbate previous money disagreements. While most of the couples worked out their differences about budgets, for a significant number, fighting about the cost of home improvement projects was apparently the last straw.
Besides costs, agreeing on the look of the project was another common problem. About 43 percent said they and their spouse argued about style and design.
Almost every couple in Roanoke fights from time to time. Most of the time, you resolve the problem. But if you and your spouse are fighting more and more, and you are increasingly unhappy with your home life, it may be time to consider a divorce. Homeowners must then figure out what to do with the house, along with the rest of their valuables, such as their savings and retirement accounts.
