We all know that beginning a remodel marks the start of an exciting time. Walls come down, dream kitchens are built, and homes are made. Depending on what you want to accomplish and the size of the project, you will need to determine whether you will be looking for temporary housing, or living through a remodel. Other factors like cost and family safety will come into play as well.
So you’ve made your decision and you’re going to live through it. Congrats! Now the real fun will begin, and keep in mind that many people make this same decision. Know that not all experiences are bad and there are several tips to aid in keeping sane while living through a remodel.
- Communication – Unless you are capable of doing all the work by yourself and have no one else living with you, good communication skills are required. If you have a spouse, communicating with one another and deciding on what you’re wanting out of the project is necessary. You both want to love your newly renovated house. When the decisions are made, if you are using a contractor, make sure you keep them in the loop. In the end they are doing the job.
- Be Patient – When living in home during a renovation, time will seem to slow down. You’ll being to fixate on the messes in the home and the workers constantly being around during the day. It’s enough to make anyone go crazy. This may be a perfect time to go out and do to spend the least amount of time at home.
- The Mess – As much as you would love to contain the mess in the area in which the work is being completed, there is no possible way to keep the surrounding area clean. Especially if you are removing walls or flooring. You will be cleaning dust for weeks after the project is done. All of the materials have to go somewhere and all your stuff in the room currently being worked on is placed throughout your home. During this process, it’s best to just ignore any and all messes. Just keep thinking of the beautiful home you’ll have in the end.
- Plumbing – Plan with your contractor to know what days, if any, you will be without water. While this doesn’t seem like an issue at first, if you wake up and go to shower and no water is available, you will be out of luck. There is no way to plan far enough in advance when you will be without water, but if you have a friend or family member nearby, it would be best to ask them if an emergency were to happen, could you use some running water.
- Privacy – If your contractor starts at 8 am and you wake up at 8am, know that they will be there ready to work at that time. Until the work is complete, people will be in your home for a large chunk of the day. Make sure you’re decent before coming out your room.
While it’s not the easiest or most convenient, living through a remodel is doable if you plan things accordingly!