How to Live in Your Home During a Renovation
Are you planning a home renovation? Whether your remodeling plans include a single room or the whole house, the renovation process will likely interfere with your normal home routine. If you’re planning to stay at home through the remodel, there are some important considerations to take into account.
The following tips and tricks offer insight into how to live in your home during a remodel, along with some essential pros and cons to consider.
Can You Live in Your House During Construction?
Yes, you can live in your house during your home remodeling projects. However, you’ll want to ensure you will still have a place to sleep, bathe and eat throughout the process. Otherwise, your home would be too impractical, and staying with family or in a hotel for the duration of the construction may be more worthwhile.
First and foremost, the decision to stay in your home during construction hinges on the scale and scope of your renovation project. Minor renovations like painting a room or upgrading fixtures may pose minimal disruption, making it relatively easy to inhabit your space. Conversely, living in your house during a kitchen renovation or home addition can result in significant disruptions, noise and dust. These larger projects may warrant alternative living arrangements.
Your choice of living arrangements during construction determines the feasibility of staying in your home. If you have a separate living space within your house, such as a basement or guest suite, it can make living through a renovation more comfortable. Alternatively, some homeowners opt for temporary housing, like renting an apartment or staying with family and friends, to escape the construction chaos. Look at some pros and cons to see if it’s the right choice.
Pros of Living in Your House During a Renovation
Learn how to live in a house while renovating with several advantages. Here are some key pros to consider:
- Convenience: Packing for a day trip to the park is involved enough — now consider how much you’d need to live somewhere else for an extended period. Staying at home during a remodel can be much more convenient so you can maintain your family’s routines as much as possible.
- Cost savings: Unless you have family or friends nearby with enough space for your whole family, you’re likely looking at a hotel stay for the duration of your home renovation. However, unless your stay is covered by insurance due to a disaster, you’ll have some hefty expenses for lodging and food. Furthermore, you’ll still be responsible for mortgage payments or rent while you’re gone. Staying at home is often the best option to save money.
- Communication: Remaining close by gives you better access to observe and communicate with your contractor. You can build a good relationship with them, see the progress in real-time and be available to answer any questions or issues that come up to keep the project moving forward.
Cons of Living in Your House During a Renovation
While there are advantages to living in your home during a renovation, be aware of the potential drawbacks and challenges that can arise. Here are some of the cons to consider:
- Limited privacy: Contractors and workers coming and going can intrude on your privacy. Your home may not feel like a private sanctuary during a renovation.
- Health considerations: Renovations can sometimes involve the removal of hazardous materials like asbestos or lead-based paint, which can pose health risks if not properly managed.
- Noise and disruption: Prepare kids and pets for increased noise levels and disruption to their routines, which can be unsettling. Consider designated quiet spaces for them to retreat to.
Types of Remodels You Can Live In Your House Through
Deciding to live in your home during a renovation is a significant choice — the type of remodel you’re planning plays a crucial role in determining the feasibility of this choice. Cosmetic updates are typically less disruptive, such as painting, wallpapering or changing fixtures. These projects can often be completed one room at a time, allowing you to continue living comfortably in the rest of your home.
Minor kitchen upgrades, for example, installing new countertops, backsplashes or cabinet refacing, can often be accomplished with minimal disruption to your daily routines. You might even set up a temporary kitchen in another part of your home during this type of remodel. You can also do bathroom renovations while living in your house, especially if there are multiple bathrooms to use.
Remember that even with these less intrusive remodels, there will still be some noise, dust and disruption. Effective communication with your contractors, careful planning and realistic expectations will enable a successful living-in option in any renovation.
Tips for Living in Your House During a Remodel
While it’s possible to remain in your home, how do you actually live in a house while renovating? You’ll need to adjust your daily life and routines, but with our tips and tricks, you can stay in your home during a remodel and make it as enjoyable as possible.
Some of these tips include:
- Make non-remodeled rooms multi-functional: Get creative and find ways to use the areas of your home that are not under construction. Establish a designated living space that remains unaffected by the remodel. Ensure it has the essentials, such as a functional kitchenette and bathroom facilities.
- Coordinate with your construction team: Establish an explicit schedule for working days and hours in close coordination with your construction team. Ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding the project timeline can enable you to organize your daily activities efficiently and comprehensively understand the ongoing renovations within your home.
- Designate safe spaces for kids: Children may need help understanding why their usual playroom or snack spot is off-limits during renovations. Create clearly marked safe zones for your kids, ensuring they always know where they should be. Make these designated spaces as inviting as possible to encourage them to steer clear of the construction areas.
- Utilize outdoor space: Outdoor space can be used to escape the construction zone. Consider using outdoor space as a dining area or kitchen as well. Use a grill or portable appliances to cook your meals outside.
- Have a backup plan: While you might initially believe you can comfortably endure living in your home during construction, feelings and circumstances can change. Be proactive and have a contingency plan in place, ready to implement if living at home becomes impractical or uncomfortable.
- Hire a trusted contractor: A trusted, high-quality home construction company will work with you to respect your home and day-to-day life. Plus, a trusted contractor will also have plenty of experience with a live-in construction situation, so they’ll be able to offer advice and guidance.
Remodel Your Home With Rossi Construction Today
Our dedicated team at Rossi Construction, an established construction firm, possesses the expertise to transform your dream home renovations into reality. We take immense pride in our craftsmanship, delivered by our skilled and extensively trained professionals, ensuring exceptional outcomes for our clients.
Our commitment to personalized service and exceptional customer care guarantees that your home improvement project is entrusted to capable hands. Whether you opt to reside in your home during the renovation or not, rest assured that our team will accompany you through every phase of the process.
To get started, request a free estimate for your renovation project today!
