Stay or Go? Living Through A Renovation
Home renovations are an exciting time. You’re able to put your own stamp on the home’s design and layout and make sure that it works for how your family lives.
But it’s best to go into the process knowing that the middle will get messy.
My clients often ask me if I recommend that they live through the renovation or temporarily move out while the work is being done. The right answer depends on your individual family’s needs but here’s a few considerations:
Dust: Even the most meticulous contractor will generate a lot of dust. Put valuable items in storage away from the home and plan to vacuum daily. If you have family members who are sensitive to dust or have asthma, that might make you lean towards moving out during the busiest times of the renovation.
Alternate kitchen: If your kitchen is being renovated, think through how you will cook and prepare food for your family. For example, you could turn a basement bar into a makeshift kitchen. You’ll need ways to store and heat food daily. Takeout is an option for a short-term fix, but it gets very expensive and cumbersome quickly if you don’t have a makeshift kitchen.
Noise: If you work from home, you might want to consider relocating during the renovation. Home construction is loud and may disrupt your focus or Zoom meetings.
Location: If you’re looking to relocate, look for a rental that is close to your home so you can check in on progress and answer contractor questions on site.
Flexibility: Rentals that allow for month-to-month agreements with some flexibility are ideal. Construction timelines are notoriously hard to predict and you don’t want your rental to expire before your project is complete.
Storage: Think about where you will store furniture, light fixtures, tile, cabinets, etc. as they arrive. Many materials arrive before they are needed in the project timeline so you’ll need a secure and dry place to store these high ticket items.
Remember to take a step back and think about the outcome - a family home that you’ll get to enjoy for years ahead. Renovations can be stressful and messy but there’s also the only way to get the exact home that fits your family.