One thing you’ll never hear prospective homeowners say when looking at a potential home is, “I can’t wait for our first major renovation project.” In fact, most home-buyers don’t think about renovations unless they’re purchasing a fixer-upper, and most people aren’t looking for fixer-uppers. However, even homes in excellent condition must undergo major renovations every 15 years. After all, your house is a major investment, and it’s incumbent upon you to take great care of an investment that could potentially appreciate value.
One of the major factors to consider when taking on a renovation project is where your family will stay while your home is undergoing improvements. Can you stay in your home, or should you head for the proverbial hills? Major renovation projects typically take between seven and 10 months for smaller houses and nine and 15 months for larger ones. Indeed, you can live on your property during renovations, and we’re here to tell you how. Continue reading to learn what to consider and how to survive in your home while it gets a makeover.
Plan your renovations carefully.
If you decide to stay in your home during renovations, scheduling is critical. You’ll want to do any demolition early in the spring so you can have the exterior of your home complete by the end of the summer. It’s also a good idea to do your kitchen in the summer when you can do most of your cooking outdoors. You can save projects like bathtub replacement and laying tile for the winter, as they’re indoor projects. Plus, you’ll definitely want use of your bathtub in the summer when it’ll be hot and your family will be more active.
Consider putting some of your belongings in storage.
Less is more when doing home renovations, meaning the less you have in your house, the more easily contractors can perform their duties. It’s a good idea to rent a storage unit so you can put belongings you won’t need in storage during your home improvements. If it’s summer, you’ll definitely want to put your pull up jeans and sweaters in storage and break out the summer clothes and beach gear. Try to find a storage facility near your home, as it’s likely you’ll have to make frequent trips to and from your storage unit during renovations.
Set up a temporary kitchen.
You’re also going to need a way to prepare meals while your kitchen is being remodeled. It’s a good idea to set up a temporary kitchen so you can continue preparing meals from home. Otherwise, you’ll have to go out for all your meals, which will get expensive quickly. Also, as we mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to renovate your kitchen during the summer when you can do all or most of your cooking on the grill.
Find activities to keep your family busy during the day.
Construction sites aren’t the safest or most fun environments for children. It’s a good idea to schedule family activities to keep your family busy and out of the contractors’ way during the day. Use your home renovations as an opportunity for family bonding. It’s a good time to unplug from the digital world and go explore the local area with your loved ones.
As you can see, you can live on your property while doing renovations, but you have to take precautions to keep your family safe and give the contractors the space they need to do a good job. However, it may be a good idea to stay with relatives or in an extended-stay hotel if you have a baby or family members with respiratory issues that could be triggered by all the dust that will be in the air. If you do decide to stay in your home, it’s a great time opportunity to bond with your family while you witness the transformation of your home together.
