5 Considerations for Where To Live During Your Remodel

One thing that families need to consider when planning a large remodeling project is where they’ll live during the construction process. Often, families assume that they’ll be able to work around the chaos of the remodel and cohabitate with their contractor and his crew. One thing is certain: it’s better to fairly assess how realistic this is and weigh the cons and pros before you’re several weeks in and need to find some last-minute solution. Here are a few points to consider when you’re determining where to live during your remodel:

1.) Financial Aspects

Yes, it’s true that renting a home for weeks or months can be very expensive, and other solutions like buying an RV or going on a vacation can also add up. However, it’s important to also recognize that a project will be completed more quickly when the crew has the place to themselves, and when it comes to construction, time is money. When a family continues to live in a house, the construction is often hindered by occupants, and slowing down construction makes it more expensive, not to mention they price you might put on your own sanity and convenience.

2.) Bathrooms, Water, Power

Utilities are also a major determinant of whether or not living at home can be feasible. Will you water or power be turned off? For how long? What about your heat or air conditioning? If your bathroom is being remodeled, do you have other bathrooms in your house you can use? Will one bathroom be enough for a four person household accustomed to having two?

3.) It Takes a Village

Many people get through a remodel by leaning a little on their friends and family. If you don’t want to include a hotel or rental in your remodeling costs, but you can’t realistically stay at home, you may want to consider moving in with someone close to you. If you have children and pets, you can also split up these residencies. Often, children will be overjoyed at the prospect of perhaps spending a week or two sleeping over with their friends or cousins, and you might have a friend who would love to host your labrador. It’s natural to worry about imposing on the hospitality of others, but keep in mind you can always repay your debts with a gorgeous dinner or party when your new kitchen or living room is finished.

4.) Pets

Pets can often complicate your housing options during a remodel even more than children. If you choose to stay at home, it can be almost impossible to make your pet understand that they need to stay out of the construction zone during work hours. Further, the last responsibility a work crew wants to deal with is worrying whether an indoor cat might run outside while they have the door open. Pets are also often terrified by the strangers and the noise, and pets with disabilities have a particularly hard time. If you don’t have somewhere you can reliably house your animals during your remodel, don’t forget to budget for a kennel or shelter!

5.) Cleaning

Even if you can endure the noise, strangers, and inconvenience of a remodeling crew, you might not be able to handle the mess. Construction can create a lot of debris, from sawdust to dry wall, and the smell of dust or paint can drive you crazy. Further, it will seriously slow down a crew if they have to tidy up after themselves enough to keep the living space usable at the end of every day, which slows down the project and increases expenses.

So where should you live during your remodel? That completely depends on the duration, your needs, your family, and your finances. We just encourage clients to consider their housing needs before they begin their project, and budget accordingly. We’re also happy to talk to you about your options—contact us at Harjo to learn more about what to expect from your project!