How to Survive a Home Remodel
By Scott Johnson, CEO Cedar Ridge Remodeling Company
The good news is that you’re finally starting that home remodel and getting the house of your dreams. The bad news is that you need to live through a month or even months of remodeling to get there. Living in a house that’s being remodeled is stressful, but if you’re prepared, you can make it easier on the whole family. This little guide will help you survive a home remodel.
Plan Ahead
Be sure to find out how long the remodel will take and what it will cost. This is why choosing a remodeling contractor is so important. Explore how the work will disrupt your life and make contingencies for it. Know where and what will be affected and when it will happen. Also, make plans in case something goes wrong. A severe power outage or plumbing emergency might necessitate decamping for a couple of days.
Home Remodel Ground Rules
Talk to the contractor about what hours and which days of the week the crew will work. That will make it easier to plan your life around the renovation. Consider getting a portable toilet for the workers so yours will still be available. Tell them where they can park their trucks and establish how they will clean up the work site. A qualified remodeling professional should discuss this with you and include items like this in the contract. If not, bring them up on your own.
“This guide helped us greatly during our remodeling project. We would’ve never thought to plan for these things before we started, but we’re so glad we did. With this guide in mind and the great planning that Cedar Ridge Remodeling Company provides as part of their general practices it made everything go smoothly.”
Veronica and Steve K. – Kitchen Remodel
Set up a Living Area – Key to survive a home remodel
Cover the entrances to the work area with plastic to avoid getting dust in the rest of the house; this will also establish a living area. If you’re having a kitchen remodeling job, set up a temporary kitchen with a microwave and hot plate, and designate a sink for washing dishes. Stock up on bottled water and paper plates and cups. You’ll need them if you lose the use of your plumbing at some point. This one will go a long way to help you survive a home remodel.
Store Your Belongings
Put away anything breakable and delicate. Even if your china cupboard isn’t in the work area, the vibrations from the machinery can cause things to crack or fall. If you can’t move some pieces of furniture, cover them with drop clothes so they won’t get coated in dust. Once again a qualified remodeling professional should bring up these item with you. Consider onsite storage units such as PODS if room is limited or if you want to insure safety.
Now, make sure you get it in writing. We plan for worst-case scenario, not for calm seas ahead…
Put it in the Contract
You’ve made a plan, you set up a living area, and set the ground rules. Now, make sure you get it in writing. We plan for worst-case scenario, not for calm seas ahead, so make sure to include these in the contract. That way, should something should come up, everyone is covered, and there’s a document to review. Yes, at Cedar Ridge Remodeling Company we include all these in our contract.
