Do you have what it takes to Survive a Renovation Project on your home? We’ve done it a few times, and we’ve helped our kids through the process. And let me tell you – it ain’t easy. However, with proper planning and the right attitude, you can live through the experience. Here are some things to consider before you actually begin the project.
Arrange for New Parking Spaces
The contractor needs room to work and get materials delivered and stored. Additionally, they need their truck close to access supplies and tools. This means that the driveway and the garage are now the contractor’s space, not yours. Find a space to park which will not be in their way. If they need to walk a distance to their trucks, it will take more time. And more time means it will cost you more.
Decide What You’ll Keep
Take a good look at the area you’ll be renovating. It undoubtably has some personal belongings in the area. Decide beforehand which items you’ll keep, which items you may want to keep and which items you’ll no longer need. Move the items you’ll keep to a safe location away from the work area. The other two groups, get rid of them. You really don’t need the items you marked as “you may want to keep”. They’ll just be in the way.
Protect the Other Rooms.
Hammering and drilling in the work area may affect adjacent rooms. The pictures on the walls may fall from the vibrations. Dust and dirt may (actually I mean will) find it’s way into other areas. Move fragile items to another, safer, area of the home for the duration. Do your best to keep plastic sheeting in place to minimize the dirt from intruding into the rest of the home. And don’t forget to change the furnace filters often during, and after, the renovation.
Provide Separate Entryways
You’ll need to provide an entryway for the workers. Keep your (and your children’s) belongings of of their way. If possible, you and your family use one entryway, the workers will use another. And make sure that the workers have access to the electrical panel and plumbing.
Bottom Line
While the time during the renovation can be stressful, you will probably survive. However, you may feel that you won’t. Get out of the house. Take day trips. Visit friends and family, and look at the process as an adventure. Above all, look forward to the time when it’s completed, and all of the joy you’ll get from enjoying the new space.
When this is all over, you’ll look back at this and laugh. But probably not until it’s over.
However, if you’d rather not live this experience, maybe you should just buy a new home with the features you want already there. If so, call us. We can help you with that. In fact, we’ve helped hundreds of people find their new homes. And we can help you too.
Would you like to search for a new home in Monmouth County?