The time has come. You’re finally ready for that home renovation!
Maybe you bought a fixer-upper with an eye toward DYI. Maybe you’re expanding your love nest for a few little ones or upgrading your home for sale. Whatever the reason, if you’re embarking on a home renovation, should you aim for making do with the space you’ll have during construction or do you move out for a short period of time?
Home Renovation Stress and Noise
The noise, mess and general disturbance of remodeling can darken even the most optimistic visions of your soon-to-be dream home. When your home becomes a construction site, your personal and family life can be interrupted – resulting in stress for all. Private spaces become public, cleanliness becomes obsolete, you may even start cooking over hotplates in the living room when the kitchen gets torn up. Kids, especially young ones, may struggle with new, potentially confusing surroundings as the comforts of their rooms are remade. This doesn’t even include the aspect of reorganizing your daily routine as you renovate. Depending on the size of the project, you may essentially live out of boxes for weeks or even months. The stress of having your lives turned upside down can take its toll on your emotions. Add frustration to the financial pressures of the remodeling, and you’ve got a recipe for unhappiness. But you can get through it in several different and happier ways.
Moving Out During a Home Renovation
Opting to move out depends on a number of factors. First of all, consider family size. Moving out temporarily with one or two kids is a different story than with four or five. If friends or family welcome you, consider the amount of privacy you will have as well as your burden on them. Can you live with your in-laws for a month, or more? Consider the financial factors. A rental on top of your mortgage and construction costs will add to your financial stress. Sometimes fate offers opportunities. If you or your spouse has a long vacation in the picture, you could use that time to swap apartments in another city and budget your costs to include hiring a professional to oversee the work while your away.
Staying in Your Home During a Remodel
If the in-laws are out and your budget strained, think about mitigating the impact on your lifestyle if you’re deciding to stay put. If you are adding on a room, create a tight barrier against dust and a noise reduction plan to get you through the construction – a good contractor can help with this. If you are remodeling the kitchen or bathroom, you’ll need to be proactive about creating a temporary cooking station and bathing facilities. Consider migrating within the house, depending on the location of the construction. You could turn the garage or basement into a living room or bedroom. Think outside the box to take the stress off. Consider planning your home renovation for the spring and/or summer, when you can pass the time outside, visit friends or use a grill instead of the kitchen. The sunshine could be a good antidote to any anxiety or depression that the stress of the renovations can cause. With some creativity, good humor and planning, home improvement can be a positive experience.
