Renovating A House While Living In It - All You Should Know
Home renovation is a stressful time for any homeowner, no matter if you stay at home or move out. From choosing the right contractors to navigating the hurdles and delays that will inevitably arise, you’ll face lots of anxiety.
In this guide, we’ll give you top tips on how to survive renovating a house while living in it, while also helping you decide if you should be living at home or moving out. Let's get to it!
Living At Home Or Moving Out - What To Consider?
The choice between moving out or living at home during your grand house renovation project depends on a few factors. Ultimately, you should decide on what seems the most feasible for you and your family, but here are a few things to consider:
The Cost of Moving Out
If you're unsure about living at home and would rather move out during renovations, you should consider whether you can afford to foot the bill. Moving out into short-term rental, an Airbnb, or a hotel will be expensive, and that’s added on top of renovation costs and mortgage payments.
You might be able to move in with family or friends, but even then you'll need to consider the added cost of commuting between properties. After all, visiting the construction site often is essential in making sure everything is going according to plan.
Even if it's financially feasible for you to move out, you might consider funnelling that money into the property renovation project itself instead.
The Dirt And Mess
One thing nobody prepares you for when you go through your first massive renovation project is - dust will be everywhere. And we mean, everywhere. It will cling to furniture, inside cabinets, and even find its way into rooms where there’s no construction work.
All the dust and dirt might make it difficult, and sometimes even unsafe to live close to construction sites. You should consider whether you can keep yourself protected from the mess, or if you would be better off relocating for the duration of your renovation.
Routine Disruptions
If you choose to stay at home while renovating, prepare for your life to be turned upside down.
Not only will some spaces in your home become inaccessible, but your contractors will likely start building work early morning, and you might need to wake up earlier than usual - after all, who can sleep with the sound of a drill in the next room?
If you’re going for a new kitchen renovation or bathroom remodel, you will need to figure out where you’ll cook and shower in the meantime. Depending on the scale of your house renovations, you might also find yourself with no heating or water, no doors, or with half-built walls around. It will be hard to feel like home, and you might find it challenging to rest as well (and that's on top of the never-ending anxiety).
Limited Space
With reduced living space, your home mid-renovation will feel cramped - you'll need to learn to navigate obstacles like unfitted fixtures and furniture or construction tools and materials, and even then you might find yourself getting in the way of construction work.
Your renovation project might also take slightly longer if your contractors need to consider working around the premises to accommodate you and your family members.
Noise
During home remodelling, you'll also very quickly get used to the background noise of jackhammers or drills. However, if you work from home, you should consider whether you'll be able to work as productively with all the disruption.
An alternative would be taking annual leave around that time so you can simply focus on your home project. If that's not possible, you could find alternative workspaces for yourself, like a local coffee shop or a shared working space.
Easy Monitoring
One big plus of living on-site during renovations is that you can easily monitor progress. You'll be able to keep in touch with your contractors and make sure everything stays on track.
You'll also be there for each small milestone, and trust us when we say you'll definitely feel a sense of accomplishment and pride every time you reach a new stage of the project. The end result will also feel a lot more satisfying knowing you’ve been involved in the whole process.
How To Renovate A House While Living In It
If you've decided to take the leap and stay at home while your builders renovate, you're in for an adventure. To stay sane and make sure everything goes by smoothly, here are a few tips on how to renovate a house while living in it:
Set A Clear Schedule With Your Contractors
The first thing you should do is establish a clear schedule and boundaries with your construction workers. A formal work schedule with dedicated start and stop times helps you maintain a semblance of a routine. This way, your temporary life won’t feel as chaotic.
Declutter
To minimise chaos as much as possible, you should prepare by decluttering the building site wherever possible. Remove any important or fragile items out of the way - we're talking TVs and other electronics, art, or keepsakes you want to protect from potential damage.
We also recommend setting up a designated storage area for items that are yet to be fitted, so you won't feel like your house has turned into an obstacle course.
Cover Your Furniture
The mess and dirt will be difficult to deal with even after renovations are done if you don't take the necessary precautions. Use dust sheets or improvise using bed sheets to cover all furniture and important items to keep them safe from the dust. An often overlooked thing is also - keep your doors shut wherever possible.
Get Noise-Cancelling Headphones
The jackhammers and drills will become your new normal, but that doesn't mean you have to put up with the noise at all times. You might find yourself struggling to focus, and too high of a volume could even be harmful to your ears.
Invest in a good-quality pair of noise-cancelling headphones - you'll thank yourself later.
What About Pets And Kids?
Construction work inside the house can be quite dangerous for your kids and pets, especially with all the exposed electrics and plumbing, or power tools lying around.
You will need to designate special places where the kids and pets should live, and they should be kept under close supervision, especially during construction work hours.
For pets, you might even consider a pet care facility during the day.
Get Comfortable With Your Builders
Lastly, building a relationship with your redecorating contractors is essential if you want to make the renovation process as comfortable as possible for all parties involved. After all, your builders will be in your house every day until the end of the project, so it's important to get comfortable with them.
Keep a good, friendly, and professional relationship, and make sure to provide a cup of tea for your contractors every once in a while - they will be more than thankful!
Do You Have To Pay Council Tax When Renovating A Property
Depending on the scope of your renovation project, you might find it impossible to stay at home during the process. This is especially true if those renovations involve big structural changes.
If home improvements make your property uninhabitable, then you are likely (but not definitely) exempt from paying council tax during the process. Make sure to double-check with your local authority for more details.
Your Renovations Are In Good Hands With Ray White Builders
In need of capable contractors for your next home renovation project? We do loft conversions, garage conversions, home extensions and complete refurbishments. As award-winning builders with over 30 years of experience, we’ve got all the right tools to turn your house into a dream home.
With expert project management and thorough communication all the way, we minimise stress and keep you comfortable even if you choose to live in during renovations. Contact us today and let’s discuss your home needs!
