Where Should You Live During a Home Renovation?
Home renovations always start off sounding exciting, besides, you’re trying to get your home in working order, right? There’s the dream kitchen that’s finally happening. That outdated bathroom is about to be a spa-like oasis. The whole house is getting the glow-up it deserves. But then reality kicks in, walls are coming down, sawdust is everywhere, and suddenly, the one working toilet just isn’t working. Maybe the kitchen is gone, the floors are ripped up. And the big question looms, where exactly is anyone supposed to live while all this is happening?
Well, for some, staying in the house is doable. But for others, it’s a one-way ticket to pure regret. But how exactly do you figure this out before the project starts?
Sticking It Out at Home
For starters, some people refuse to leave. They set up a makeshift kitchen in the garage, shower at the gym, and convince themselves that the sound of power tools at 7 AM is not slowly chipping away at their sanity. And sometimes? It actually works out. If only one room is being remodeled, like a guest bathroom or a single bedroom, then life can go on pretty normally.
Sure, it’s a minor inconvenience, but nothing unbearable. But it gets hard, well, impossible, once water and electric needs to be cut off. Plus, if you’re hiring a contractor, sometimes you have to legally be there, and be around them (depending on the company of course). So yeah, you might have to tough it out, but it depends.
Living in the Chaos You Created
Okay, so just above was more in context to hiring a contractor and needing to be at home for the contractor (again it depends on the contractor). But are you doing the renovation yourself? Well, living in the house might seem like the best option. There’s no contractors to work around, no pressure to finish by a certain time. Just pure DIY freedom.
But that freedom comes at a cost. Usually, progress is slow, tools and materials like high quality screw supplies, saws, power tools, ladders, paint, etc. take over entire rooms, and sleeping in a house filled with half-finished projects can start to feel like a bad reality TV show (well an HGTV show that is). Usually, the reality is eating microwaveable meals and just not feeling totally at peace and calm due to the overstimulation of trying to get everything done.
But of course, there’s a big difference between weekend projects and something that’s several months long.
Short-Term Rentals
For the people who value things like running water, working appliances, and their last shred of sanity (and just that comfort that a renovated house lacks), then finding a short-term rental is the way to go.
An Airbnb, an extended-stay hotel, or even a friend’s guest house can be the difference between “This renovation is exciting!” and “Why did anyone think this was a good idea?” It might seem like an extra expense, but considering the alternative, like weeks of takeout meals because there’s no stove, or showering at the gym just to feel human, it starts making a lot of sense.
Staying with Family
How about staying with family? Well, it’s a solid option if the renovation stays on schedule. But if a two-week project suddenly turns into two months, be prepared for some passive-aggressive sighs every time someone walks past, and that’s far from comfortable, right?
