Remodeling is a great way to be able to get the customization of the home you want without having to hire a contractor and shell out the money for a custom built home. However, all good things have their downside and living in shambles during the remodeling process is one of those. Here are a few different ways you can prepare yourself and your home for a remodel.
The reality of a remodel is that your home will be a clean freak’s nightmare for a while. It will all pay off in good time, but until that time comes here are some tips to control the mess that is going to be your home for the next few weeks or months.
These are great for keeping dust and dirt under control in your home. Lay some carpet squares down where the construction workers will be walking and you’ll be able to keep all the dirt in one central location where you can vacuum it up quickly at the end of the day and then put the carpet squares away when the workers leave.
Creating a designated mess area for your construction workers is another good idea for those who really want to keep the mess to a minimum. Having an area where they can saw or sand items as needed is a good way to avoid having wood chips and sawdust flying everywhere. A great place for this would be the mudroom, garage, or in the backyard if available.
While it would be wonderful, it isn’t realistic to have your workers clean up everything at the end of each day. That’s not just a convenience factor for them, it’s a time factor for you as well. It’s best to have them clean up their mess at the end of each week, rather than each day, to avoid adding extra days onto your project.
While some of this may be outside of your control, you can try to talk with your contractor and construction workers about coming to work on your home at specific time blocks each day. Avoiding high traffic times, such as after school when the kids will be running around, is going to be ideal. Figure out the block of time when your home is most quiet and then ask your contractor and workers if it’s possible that they arrive to work during that time only.
Before you really commit to a remodel, you need to assess the reality of a remodel.
A remodel takes time and money. You should go into this process recognizing that if you sell your home soon after renovations are complete, you may not be able to recoup your investment costs. It is also a huge investment of time. Depending on the project, it could take many weeks or months where areas of your home will be in shambles. Recognizing all of this beforehand is the best way to make the remodeling experience as pleasant as possible.
Speak with your contractor about the area of the home you want to remodel. You want to make sure that you don’t add on to your home if you don’t have to (unless that is, you really want to). While it may seem that the area you are remodeling requires adding on, it could be that it just needs to be revamped or moved around a bit. Your contractor is a professional at finding the right people to discover hidden potential in the most unsuspecting of places. This can save you time and money.
In order to accurately decide how much potential your home has, you need to take an honest look at your home and maybe even do some research. Was your home custom built? Or was it a stock home? How old is the home? Has it been remodeled or expanded upon over the years? All of this will help you and your contractor decide what kind (and how much) hidden potential lies within your home.
Many people head into a remodel not realizing the full amount of dedication and perseverance this can take. Weeks and months of living in dust and dirt and having workers in and out of your home can really take its toll. Unrealistic expectations for what can come from your home can also lead to a disappointing experience. However, with proper research and a few tricks to keep your house in order during the remodel, it can be one of the best decisions you make in regards to your home.
