Whether you live in downtown Denver in a multi-family condo or out in the suburbs of Colorado Springs, Castle Rock or Centennial in a single-family house, there are opportunities for change or improvement in our homes. As a homeowner, maybe you are thinking about renovating a few areas in your property- or are looking to do a full-blown remodel in major living areas. Whatever the situation may be, it is always difficult to live through renovations. This article from Randi Garrett Design provides tips to those who plan on occupying a home through a major renovation or remodel. Here are a few things you want to keep in mind and focus on before, during, and after the process:
Tip #1: “When choosing a remodel date, try to schedule during a time when the weather will be the most pleasant.”
This is something that doesn’t really jump out at you when you are thinking about what remodels you want to do or who you are going to pick as your contractor. If it’s over a hundred degrees outside, you probably don’t want people constantly coming in and out of your house. This will run the A.C. bill up and keep the inside consistently hot because the contractors are bringing things in and out all day. When it’s twenty degrees and snowing outside, this will make the inside of your house freezing cold and can be extremely messy with people tracking the snow and dirt in and out of your house. On top of that, the weather can cause delays in shipment due to road conditions. Try to shoot for a time of the year when the weather is mellow.
Tip #2: “Remove your drapes, fold them neatly and place them in large trash bags.”
With all of the dust and dirt that will be flying around your house as they tear things out and put the new thing in, your drapes will become a huge mess and they are hard to clean when that happens. By taking them down and storing them properly, you are saving yourself time from cleaning and a huge headache that will come along with it.
Tip #3: “Cover your table lamps with trash bags and furniture with drop cloths.”
This goes hand in hand with Tip #2. Do your self a favor, cover your stuff. It doesn’t take much time or effort to throw a drop cloth on the couches and chairs and toss a trash bag over some lamps. It does take a long time to clean all of that.
Tip #4: “Label your boxes when moving things out of your space.”
We can all be bad about labeling our stuff when it isn’t being moved from house to house. But, when the chaos of a remodel is over, it is easy to mix up which boxes are which. Having to go through each box to find out what is in there is not like Christmas morning when trying to reset your room. When the dust settles from the remodel, you will easily be able to go through your boxes and put everything back where it belongs, if it is labeled.
Tip #5: “If you are remodeling your kitchen, set up a make shift kitchen somewhere in your home.”
Having your kitchen remodeled can be a very exciting thing. What you don’t want to do is find yourself standing there after they have ripped out all of the appliances asking yourself, “Now what? How am I supposed to eat? or, I should have thought of this before they took everything”. That is not a pleasurable experience. If you do not have a microwave, I recommend getting one. You can pick one up fairly cheap at almost any department store or order one on Amazon. It will make your life easier, and cheaper, during the remodel.
Tip #6: “Vacuum daily.”
Sometimes, vacuuming may seem like a pointless task. You might be thinking, “This is a waste of time. Why would I vacuum for it to get just as dirty tomorrow?” Well, if you vacuum daily, you will save yourself a lot of extra time and cleaning by keeping up with it. Dust and dirt move around easily and can end up everywhere, making it much harder to clean it all in the end. You will also make your home still feel like home when you stay on top of the cleaning, even when it seems pointless.
Tip #7: “Avoid turning on the Air Conditioning or Heat.”
If you turn on the A.C. or Heat during the day while the contractors are there, you are throwing your money out the door. The contractors often have to have the doors open when doing their work because they have to keep going in and out for tools, supplies, or deliveries they need to grab. If you are going to be home during the renovation or remodel, I recommend investing in a small fan, window A.C. or heating unit for the room that you will be in most of the time that day. In the long run, that will be much cheaper than letting the A.C. or Heat run all day long.
Tip #8: “Don’t go on vacation until the job is complete.”
During the renovation or remodel process, you might feel like you need a break and end up taking a small vacation. Do not do that. There are a few reasons for that. First, your contractors are still people and people make mistakes. It is good to have a fresh pair of eyes to make sure that any details are not missed or done incorrectly. Second, “Being present on the job keeps things moving along.” It’s just like that saying, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” Being present keeps “the sense of urgency” up which makes thing move at a faster pace. And lastly, you can take the vacation as soon as it’s done. After the job is done, you will have earned that vacation. So, try to plan your vacations around the renovations or remodels.
Tip #9: “Keep at least one room in your house normal.”
While the walls are being torn down and the fridge that you have become accustom to is being thrown out, it’s nice to have at least one normal and familiar place to go to. By keeping one room in your house “normal”, you have an escape from the hectic happenings around you. You can go there to unwind and relax. Make sure that the room is “clean, neat, and calm”. You will appreciate that more than you can imagine.
Tip #10: “Use paper plates and bowls, plastic silverware and disposable bottles.”
This is most important when you are having your kitchen renovated or remodeled, but it will also be nice when you are having other renovations or remodels done as well. With items that are disposable, you have made it so that you have one less thing to clean. You won’t have to worry about any dishes or running out of cups or forks. Paper and plastic goods will also help keep you from going out too much for the duration of the process, which saves money and we all like to save money.
Keep these in mind when you start thinking about doing a renovation or remodel. They will be life savers in the long run. If you have other questions or concerns about things you may not have thought about, be sure to read our other blogs. “Home Renovation Do’s and Don’ts”, “Questions to Ask Your Contractor”, and “Maximizing a Minimized Space: Valuable Renovation Ideas for Smaller Homes” all have vital information about any questions you may have about what to do and where to start when it comes to renovations and remodels.
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References
Garrett, R. (2018, August). 10 Important Tips to do when Remodeling your Home. Retrieved from Randi Garrett Design: https://randigarrettdesign.com/10-important-tips-remodeling-home/