It can be easy in our busy, everyday lives to ignore the overdue updates needed in our homes. That is until we are forced to spend a whole lot of time there. Enter 2020, the year we stayed home. If you are like most people, you probably found that things that were once a mere annoyance (the kitchen cabinets that don’t quite close right, the bathroom tiles that are from 1970, or the open-concept office space you’ve set up) were now in desperate need of attending to.
Whether you plan to live in your home for a few more years or several decades still, taking care of these much-needed updates can be a great investment into your future, and there has never been a better time to renovate your home. Planning a renovation is exciting, and the end results are always worth it, but the road to transformation is not always a smooth one. Here are a few tips to assist you with planning for your upcoming renovation project.
It will get messy – There is no sugar-coating this! You might think that you’re prepared for this, but most people are creatures of habit, and a disruption like this can be difficult to cope with at times. Despite the best efforts to maintain a level of cleanliness, you will need to be prepared to lower your daily standards of cleanliness.
Backup Plan – With any renovation, there is always a margin of the unknown, and this could mean delays. If you have a tight timeline for when you expect things to be finished, ensure that you have a backup plan in case something unexpected happens to derail your completion date.
Find off-site storage – Review long-term versus short term storage options and consider purging any items that will not be included in the new design instead of storing these unnecessarily.
Protect Your Valuables – No matter how careful your hired trades are, accidents can happen. We recommend moving valuables off-site to a secure facility such as your off-site storage, safety deposit box, or a trusted family member or friend.
Find a safe haven for your pets – Regardless of how careful your workers are, change can be stressful on your pets, not to mention the dust and debris throughout the process can be dangerous if accidentally ingested. If possible, find a temporary home for your furry friends.
Consider finding a temporary residence – While this may seem like an added expense, it could mean savings for you in the long run. By finding a temporary residence, you will enjoy a more convenient lifestyle, allowing you to be more comfortable and productive while allowing your renovation team the freedom to come and go from the work site at their discretion. When living in the home during renovations, your workers will ensure that you have as comfortable of a living space as possible at the end of each day, but it takes time to tidy and clean each day, and these are billable hours. If you have any allergies or sensitivities, regardless of how clean the home is kept during renovations, you may find that your body will react adversely to the presence of dust, fumes, and other renovation materials.
Live in as little area as possible – If you intend to live in the house for the duration of the renovation, aim to live in as little area as possible. This will allow "crews" to complete multiple related tasks at once and avoid the cost of multiple trips by specific trades such as drywallers, plumbers, and electricians.
Meal Planning – Depending on the area of your home that you are renovating, creating proper meals may be challenging. If the renovation is planned for your kitchen, consider setting up a temporary kitchenette elsewhere in the house and utilizing your small appliances to cook as much as possible. When possible, we recommend planning for kitchen renovations to take place during the warmer months, also known as BBQ season.
Bathing – Similar to your meals, you may need to make alternate arrangements for your cleaning routine. Set up a temporary wash station elsewhere in your home or find a friend or neighbour willing to lend you their bathroom. Be sure to plan for days when the water may be shut off completely.
Final Clean-up – With most renovations, it will generally take several post-renovation clean-ups to fully clean the house, as it takes time for all of the dust to fully settle. Be prepared to give the house a thorough clean several times over the course of a few weeks following the renovation completion.
