Preparation is key to surviving a reno
Almost every renovation project will come with some disruption to a homeowner. But there are a number of things you can do to minimize the disarray.
Some people will opt to live elsewhere for part or all of their renovation. But for most people, living elsewhere for several months is not financially viable and instead they must find ways to live in a home under construction.
Planning ahead and preparing your home, your stuff, your family and yourself are important steps that can help minimize the disruption.
As part of the overall strategy of your project, work with your renovator to devise a project plan that best accommodates you and your family. Always be sure to work with a professional RenoMark renovator.
BILD created the RenoMark program in 2001, to help homeowners differentiate professional renovators from underground contractors. RenoMark renovators abide by a code of conduct — they provide written contracts, carry at least $2 million in liability insurance and offer a minimum of two years warranty on all work. You can find a RenoMark professional at renomark.ca.
Talk to your renovator about your household’s daily schedule, vacations you have planned, or any special circumstances that need to be accommodated so that they can be factored into your project’s work plan and schedule. That way, par- ticularly disruptive or messy parts of the process — such as refinishing hardwood floors — can be arranged for when you are away or can make alternate, short-term living arrangements. Busy on-site work times can be aligned with your family’s schedule so crews won’t be hammering away while you are trying to feed your kids breakfast.
Make sure you discuss and know which parts of your house will be affected by your renovation project. Depending on factors like plumbing and wiring, your renovator and work crews may need access to more than just the immediate area being refurbished.
Clear out the areas that will be impacted by the renovation and also consider temporarily removing valuables from other parts of your home, such as art, that could be affected by vibration. Depending on the scale of your project, you might want to rent storage space or bring in a portable storage container. If you are storing things in boxes, be sure to label the boxes with an inventory. That way when you need something, you can find it.
Make a plan for how you will live in your home while it is under construction. Kitchen renovations can be especially challenging. Figure out where your temporary “kitchen” will be and what you need to make it work for your family.
Plan and stock up on meals that can be easily prepared in your temporary kitchen. Look at how you might be able to utilize your small appliances and your barbecue to fill in for your oven. You will likely be without running water in your short-term kitchen, so make sure you consider how you will clean up after food preparation and wash dishes.
When you encounter trying moments — and you probably will at some point when you are living in a home under construction — focus on how great your remastered space will be, or what it will be like to cook in your new kitchen. Bryan Tuckey is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. Find him at twitter.com/ bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta and bildblogs.ca.