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If you have made the decision to give your home a makeover, then congratulations! The enjoyment of your home will soon be more than you could have imagined. However, to get there, you first must go through the challenges of preparations, wait times and having your routine interrupted. For most homeowners, this is a beautiful and exciting time, but as they fully realize the potential chaos that will be in their home for the next few months, it can be stressful and even overwhelming.
Although no two renovations are exactly the same, there are some similarities, even if you're in for a full house renovation. So to help you have as stress-free an experience as possible, here's how to prepare your home for a major remodel.
#1 Mentally Prepare for the Chaos That Is About to Begin
As you start getting your home ready for a renovation, you must prepare yourself for the chaos and inconveniences of the whole process. Many times, the disruption in routine is just as upsetting as the demolition itself. Therefore, adjusting your mindset to go through this process more easily is crucial.
Give yourself enough time to mentally get ready for your home's transformation. Home renovations are time-consuming and can be quite stressful and disruptive. Even people who are not neat freaks will find it difficult to live in a permanent state of turmoil and to have strangers in their homes. Be prepared to let some things go, and during the process, try to keep the end goal in mind.
#2 Declutter and Clean Up
It is absolutely necessary to clear the space that is being renovated. That means clearing out everything from shelves to countertops and cabinets. If you want the best results (as well as your belongings protected from damage), be mindful of the tradesmen and women and give them enough room to get the work done.
Besides the obvious reasons for clearing out and cleaning up, this is the ideal time to declutter your belongings and get rid of the stuff in your way that you no longer need! Donating items to a local charity or having a garage sale to make a little cash are great ways to see your old stuff be repurposed.
#3 Discuss Details with Your Contractor
During any renovation, messy situations are inevitable and uncomfortable conversations are a given. Therefore, it's better to ask as many questions as possible than to leave any unknowns. Make sure your contractor spends the time explaining their strategy and which areas they'll focus on initially.
One example of an important conversation is inquiring if they intend to sweep every night and learn more about their cleaning schedule. It's important to agree on who is responsible for cleaning what, when, and how the site will be left at the end of the day. Also, ask which areas they'll be working on first so you can best organize yourself ahead of time. Everything will be much easier when everyone is on the same page.
#4 Decide Whether or Not You’ll Be Able to Stay at Home or Even Use the Bathroom
Sometimes it may be necessary or more convenient to organize with friends, family or a local hotel some accommodations during a major renovation. Depending on the area of the home being worked on, you might not be able to carry on daily activities while the renovation is being done. For example, in a full kitchen reno, you may not want to be cooking all your meals out of a microwave that's been moved into the bathroom while the kitchen is torn apart. Considering whether or not you will be able to have a shower or even being able to use the toilet are also situations to think about! These are very important things to discuss with your contractor ahead of time so you can plan accordingly. Most of the time, a reasonable schedule can be set in order to accommodate your needs, however, don’t assume and ask first!
To Sum It All Up
We hope these tips help you prepare your home for any renovation you are considering and allow you to have a smooth and stress-free process. However, no matter how well you prepare yourself and your home, things can quickly go downhill if you don't hire the right people for the job.
Give A.C.T. Home Services a call today to schedule your free in house consultation and we can guide you every step of the way!