Should you stay or move out during major house renovations

All house owners have to answer the same question during home remodeling: Should you stay or move out during major house renovations? The answer depends on many factors, but most notably, on the scope and purpose of the project and the financial aspect. To be sure that you're making the right decision, read on and see what each choice will bring.

Scope and purpose of the house project

If you're renovating half of your house, including your kitchen and bathroom, staying in is hardly an option. Basically, the question here is will you be able to have water and electricity during most of the process and a safe space inside your home. If the answer is yes, then you can consider staying in.

Smaller works make staying in possible.

Financial aspect and major house renovations dilemma

Most people would love to move out and avoid the stress and the noise, but it's not an option for financial reasons. Renovation costs and a couple of months' rent is not something many people can afford. However, the truth is that the calculation is not that simple. 

Rental will cost money, but it's not going to be cheap to stay at your home either. Some contractors charge more for projects if clients remain in the house, as there will be additional cost in cleaning up and rushing to get the work done. Also, contractors have to plan their work so that electrical services and plumbing aren't interrupted.

If you decide to stay

The main benefits of staying in during major renovations are not having to pay rental costs and closely monitoring the progress of the project. However, you'll also need to be very tolerant and prepare for what comes next. 

Get ready for some dust and noise

You can try to seal up the areas where you'll live during renovations. Despite that, the fine dust will get everywhere. The crew will do their job and clean up. Nonetheless, you'll need to tolerate some dust. And on top of that, noise, most often in the morning. In case you have kids, this might become overwhelming at some point. But if you don't have children and it seems like you can handle this, make sure to plan in advance and establish what areas you will need.

It’s going to get messy.

The temporary kitchen might be required

If you decide to stay in, you'll perhaps need to establish a temporary kitchen, especially if you're going through a kitchen remodel. Microwave, toaster oven and a hot plate are handy during this period. Since it's that time of the year, it will be challenging to create a Thanksgiving meal in these conditions, but it shouldn't be too challenging to prepare a regular meal.

However, careful planning will be necessary. Think about preparing and freezing meals ahead. If the renovations are going to last a couple of months, you'll need a bigger freezer. And of course, you'll need to cook for quite some time, until you finish preparing stocks.

On the other hand, a temporary bathroom will be much harder to install. Contact your friends and see if you can take a shower at their place while your bathroom is being remodeled. Or you can simply move out. While financial consideration is a big deal, so is keeping your sanity during this period.

If you're thinking about moving out

For some, living in during renovations is more than they can handle. The quality of life will suffer to a certain extent and maybe even the family's ability to function. That's why moving out is an option to consider.

There are several choices for temporary accommodation. Maybe you can stay at a relative's or a friend's or even consider RV rentals or residence hotels. Or perhaps you can time a vacation during the remodeling.

Sometimes, it’s best to move out during a home remodel.

Things to consider

While you are making your life easier by moving out, it doesn't mean you won't need the assistance that is reliable and reasonable to help you during the process. But before you even decide to take this step, there are other things you need to consider. For example, think about how your new address will affect commuting time to work or kids' school. Also, don't forget to take care of details like putting a hold on your Internet provider or cable. You'll maybe need to forward your mail, phone calls, and stop your newspapers. 

The advantages of moving out

For starters, you'll escape the dust and the noise that renovations include. But also, a crew will most likely get the work done more quickly if you're not around. So in a way, this might prove to be a more economical solution, depending on the temporary accommodation costs. 

Some believe that by staying in, you'll pay closer attention to the progress and prevent any mistake that the crew might make. On the other hand, constant conversations can make the process unnecessarily longer. However, this doesn't mean that you shouldn't keep close tabs on how the work is going if you decide to move out. And be available at all times in case your quick opinion is needed.

Going while staying

There is a chance you'll need to stay away from your home even if you decide to stay in. Some remodeling, like the floor and roof restoration, requires zero-occupancy, at least for a few days. So it's good to be prepared to leave your home for some time even if you choose to live in.

Prepare for the ride

Regardless of whether you have decided to stay or move out during major house renovations, one thing is sure - you need to prepare for the ride. It might get challenging, so it's good to perceive it as an adventure. After all, you're doing this so that you can turn your old house into a dream home. It's not that hard to keep your eyes on the goal, especially when you see even the little progress made every single day. 

Guest Contributor: Sophia Perry