Today I’m sharing the wisdom of my dear friend Heidi, who recently completed an extensive home renovation project. Her family of four lived in their home during the renovation process, which brings with it certain crazy challenges.
I asked Heidi to share her home renovation survival tips with all of us today. Got a home renovation or remodeling project in your future? These tips are sure to save your sanity!
Home Renovation Survival Tips
1. Mentally Prepare for Chronic Chaos
If you are the type who likes everything “just so”, you will seriously need to prepare yourself mentally for the temporary change in lifestyle that goes hand-in-hand with living in a “Renovation in Process” environment.
You will need to adopt the mantra that this too shall pass, and regularly remind yourself that the end result will be worth it!
2. Take Steps to Minimize the Spread of Construction Dust.
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Heidi suggests packing away items that you will not need access to during the renovation process, in order to prevent them from being coated with construction dust. Also, consider investing in magnetic air vent covers to use in the areas of your home that are not being renovated. Another good practice is to seal the doorway between your living area and the renovation area via heavy-duty plastic drop cloths.
Zipwall is a product on the market designed to contain construction dust. Although Heidi’s contractors didn’t use Zipwall (nor have I at the time of this post), many DIY bloggers swear by it.
3. Earmark Your Storage Areas in Advance
Renovation projects require the removal of the “stuff” that typically lives in the space…furniture, appliances, home decor, etc. You will need a place in your home to serve as a temporary holding area for this stuff while the project is underway.
- a large area in her basement
- a spare bedroom.
4. Prepare to Make Decisions QUICKLY
You will be flexing your decision-making muscle on a daily basis when you undergo an extensive home renovation. Paint colors, flooring, cabinetry, lighting, and countertop selections…oh my!
Selecting finishes can be a daunting process for the average homeowner. You will often be called upon to make decisions quickly so as not to hold up contractors.
Begin your research as early as possible so that you are in a good position to make those critical decisions when it’s time to do so. If you lack confidence in the design department, enlist the assistance of a professional or a trusted friend who has a knack for design.
5. Order Your Materials ASAP
Be vigilant about ordering all materials necessary for your renovation as soon as possible. You never know when you will be faced with waiting for a back-ordered item that will prevent your project from moving forward.
Once your project is at a standstill, the contractors move onto other projects, and it can be a painful process as you wait for them to incorporate your project back into their schedule.
(Waiting on the arrival of these windows held her project up for months)
6. Think Twice About DIYing It
You might be tempted to take on certain aspects of the renovation yourself, in order to save some cash. It makes sense to invest your sweat equity if you have expertise in a particular skill like electrical, plumbing, or drywall installation.
If you are not an expert, you may want to think twice about DIYing it. Heidi regrets their attempt at drywall patching (see below), and wishes they would have left this piece of the project in the hands of the experts.
BONUS TIP!
Heidi’s final word of advice to me was to avoid letting your kids make paint color selections, or you might just end up with Kermit The Frog green in the hall bathroom!
Of course, I learned this lesson a while back with my daughter’s room makeover.
So those are Heidi’s home renovation survival tips in a nutshell! Stay tuned for the reveal of Heidi’s new and improved abode!
There are sooo many moving parts to keep track of during a home renovation project. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the details…deadlines, budget, and design decisions. Having a system to keep your project(s) organized is a must.
Check out these tools for organizing your home renovation!
Image Credit: © Depositphotos.com /@mrsiraphol
Kristy J. says
You should have a system to organize everything, I second the motion. Having a messy place could duplicate the work and maybe delay the deadline. Thank you Natalie for sharing your friend Heidi’s tips.
Interior Renovation Singapore says
Great survival tips. Thanks for sharing it with us! Will definitely try out these tips.
Sophia Jackson says
Very impressive .. I really appreciate your work, you explained it very well.
Jenna Hunter says
My aunt is thinking about remodeling her home so that it can look a lot nicer and can be more streamlined. She really wants to make sure that she can get some help after the remodel is done so that she can get a professional to help her clean. I liked what you said about how she should try to minimize the dust in the area and seal doorways.
Shad L. Boyett says
I thank you because the article has told me something new. I really didn’t know there are sooo many moving parts to monitor during a home redesign venture way you explain is very easy to understand.
Priya Dharshini says
I totally agree with the chaos we have to handle with the dust. Such informative survival tips.. Thanks for posting this article, Natalie.
home remodeling dutchess county, ny says
It’s important to be mindful of what could arise when remodelling a home on your own. Referring to experts is a great idea. Thanks for sharing!
David Johnson says
Thank you for explaining that on a daily basis you’ll be making decisions. My house is around forty years old and I want to look into renovating the kitchen. We’ll have to hire the right contractor.
Lisa says
Great article! Thank you so much for educating us on this! I’m in the remodeling business myself and I love reading blog posts like this. Thanks again!
CER Custom Renovations says
I love this post!
Access Doors and Panels says
Home renovation is messy and chaotic. These steps you can take to preserve your sanity.Keep up the great work! Thank you so much for sharing a great posts.
Johnny McCarron says
Ah, I like how you recommended that I begin researching my home remodel as soon as possible so as to make informed decisions. We’d really like to get our home renovated and remodeled. I think we should probably start researching remodeling contractors now.
Tori Raddison says
It’s a good idea to pack away things that you won’t need so that they don’t get covered in dust while you build. That stuff gets everywhere if you let it. I’ll have to be extra careful while we’re renovating our kitchen.
Darrien Hansen says
It makes sense that you should pack up some of your belongings during the renovation project to ensure that they don’t get dusty. My wife and I would like to add some drywall to our living room, but we are worries that our antique table will get damaged in the process. We’ll put the table in our attic while we look for a contractor to help us with our renovation.
Sam Li says
I love what you said about preparing yourself mentally for a home renovation. Home renovation services ought to be performed by certified contractors. My best friend is looking to renovate his entire home, so I’ll help him find the best company to work with.
Red Dog Plumbing says
Home renovation is very important to give your home a new look. During home renovation project there are many factors which need to take care in your home . As that is the plumbers will help with more difficult projects like carving out a sparkling new bathroom, adding a shower on the kids’ floor or running lines in your new kitchen, roof plumbing, blockage drain an more.
Callum Palmer says
We are doing a remodel of our house in a few weeks. I’ll for sure follow your tips here as they would help us out a lot. We also might look into hiring a professional since they would have the proper tools and equipment to get the job done right.
Megan Adler says
My husband and I are thinking about remodeling our house and we want to prepare accordingly. I love that you mentioned that you should reconsider doing certain aspects of the renovation yourself. My husband is a big DIY fan but in this case, I think it would be best to leave it to the professionals.
Natalie Gallagher says
Good luck with your project Megan!
My Bath says
Thanks for sharing an informative post.I really enjoyed it while reading your article
Mindy Jollie says
I like what you said about being prepared to make quick decisions later in the process. I imagine once things get going on a home renovation that you need to keep that momentum going. My husband and I are hoping to renovate, so we’ll have to keep that in mind when we work with a contractor.
Natalie Gallagher says
Good luck with your project Mindy!
Braden Bills says
I want to make sure that I get my home renovated nicely. It makes sense that I would want to consider hiring a professional to help! That seems like a good way to ensure that it’s done properly. It would also help save me from a lot of stress in the long run.