You wouldn’t take a weekend road trip without packing an overnight bag. Similarly, you shouldn’t dive into a home remodeling project without planning ahead before the demolition begins. A big part of that preparation is understanding the scope of work—and how that is going to affect life in your home during construction.
On HGTV, we see full kitchen remodels completed in a weekend—but that’s not reality. Most home remodeling jobs take 4 to 8 weeks (and some even longer). At Dover Home Remodelers, we give start and completion dates in writing before any work begins so our customers know what to expect and can plan accordingly. With that in mind, there are a few things that customers can do and/or consider beforehand to make the process easier to manage:
Timing is important. Do you have kids in your home? If so, you might opt to begin construction in the fall when they are back in school. Do you want construction going on during the holidays? Be sure to consider family events and celebrations before you commit to your project.
Plan ahead for kitchen projects. When we work in a kitchen, our team moves the refrigerator into another room and arranges a microwave and coffeepot so customers can still “function” during the remodel. Consider that a kitchen remodel in the summer allows you to use your outdoor grill for cooking; and you might think about preparing and freezing meals ahead of time—it’s convenient and saves you money (takeout every night can be pricey).
Think about your pets. Planning in advance helps keep your pets safe during remodeling. With doors opening and closing, it’s easy for pets to escape, and tools in the house can be a hazard for curious pets. The best bet is to put pets in a crate, take them to doggie daycare or have them cared for by a friend while work is being done in your home.
Clear the way. Before we begin demo work, our crew protects the home by sheeting off areas and doing the best we can to minimize and contain dirt and dust. But customers can also help by covering furniture with sheets, removing pictures from the walls, making a clear path to hallways that lead to bathrooms or basements, clearing out cabinets, etc.
Consider your daily routine. Do you work from home? Do you work non-traditional hours? Do you have young children with nap schedules? Home remodeling work can be loud with crews in the home weekdays from 8 to 5, so it’s best to take that into consideration as you schedule your project.
The best advice, though, is to focus on the end goal—and your completion date. Looking forward to the beautiful finished product makes the small inconveniences of home remodeling much easier to manage.
The Best is Yet to Come,
Beth Orr
