For remodels big and small, homeowners all have to answer the same question: Should you find an untouched space in your home and live through the construction, or pack your bags and go? The answer depends on the size of your remodel and these nine other things you might never have considered.
1. Money. The most obvious consideration is actually more complicated than you might think. Yes, it will cost money for a rental, but it can also cost money if you stay and you’re in the way. Some contractors charge more for projects where clients stay on, knowing there will be additional costs in cleanup, a rush to get mechanical work done so that plumbing and electrical services aren’t interrupted, and things as simple as lengthy daily conversations onsite with homeowners.
This is a calculation best done in concert with your contractor and with a heavy dose of reality. If you’ve never visited a house undergoing a remodel, now is the time to do just that so you can get a clear idea of how much of your home will be affected by what you have planned. |
2. Purpose. The type of project can immediately answer the stay-or-go question. If your roof is coming off for a second story or your house is being raised up, you will likely want to move out. These kinds of renovations make it impossible to heat or cool a home effectively and generally involve cutting off plumbing service, electricity, heating and air conditioning. If you know that a very large blue tarp will be part of the plan, consider that your invitation to an alternate dwelling.
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6. Cooking. A temporary kitchen can be just the thing to get you through a kitchen remodel. A hot plate, microwave and toaster oven are great for makeshift food production. Preparing and freezing meals ahead is very effective, provided that the remodel scope allows you to keep a freezer on. But making four to six months' worth of meals can be daunting. Homeowner Jennifer Bartlett made and froze food for two months before the remodel so she wouldn't have to eat out every night. This required purchasing a new freezer, but it was a solution she was happy with during her kitchen remodel and home office addition.
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7. Cleaning. Do not underestimate how this may wear on you over time. Washing your dishes in the bathtub might get old after a few weeks. And even with thorough site protection, expect dust to collect around your home. It’s worthwhile to ask your contractor to run an air handler to filter out the dust for the duration of the project.
8. Sheetrock. It’s possible to strike a happy medium by staying away from demolition until the Sheetrock phase and then moving back in. By waiting until the Sheetrock is complete, you avoid the messiest, dustiest and noisiest portions of the project. This usually happens two-thirds of the way through a project, and that translates to a possible one-third savings on a rental. But your place will still not be move-in ready. |
9. Having to go even if you stay. Some remodeling work requires zero occupancy even if you are able to stay for most of the project. Finishing hardwood floors generally means staying away for at least a day on at least two separate occasions while the fumes dissipate, for example. So even if you camp out at home during most of the construction, know that you may need to leave during certains times anyway.
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10. Peace of mind. If you stay, you can be assured that you will be intimately aware of the state of your home. Going away has its benefits too. Homeowner Peter Langmaid’s whole-house remodel was completed earlier this year, and he stands by his decision to leave. “My advice for major remodels: Budget for a rental — it's less painful if it doesn't feel like an additional expense — and leave," he says. "The remodel will occupy plenty of your time; no need to wallow in the day-to-day action.”
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