Surviving a Home Renovation Peoria IL

Living through a renovation can be tough. Keep your focus on the positive outcome, and remember these fundamental points to make the journey bearable.

Plan Ahead

Thinking ahead saves time, money and your sanity. You don’t want to be bickering over tile colors when you have a house full of contractors.

• Finalize and agree upon the sequence of events and work to be done
• Have an expert review all contracts and payment arrangements
• Plan for a final walk-through and third-party inspection before the final payment
• Overestimate the expense and time frame--rare is the renovation finished on schedule and under-budget
• Discuss expectations with your contractor
• Work on 1 area of the house at a time
• Remove any necessary items from the work area
• Put small valuables in a safe deposit box or other secured location
• Seal off unused rooms with plastic sheeting and duct tape to keep dust out

Watch The Clock

Scheduling a renovation can be tricky. Plan on building extra time into the schedule, in case things take longer than expected.

• Clear your schedule of extra commitments or responsibilities
• Leave yourself a comfortable buffer when making plans to entertain
• If you’re down to a single bathroom, budget your time and stick to a schedule

Safety First

A construction site can be a dangerous place. Think defensively.

• Have fire department, police, and ambulance numbers handy
• Keep pathways to exits clear in case of emergency
• Use a window fan to minimize dust and fumes
• Place fire extinguishers on each level of your home
• Limit pet access to work areas for their safety, as well as the workers' safety
• At the end of each day, make sure work areas are clear of debris and tools

Stock Up

With kitchen and bath remodels, sooner or later the water and other utilities may get turned off temporarily.  Remember these basics to get through it with grace.

• Buy foods that are ready to eat or require minimum preparation
• Store a generous supply of bottled water for drinking, cleaning, and personal hygiene
• Clean all dirty laundry before services are turned off
• Have paper plates, paper napkins, and disposable dinnerware on hand

Keep A Positive Mental Attitude

Happiness is decisional. Take these steps to help that decision along.

• Adapt, don't abandon, as many of your comforting daily routines as you can
• Celebrate the completion of each stage
• Don't stress over the entire project at once
• Be nice to your contractors--they'll be more motivated if you treat them with courtesy and good cheer
• Greet inconveniences as the inevitable price of transforming your home
• Remind yourself of the wonderful changes that result from chaos

Treat Problems as Opportunities

Find the hidden rewards in adversity.

• If the kitchen is down, try out several restaurants you’ve always wanted to explore 
• When the bathroom is a mass of pipes, spend the weekend at a hotel and pretend you’re on vacation
• Spend time at a public park or recreation area if the yard is a construction zone

Have an Exit Strategy

If it all gets too overwhelming, have a backup plan or at least a way to get away and catch your breath.

• Rent an apartment month-to-month or on a short term lease
• Stay with family
• Double up with a friend
• Check rates on extended-stay hotels
• Keep in touch with your contractor

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