Should I Move Out During My Home Remodel?

Now that Old Man Winter is gone and spring is around the corner, it’s time to get out that list.

What list? The list of home remodeling projects that you’ve been thinking about. Renovating your home can be very fun and rewarding, especially once your project has been completed. But that may bring up the question, “Should I move out during my remodel?” The type of project will often dictate the answer to this question.

Complete Bathroom Remodel: If you have more than one bathroom in your home, this is no problem, but if you have only one bathroom, you need to plan showers at the gym or a friend’s house. Your contractor can help by installing a toilet at the end of each workday at a cost. No need to move out on this project.

Major Kitchen Remodel: Once your kitchen sink is removed, the clock is ticking to get it back in place. Even if walls are being knocked down to make your kitchen bigger, there is no need to move out for this project. Appliances like your fridge and microwave can be temporarily moved around to accommodate. Paper plates and napkins will be your friend. This is also a great time to eat out locally.

House Painting: Painting your house can be one of the easier ways you can make a big change to your home. You don’t have to move out for this project. Your contractor will help you by setting a plan. In most cases, we have customers remove their smaller, fragile items and then we move larger furniture to the center of the room while we paint and put it back. Even if you’re painting every room in the house, this is something that can be accommodated.

Refinishing Floors: Real hardwood floors are beautiful, durable and very desirable. All furniture and items must be removed off of the hardwood floor. They cannot be moved around like when you’re painting a house. You have to be off of that floor for the duration of the work to let the stain and polyurethane dry. Therefore, you should plan on moving out of your home for this project for about three to five days.

Home Addition: This one can be tricky because it really depends on the scope of the work. If you are adding an addition off of the back of your house per se, you can most likely stay home for this project. Some projects can be built and framed before ever making a walkway or doorway into the new space. If you work from home, this is something you should plan around because of the noise and ruckus.

If you’re getting into a second-story addition, part of your project planning and budget should be moving out temporarily. Aside from the dust and noise during a second-story expansion, your roof area will be covered with temporary tarps. Plumbing will be shut off to be relocated. You will have electric shut off in parts of the house, which is inevitable because of the way wiring was previously run.

We had one family that had stayed in the home during their second-story remodel, and power was out in their son’s bedroom for over a month. It was fun at first but then became a burden. If the family did the project again, they would leave for that large project.

Most companies give estimates for free. When meeting with your contractor, these are questions to discuss early on, especially depending on the size and scope of your project. In most cases, our customers and families stay home during the remodel. We work with them early to discuss planning around the inconveniences so they know whether to stay or whether to go.

For more information about 50 East Remodeling, call 410-500-2266.