Getting ready for a home remodel is generally an exciting time. However, many people focus during a remodeling project on the planning and execution, and unfortunately think very little about the reality of temporarily living in a construction zone. Without planning ahead, remodeling can make daily life much more difficult—in fact, you may wish you could go on vacation until the entire thing is over.
On the other hand, if you do a little planning ahead and know what to expect, the process may be a bit of an inconvenience, but not as bad as you may at first fear. Whatever the project, such as kitchen or bathroom remodeling in Jackson, MS, having good communication with your contractor and taking the right steps before the work begins will make life much easier. Here are some ways to better prepare yourself for a home renovation project.
- Be clear about how long it will take: Many people forget to ask their contractor for a reasonable estimate of how long the project will take. Depending on the extent of the renovation project, the amount of time the work will take may vary greatly. Having a timeframe is crucial for planning on how to live in your home during the project. Especially with kitchen or bathroom remodeling in Jackson, MS, it is very important to understand how long the room will not have its normal functions, which will then determine what steps you need to take in order to live comfortably in the meantime. Not having a functioning kitchen for a week is much less frightening than not having a kitchen for a month! Ask ahead for a timeframe and let it guide your planning.
- Make sure the workspace is prepared: Every contractor hates it when they show up to begin work on a project and the house just isn’t ready for it. But the responsibility for this rests on both the homeowner and the contractor. If the contractor you hire has not already mentioned how you can best prepare a given room for remodeling, make sure you ask them. In most cases it is important that you completely clean out a room before the workers arrive. Asking ahead of time ensures you have adequate time to prepare for the work to begin, and enables the contractor to get started on day one.
- Be prepared to live in a construction zone: Whether you like it or not, your home is going to be a small construction site for the duration of the remodel. If the project is a relatively small bathroom remodeling in Jackson, MS and you have other bathrooms, the work zone may be more limited, and less inconvenient for you, than a full remodel of your only kitchen. No matter how extensive the project may be, it will create a mess and numerous people will be going throughout parts of your house.
- Think about comfort, safety, noise and messes: In addition to the inconvenience, there definitely will be noise. Set limits on where contractors are allowed throughout the house, and ask to limit certain noisy activities to certain parts of the day. Make sure to leave the house during the loudest work. Also, talk ahead of time with your contractor about whether employees will clean up every day when they are done, and who is responsible for the main cleaning at the end of the project. Finally, ask about safety hazards and other things you should be aware of before the work begins. If you follow these tips, your home interior remodel should not cause a major inconvenience.