We’ve lived through and managed dozens of waves of renovation over the last 20 years. Here are our top tips for living through construction while maintaining your sanity.
Between our own home, renovating two Michigan properties and a Two Flat rental property in our Chicago neighborhood, we’ve managed dozens of waves of renovation. Some have been as small as a single bathroom. Others have been as involved as an entire multi-unit home happening over 18 months (during a global pandemic, which we definitely don’t recommend!).
Through all of these projects, we’ve devised a few tricks to maintain our sanity and keep our homes livable when tradespeople are treating our home as a job site.
In This Post
1| Prepare for the Work
The old saying that ‘an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’ really applies here. Even the most careful contractor likely won’t care for your space and belongings they same way that you will. For you, it’s home. You’re there every day and you know every inch of the space inside and out. For your contractor, it’s a job site.
To clarify: we love our contractors. We trust our contractors. Many of them are like family to us at this point. We know their kids’ names. They send us funny videos of their ferrets to show to our daughter. We know their hobbies and their favorite beverages. But. They have a job to do and sometimes laying a tool down on a toilet seat lid instead of the floor keeps it in reach and makes their job easier.
We view it as our job in a renovation to ensure that work can flow smoothly with as few obstacles as possible so our contractors can focus on their work. To make everyone’s lives easier, we take time ahead of any renovation to clear out rooms as much as possible. We take down art, move or cover furniture, store delicate and/or valuable items and clarify who should be providing floor protection, plastic sheeting, shoe covers and other protective items. Most contractors will handle all of these precautions, but it’s better to know ahead of time to eliminate any anxieties.
2| Set Up a ‘Safe Zone’
During the initial wave of renovation in our Chicago home, we used what is now our guest room as our safe room. It became our kitchen, bedroom and quiet space for months while the walls crumbled around us and the now-familiar smell of open 140-year-old walls engulfed the rest of the house. No matter how well a renovation goes, there is no escaping the dust. It will find its way into every nook and cranny of your home, but having one room that is relatively free of dust and debris will aid in keeping your sanity and allow you to safely kick your shoes off. No contractors allowed. Door stays closed at all times. A towel under the door if necessary. This one safe zone can become your wardrobe, living room, kitchen and bedroom all at once, so keep it tidy and you’ll be glad you did.
3| Prepare a Makeshift Kitchen
We like to think of ourselves as pretty ecologically friendly. We minimize waste, recycle as much as possible and try to buy second hand when it makes sense. In the midst of a big renovation, especially one that involves a kitchen, this all goes out the window. We order takeout, use disposable dishes and cutlery and buy individually wrapped snacks that don’t require much in the way of storage. When your home is chaos, it’s OK to break your usual rules.
We also set up a microwave, coffee pot, mini fridge and a toaster oven to allow for simple meal prep and re-heating of leftovers. To keep it as environmentally friendly as possible, we buy any necessary appliances second hand, then sell or donate them when we’re done. Life can become challenging during a disruptive renovation, so give yourself some grace!
4| Plan for Delays and Over-Runs
All houses are hiding surprises inside their walls, especially old ones! Our running joke is that our 1887 home has had almost 140 years of owners at this point, so we’re dealing with a century and a half of other people’s decision making. We truly never know what we’ll find when we open things up, including this vintage door!
Sometimes, opening up the walls can result in fun finds like this that can be incorporated into the project’s scope and plan. Other times, it ends in discoveries that erode your planned timeline and slow the project down. The best time to address surprises and handle repairs is when the walls are already open. The mess is already made, the expenses can be minimized and peace of mind can be restored.
For example, when our garden unit bathroom was being renovated, we found that moving an existing shower drain would help us elevate a low ceiling and future proof against future repairs. We decided to spend the extra $900 quoted to us to handle the repair while the walls were open and the crew was onsite. If we had waited to take on the repair later, the cost would have easily tripled, and we’d have to juggle another renovation schedule. It set us back a day, but now we know the ceiling is level, the drain is functioning properly and our tenants will be happy in the long run.
Material delays, cost overruns and labor shortages are also pretty common challenges to face. A good contractor will talk through details, explain why they’re happening and communicate adjusted timelines accordingly.
5| Shift Your Routine
Contractors arrive early. Sometimes they need to stay late. We do everything we can to get up and ready before they arrive so we’re also ready for all of the questions and decision-making before diving into our day. We WFH almost every day, but we do our best to stay on-site on days when work is happening. Many decisions require our input throughout any process and Kim and I try to make every decision together. Ensuring that we adjust our schedules to be on site allows for efficiency and avoids assumptions.
6| Communicate!
Contractors are people. They might not know that something they’re doing isn’t what you expected or that it’s bothering you. Good contractors know that communication is a huge part of the job to ensure that everyone gets what they’re looking for our of a project. If something is going well, let them know! If something needs shifting or improvement, a contractor should be prepared for thoughtful, clearly communicated feedback. Never start a sentence with, Sorry, but… Speak with confidence, share your expectations, and if something wasn’t done the way you envisioned, tell them as soon as you notice.
We know what we like and communicate it clearly. That said, we’re not professional builders, so we don’t always know the current building standards and requirements (they change up all the time in Chicago!). Just yesterday morning, our porch builder said ‘It’s great working with you because you know what you’re doing when it comes to renovation, but you don’t think you know it all.’ That’s it. We don’t know it all. We ask questions, accept input and do our best to work with contractors that can communicate efficiently and effectively when the idea we have happens to not be the best one. If you have questions, ask! If a contractor can’t be bothered enough to answer your questions during a renovation that is likely a huge financial investment, they’re missing a key component of the job. Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
We hope these tips have been helpful. Renovations are fun, scary, expensive and rewarding all at the same time. If there’s anything we’ve missed or you’d like us to expand on, let us know. It’s not our first rodeo!
