Is Your Family Ready for a Home Remodel?
Between school drop-offs, work, making meals, shopping, doggie parks, and everything else you do – how does a home remodel fit into your life? While it may seem like a serious commitment, with the proper preparation, it doesn’t have to be complicated.
Although it can be disruptive, remodeling your home can be a rewarding experience. Especially if it helps the function of your home. So, before you forge ahead with a remodeling project, here are some ways to make the process easier for your family.
Where is Your Home Remodel Project in the Home?
When selecting a remodeling project, it usually comes down to something you need to function better. For example, maybe your kitchen doesn’t flow well with your family of four. Or your tub/shower insert is possibly old, falling apart, and not safe for the little ones. No matter your reason, where you are remodeling can impact your family differently.
For example, a whole kitchen remodel disrupts morning routines, lunch prep, and family dinners. You also need to consider the following:
- Where will you store dishes, utensils, and small appliances during construction?
- Can you make do with using a BBQ outside or a small hot pad for simple meals?
- Do you have a budget for take-out or dining out during this time?
- How accessible will your refrigerated good be, and will it be safe for kids to grab and go?
These are specific to kitchens, but for other parts of your house, like a bathroom, you need to consider the following:
- Do you need to make a bathroom schedule for school mornings?
- Is this your only bathroom, and therefore how doable is that for your family?
- If the second bathroom is an on-suite, can it accommodate everyone?
Although they are worth it, in the end, home remodels are chaotic and disruptive. This environment can bring undue amounts of stress to anyone in your family. Therefore, taking into consideration the impact beforehand can help alleviate those stressors. Or, at the very least, set expectations for everyone in the house.
Taking a Deep Dive Into Your Family’s Schedule
To help answer a lot of these questions, and more that may be more specific to your family, you need to start by looking at everyone’s daily schedule. Since home remodeling is disruptive, you want to find out what to prepare your family for and set expectations.
For example, if you have children who have to get up early for school every morning, a remodel could disrupt their routines. Similarly, the remodel could affect your or your spouse’s job, especially if you work from home. What about animals? How will their schedules be affected? All factors to evaluate before starting any project.
Communicating with Your Contractor is Crucial
Keeping an open line of communication with your construction team is essential. You want to be clear on your primary concerns, expectations, and construction schedule. These will help make sure the process is as smooth as possible.
Something else to consider is timing. Sure the contractor says they can start next week, but does that work for your family? Ultimately, having fewer people in the house is always preferable. This eliminates safety concerns and makes for less disruption for everyone.
If you are staying in the home with children, ensure your contractor is aware. However, scheduling your home remodeling project might be less disruptive while you take your annual trip to OC. Alternatively, consider staying with relatives or friends.
Keep in mind that if you go out of the immediate area, designate a point of contact for your contractors. Having a clear line of communication in case of unforeseen issues or immediate questions is necessary to stay on time and on budget for any project.
Ready to Start a Home Remodel Project?
If you and your family are ready for a home remodel, contact 7th State Builders today. We serve the great state of Maryland with pride and can’t wait to hear about your plans.
