Renovation length varies depending on the scope of the project. Painting may take from a few days to a couple of weeks. But a major kitchen or bathroom remodel can take from one to four months. If your home remodeling project involves adding a room, plan on disruption lasting up to six months. How can you survive a home remodeling project that disrupts home life for weeks to months? Follow along as Orange County general contractors share tips for surviving the process.

Pick the Right Time

Things like contractor availability and budget often drive the timing of your home renovation. But, before signing on, consider the time of year and the season of your life.

Holidays disrupt schedules, home remodeling throws them out the window! Consider if you have the fortitude to renovate during the Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year holidays.

If your kids play sports on traveling teams, you might want to wait for the season to wind down.

Picking the right time helps reduce that overwhelming feeling that often kicks in before the project is completed.

Communicate and Plan with Your General Contractor

Keep abreast of what is happening and when to reduce that chaotic feeling. When interviewing, find out if you will be provided with a dedicated point of contact for communication. As a design-build general contractor, Inspired Remodels assigns a team member to be your communication point. You should expect no less from any professional contractor. Forewarned is forearmed.

For example, demolition creates lots of noise, dust, and mess. Know when and how long demo will last. Those will be the best days to be out of the home all day. 

If you work from home, knowing what happens on what days helps you know the days it’s best to take that video call at the library.

For bathroom and kitchen remodels, follow these specific tips for setting up alternative cooking and bathing spaces during construction.

Knowing what will happen each day helps you create a schedule that works for your sanity and allows the contractors to get their work done, too.

Protect Valuables

Invest in storage during the remodeling project. Whether you get a storage pod dropped off at the house or use off-site storage, get your stuff out of the way.

This protects your items from demolition and construction dust and debris. If it is not on site, workers can’t break it.

In addition, removing clutter reduces the feeling of chaos that can take over during extensive remodeling.

Keep Your Eye On the Outcome

Keep Expectations Realistic

Be prepared for things to go wrong and be prepared to move forward. This is the time to lower your standards temporarily.

You may eschew dining out and cook every night. Understand that a kitchen remodel makes this exceedingly difficult. Especially if the space is stripped to the walls.  Cook in a temporary kitchen in the garage or eat out. Accept it.

Come to terms with bathing and dressing in a secondary bath until the primary en suite of your dreams comes to life.

Being prepared for disruption makes it easier to get through extensive home remodeling unscathed.