An Uncomplicated Life Blog: 5 Tips for Living Through a Remodel

Friday, August 28, 2015

5 Tips for Living Through a Remodel

Last Friday I told you how our master bath was getting gutted and completely remodeled. Exciting, right?! Yes! What's not exciting is living in the construction. With a toddler. And six months pregnant. I've gotten creative to give you my best 5 tips for living through a remodel!


Saw and drill noise, dust everywhere, contractors and sub-contracters coming in and out of the house ALL day long, disrupted naps and endless questions being asked of me and decisions needing to be made... And that's just the beginning! While I'm excited to have my new, custom, designed-by-me bathroom (ooooook, SUPER EXCITED) I'm grinning and bearing it through the next six weeks. Just trying to keep these pregnancy hormones in check, you know?! Here's how I'm managing:

5 Tips for Living Through a Remodel

1) Know that contractors are ALWAYS late. We have a great project manager working with me, but the man is always at least a half hour late. Thankfully, I can consistently plan on him being late! So if we plan to meet at 4:30, I know I don't need to be home until at least five. And will likely have time to quickly eat dinner, too.

What will be the shower, my walk-in closet and where my vanity is. The other side of the bathroom mirrors this for hubs closet and vanity but the shower is a toilet in it's own room.

 2) Build a contingency fund into your budget. Thankfully, our demo was completed with zero surprises! However, this week we're hashing out the plumbing and new electrical. Read: Hello, expensive surprises and budget additions! I specifically picked out a less expensive tub so that we'd have wiggle room in our budget for unexpected expenses that come up along the way. Leave yourself some budget for the unexpected to reduce your stress when those surprises emerge!

3) Be decisive. I'm a woman who knows what I want, especially with interior design. If I didn't, we'd have hired a designer to help me work out the details. If you don't have your plans made out down to the kind of light switches you want installed, you'll hold up construction and make the project last longer. So get to decision making or hire someone to do it for you, or you'll be living in a remodel for weeks longer than you need to!

Where my 6ft soaker tub and chandelier will be!

 4) Be flexible. This week, I completely re-arranged workouts and naps and errands etc. to meet with folks, go over plans and let sub-contractors in. If I hadn't had that flexibility, our project would face further delays, and we'd be stuck in a remodel construction zone for longer! Give in to the needs of the project and rearrange your day so that all the moving pieces can go as quickly as possible.

5) Focus on the positive! At the end of the day (or weeks or months), you're getting a brand new room! The end result will be well worth the hassle of the remodel. Keep your end vision in mind as you struggle through the late contractors and delayed installations!

Inside shot of one of the his n' hers walk in closets.

 Per usual, I'm linking up with Amanda, Karli, Liz and H54F! Hope everyone has a more peaceful weekend than we will likely have in all this mess!

14 comments:

  1. I love the last one because it's so true!! My cousin did a HUGE remodel on their new house and I believe they were told they'd be ready to move into the home in December - they didn't move in until MAY!!! Talk about no project manager on that one lol! xo, Biana -BlovedBoston

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  2. Oh I feel the pain of remodel! I went through it in 2013 and the AGAIN unexpectedly in 2014. It is fun with design but a huge headache! Prayers for you! xo Amanda

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  3. So so true.
    Oh man. Now I'm having flashbacks to my parents' remodel. I vividly remember being woken up to the sound of a gun that shot 20 g powered nails into the floor while they were laying the hardwood.

    Good for you for staying positive throughout the process!

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  4. We are living through a remodel now too! We are adding on so they are not in the main part of the house yet but I feel it coming. Our guys are ALWAYS late. Congrats on your pregnancy! I missed that announcement-summer was crazy with travel and kids so I did not get to read as many blogs as I did in the spring. Have a great weekend & hang in there. It will all be worth it in the end.
    Traci
    http://www.waltzmetoheaven.com

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  5. Saving this for the future! Is it crazy that I can't wait until we buy a home and can truly make it ours? I would love to be living in the chaos of remodeling, knowing that it was our blood, sweat, tears, money and ideas going into it, ha ha!
    Anyway, you are super woman!!

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  6. These are great tips! i give props to anyone who lives through one... I think it looks intense!
    www.amemoryofus.com

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  7. Also to move all your small valuables to a safety deposit box. I have heard so many people that have had jewelry go missing during big remodels just due to a stream of people being in their house, sad but true. I can't wait to see the finished project!!! Bathrooms and kitchens are my two favorite parts of houses.

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  8. To be honest, I highly doubt we will live through a reno / remodel in this house, but hopefully in the next house we will (unless it's perfect, which again, I highly doubt) so thanks for these tips! Although, when KC did the floors I guess that counts as a remodel. But we had no contractors (or kids lol) it was still a stressful time!

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  9. I've not been though one yet but I'll keep these in mind! Have a great weekend!

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  10. I used to work as a nanny and they were going through a remodel while I worked there, so I was taking care of a two-year-old and a six-month-old during the remodel. It's very difficult taking care of small children in a house under construction. The tips you listed are great! Have a good weekend.

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  11. Good tips! We gutted my first home (literally to the studs, kitchen and both bathrooms) so I know being flexible is so important. Cannot wait to see the room when it's done!

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  12. Thats definitely an exciting project! Cant wait to those days I'm able to have a home I own. When do you expect to be done? I want photos :-D

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  13. Wow!! So many great tips! We debated a remodel or a move and decided on a move for a few reasons but one was we didn't want to live in construction with three kids (our house is close quarters) and I cannot make a decision to save my life! Ironically we will probably be purchasing a house with a little more space but in need of updating (which can hopefully wait till the kids are a little older). Can't wait to see what this looks like when it's finished!!

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  14. LOVE this tip about the contractors being late. i've never done reno, so I had no idea! these tips are going to be lifesavers (and budget) too.

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