How to prepare for your renovation
Start Preparing Mentally
Renovating your space is super exciting!! Getting started and putting the plan into action feels so good! There are a couple of things to consider if you’ve never been through something like this before - especially if you will be living in your room during the reno. I’m just being upfront and honest here because there are times through this process that you will feel a rollercoaster of emotions for projects like this. You will have your home - your sanctuary - your safe haven - disrupted for several weeks to several months depending upon the extent of your project and timeline for completion. Also know that once the demo & reno process starts you will have contractors and trades in and out of your home continuously. Think early mornings and late evenings and sometimes work occurs on Saturdays too.
The demo process tends to go very fast but then when the reno starts taking place there may be days when you could possibly feel like nothing is really progressing BUT it is in fact. Things take time and building & skilled work can seem slow at times. If you are working with a trusted contractor and team they have a process for things - so just know this and keep it in mind.. In your mind, you may want to see the pretty things come to life sooner than they actually will. Your patience is key and the reward in the end is SO worth it!
Although trades do their best of trying to keep the area clean and tidy - your home is going to get dusty - if you know this upfront then it won't come as such of a surprise when you are constantly wearing slippers or flip-flops around your home at all times! Also, some contracting companies offer more durable options to keep the dust at bay so be sure to inquire and ask about this.
Be Realistic
If you've watched any of the fabulous home renovation shows on tv and see that they can get a huge project done in 1 month with a $40k budget please know there's a ton of behind the scenes, production and editing that make it seem like you wave your magic wand and it's practically done! In reality this is very unrealistic. It takes time and patience with projects as these.
Be as Flexible as Possible
It may be time to move to the guest room if you are redoing your master bed & bath or if your kitchen is going to be out of commission, food order/delivery services may become your best friend for the next several months. Or possibly just getting out of your space for meal time is best - find new restaurants in the area and explore outside of your home more than you normally would. Emotions become heightened with change from your norm but try and embrace the short lived alterations for the time being.
Start Cleaning out and decluttering your space now!
Typically any renovation usually requires a bit of pre-planning & prepping from you. If you are doing a kitchen, masterbath, laundry room, etc for instance start clearing out old things stashed in the back of the cabinet or closet now! You will need to time to go through things, possibly donate or sell old items. Begin gathering boxes and packing material to organize and make your life a bit easier. That way when it's time to pack up and get started it won't seem so overwhelming. Also, another tip if you are living in your home while a kitchen reno is going on - try and find a small area where you can create a little make-shift kitchenette. You’ll probably want to move your coffee maker, toaster and a portable microwave to that area if you have one. Potentially this could be in your laundry room for instance if you want to be close to a sink and have the necessities close at hand.
Happy prepping and planning for your upcoming reno!