Renovating
Renovator's Checklist: 10 Things to Do Before Construction Begins
Work through these steps for an easier home building project
With workers traipsing in and out of your living space, dust and dirt everywhere and entire areas of your home unusable for the duration, home renovation projects can be extremely disruptive to daily life. A little smart planning ahead of time can make things run more smoothly. Here are 10 items to tick off your list before the chaos begins, for a safer and slightly less intrusive renovation.
2. Put rolling storage units to work
For the things you do want to access during the project, consider filling up a few storage carts on casters. This type of cart is lightweight and easy to move, and stores things in plain view so you can quickly find what you need. You could use one for towels and linens, kitchen tools and dishes, food, toiletries or anything else you need but suddenly have nowhere to put.
For the things you do want to access during the project, consider filling up a few storage carts on casters. This type of cart is lightweight and easy to move, and stores things in plain view so you can quickly find what you need. You could use one for towels and linens, kitchen tools and dishes, food, toiletries or anything else you need but suddenly have nowhere to put.
3. Beef up home security
Having lots of people come in and out of your home leaves it more vulnerable to theft; not necessarily from your own team, but from opportunists who notice there is work going on at your house.
Consider adding a programmable lock to your front door that allows you to give your reno team access to your home during the work and reprogram the lock when the work is done. Some smart-phone-controlled locks on the market now allow you to monitor who is in your house and when.
You can also move any highly valuable small items off site to a safety deposit box or locked cabinet. And if you have a home security system, use it.
Having lots of people come in and out of your home leaves it more vulnerable to theft; not necessarily from your own team, but from opportunists who notice there is work going on at your house.
Consider adding a programmable lock to your front door that allows you to give your reno team access to your home during the work and reprogram the lock when the work is done. Some smart-phone-controlled locks on the market now allow you to monitor who is in your house and when.
You can also move any highly valuable small items off site to a safety deposit box or locked cabinet. And if you have a home security system, use it.
4. Protect your privacy. Think about what time you usually shower and get ready for your day. Will the tradies already be in your home at that time? If you’d like to be able to walk through the house in your PJs without running into your contractor, consider putting up a few folding screens or other opaque room dividers between the work areas and your private zones.
If you’ll be using the guest bathroom instead of the main one, move your stuff there now. If you’d like to have your coffee in peace in the morning, consider setting up a coffee-making station in your bedroom. Shift your schedule, move your stuff, do whatever you need to do now and you will feel less hassled when the work begins.
If you’ll be using the guest bathroom instead of the main one, move your stuff there now. If you’d like to have your coffee in peace in the morning, consider setting up a coffee-making station in your bedroom. Shift your schedule, move your stuff, do whatever you need to do now and you will feel less hassled when the work begins.
5. Get your most important stuff together
Once work begins it can suddenly seem impossible to find anything. Get your stuff together now and put it all in one place well away from the work zone. If you won’t be using your regular entryway, set up a temporary command centre elsewhere with room for mobile phones, chargers, keys, mail and other essentials.
Once work begins it can suddenly seem impossible to find anything. Get your stuff together now and put it all in one place well away from the work zone. If you won’t be using your regular entryway, set up a temporary command centre elsewhere with room for mobile phones, chargers, keys, mail and other essentials.
6. Keep your kids out of work areas
A construction area is dangerous for children; power tools, hazardous materials, sharp nails and saws, not to mention exposed electrical work and more. The primary contractor must determine what’s necessary for external access control, but kids are curious, so keep a closer eye on your children than usual to be sure they don’t wander into the construction zone.
More: 10 Ways to Make Your Home a Safer Place for Kids
A construction area is dangerous for children; power tools, hazardous materials, sharp nails and saws, not to mention exposed electrical work and more. The primary contractor must determine what’s necessary for external access control, but kids are curious, so keep a closer eye on your children than usual to be sure they don’t wander into the construction zone.
More: 10 Ways to Make Your Home a Safer Place for Kids
7. Don’t forget about the outdoor protective measures needed
If there is public access to the construction site, temporary fencing will become a necessary inconvenience. It’s the builder’s responsibility to do a risk assessment, determine and source the appropriate fencing and apply for the necessary permissions.
If there is public access to the construction site, temporary fencing will become a necessary inconvenience. It’s the builder’s responsibility to do a risk assessment, determine and source the appropriate fencing and apply for the necessary permissions.
8. Contact friends, family and neighbours who may be able to help During a long renovation, there may be times when you need to lean on others; for a place to spend the night, do a load of laundry, have a shower or just get some moral support. Give your close friends, family and perhaps neighbours plenty of notice in person that you are starting a renovation project and they will likely be happy to help if you need something down the track.
9. Think about pet safety
Cats and dogs can be quite frightened by work going on at the house and work sites can be dangerous for them. If your pets are skittish, curious or likely to run away, consider having them stay with a friend or relative for the duration, or board them in a kennel.
More: Pet Talk: A Guide to Dog and Cat Safety in Your Home
Cats and dogs can be quite frightened by work going on at the house and work sites can be dangerous for them. If your pets are skittish, curious or likely to run away, consider having them stay with a friend or relative for the duration, or board them in a kennel.
More: Pet Talk: A Guide to Dog and Cat Safety in Your Home
10. Set aside some room in the budget for a holiday
Really! It doesn’t have to be a tropical holiday; the main thing is knowing you can get away if you want to. Even zipping out for an impromptu weekend at a hotel can be enough to make the reno seem more bearable.
MORE
Bathroom Renovation: How Much Will it Cost Me?
Attention All Renovators: 11 Things to Expect
Countdown to Renovation: 10 Things to Discuss With Your Builder
Houzz Tour: Church Renovation a Golden Opportunity
TELL USAre you planning a home makeover project? Or have you been through one already? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section below and don’t forget a high-resolution picture!
Really! It doesn’t have to be a tropical holiday; the main thing is knowing you can get away if you want to. Even zipping out for an impromptu weekend at a hotel can be enough to make the reno seem more bearable.
MORE
Bathroom Renovation: How Much Will it Cost Me?
Attention All Renovators: 11 Things to Expect
Countdown to Renovation: 10 Things to Discuss With Your Builder
Houzz Tour: Church Renovation a Golden Opportunity
TELL USAre you planning a home makeover project? Or have you been through one already? Share your thoughts and experiences in the Comments section below and don’t forget a high-resolution picture!
Go through the room(s) that will be part of the construction area and pare them back to the essentials. When you must go without your kitchen, it makes no sense to have to dig through mountains of stuff just to find your coffee mug and cereal bowl. Keep the things you will still be able to use in an accessible location and pack the rest in to boxes. If possible, move the boxes to a storage area that’s out of the main flow of traffic through the house. It’s going to feel crowded enough as it is with the tradespeople and all of their gear.