6 Min Read
Transforming your home is exciting—your vision is finally coming to life! But let’s face it, living through a renovation? Not always glamorous. Between the noise, the dust, and the occasional “Wait, where did we put the toaster?” moments, it’s easy to feel a little overwhelmed.
At Robinson Renovation & Custom Homes, we get it. That’s why we’re sharing our best tips to help you navigate the chaos, stay comfortable, and keep your sanity intact while your dream home takes shape around you. Through additions, kitchen remodels, and bathroom expansions, when you follow our list of preparations, your remodel will be more predictable.
Can I Live in My Home During a Renovation?
This is a very common question when a homeowner starts planning a renovation. The short answer is yes, you can—with most renovations.
Some families decide to stay in a hotel or with friends while their home remodel is underway, but you can live in your home while most projects are taking place. But being realistic about what to expect will help you plan properly and live easier.
Is it safe to live in a house during renovation?
Dealing with construction is easier if you’re remodeling a single room or space in the house—such as your kitchen, bathroom, or primary bedroom—but living on-site during a whole home renovation in Florida is doable. It simply requires more mental preparation and communication between you and your Gainesville design-build team.
The biggest concern for most families is safety, particularly if you have children or pets. You may also be concerned about dust and debris, protecting your furniture and personal items, and ensuring you can sleep and work at home when you need to.
How to Live in a House While Renovating It?
Here are a few strategies and survival tips to help you live comfortably at home during your renovation.
1. Stay Organized with a Planner
During your house renovation, there’s a lot to keep track of—daily schedules, deliveries, and any changes along the way. It can feel like a lot, but staying organized will help you feel more in control.
Try using a wall planner, a dedicated journal, or an app to make checklists or jot down important notes about the project—it’s a simple way to keep everything in one place.
Many design-builders also offer project management tools with web portals or mobile apps, so you can stay updated in real time without the stress. You’ve got this!
2. Create a Designated ‘Safe Space’ for Kids
If you have kids, you know their imagination can turn anything into a jungle gym—whether it’s a discarded bathtub or a semi-constructed wall. While you’ll keep an eye on them most of the time, there will be moments when you need to focus on chatting with your superintendent or tackling a task.
Set up at least one completely safe room where they can play freely while you handle those moments. Before construction begins, take some time to talk with your kids about what to expect and why some household rules might need to change temporarily.
And rest easy—your superintendent will ensure the main work areas are securely contained to keep your family and pets safe throughout the process. However, if this sounds like a tall order or have very small kids or reactive dogs, you might want to consider relocating during the construction phase.
3. Think About Relocating Your Pets
Most pets will need to be relocated during your renovation for their safety, even if they’re usually well-behaved. Construction zones can be unpredictable, with loud noises, open spaces, and unfamiliar people coming and going, which can stress pets or put them at risk of injury.
Consider asking a friend or neighbor to care for them or arranging a stay at a kennel to keep them safe and out of the construction zone. For pets that need to stay at home, setting up a secure, quiet space far from the work area can help minimize stress.
Your design-build team will have a schedule for you and a start and stop time so you can potentially keep your pet at home outside of those hours. Consider all of your options and do what's best for your furry friend.
4. Set Up a Temporary Kitchen
Should you move out during a kitchen remodel? With the right preparation, it’s absolutely possible to remain in your home while you renovate your kitchen.
During a major kitchen remodel, your cooking routine might take a hit—using the space will be impossible for most of the project. Eating out can work for some families, but if you’d rather keep cooking at home, there’s a solution.
If you have extra space, like a garage or covered patio, you can set up a temporary kitchen to make life a little easier during the renovation. It’s all about finding what works best for you!
Set up a shelving unit and include a mini fridge, a slow cooker, a toaster oven, a coffee maker, and a microwave. You won't have access to a sink or dishwasher, so disposable plates and cutlery will have to be your go-to. If you're concerned about the environmental impact, look for compostable options.
5. Implement Dust Barriers
Dust is one of those unavoidable parts of a renovation, and it can be especially tricky if you have young kids, allergies, or other respiratory concerns. No matter how meticulous your remodeling team is, it’s impossible to eliminate dust entirely, but there are ways to keep it under control.
Your renovation team will take steps to help, like setting up temporary walls and sealing off venting in the construction area. This helps prevent dust and debris from spreading into your HVAC system and other parts of your home, making the process a lot more manageable. It’s all about teamwork and preparation!
After construction is complete, have a professional cleaner scheduled to do a thorough cleaning of your entire home.
6. Be Available to Communicate with Your Home Remodeling Team
Staying calm and collected during a major home renovation often comes down to clear and consistent communication with your remodeling team. Your superintendent will quickly become an integral part of your daily life, acting as both a project manager and a trusted point of contact to ensure everything runs smoothly.
You’ll also get used to seeing the same friendly crew members as you go about your routine—whether it’s getting ready in the morning or coming home in the afternoon.
Building a good relationship and maintaining open communication with them can make their presence feel more like part of the process and less like a disruption to your daily life.
7. Limit Visitors During Construction
Living in your home during a remodel can already feel a bit cramped and hectic, so adding visitors into the mix can make things even more stressful.
To keep things manageable, it’s best to pause hosting friends or family until the project is complete. Instead, take the opportunity to meet up at their house or enjoy a break at local restaurants or coffee shops—it’s a great way to get away from the construction zone for a few hours.
Remember, this is only temporary, and once your home is finished, you’ll have a beautiful new space to host guests comfortably. In the meantime, keeping things low-key at home can help maintain a sense of calm during the process.
8. Plan a Vacation
Sometimes, the best way to cope with a renovation is to step away from it for a bit. If you’re able, planning a weekend trip or family vacation during your project can give you a much-needed break from the dust and noise.
Taking a few days to relax in a comfortable setting can help you recharge and return home ready to handle the next phase.
Just make sure to coordinate with your superintendent ahead of time so they’re aware of your plans and you can align the lines of communication appropriately. Be mindful not to schedule your trip during a time when your input or presence is essential, like walkthroughs or major decisions.
A little escape can make all the difference and give you the energy to see your remodel through to its exciting finish!
9. Trust Your Crew
Your renovation team—from the superintendent to the trade partners—knows your house isn’t just a job site; it’s your home, and they treat it with the care it deserves.
While the word “demolition” might conjure up images of chaos and noise, a skilled and caring design-build team, like Robinson Renovation & Custom Homes, takes a thoughtful, contained approach to ensure the process is done right.
Before a single tool is lifted, the crew carefully plans what stays, what goes, and where plumbing and electricity will run. When demolition begins, it’s almost surgical—complete with air scrubbers to keep dust in check and your home as comfortable as possible.
Hire the Team That Gets It
Two things will greatly impact your stress level and comfort during a home renovation: Your mental preparation and your remodeling team. If you go into the project knowing what to expect and focusing on the positives, you will have an easier time managing the inconvenience.
Robinson Renovation and Custom Homes can help with that. Thanks to years of completing residential remodels in Alachua County, we have learned from experience how to help you prepare for your major house renovation and the best ways to communicate so you can have a positive experience along with a quality outcome.
Robinson Renovation & Custom Homes understands these things. You can rest assured that our team will take your needs into consideration before, during, and after your home makeover project.
Contact us to schedule a chat, and we can answer any questions you may have about your home remodeling process.
