Houzz Readers Share Stories of How They Survived a Remodel
Learn Houzz users’ tips and tricks for living in or moving out of a home under renovation
When you renovate your home, one of the big decisions you’ll face is whether to move out or stay while work is underway. Most homeowners and pros would agree that moving out best preserves your peace of mind, but sometimes this option just isn’t feasible.
Recently we asked Houzz readers to share their tips and stories about living through a remodel — whether in their home or away from it. Perhaps their stories will help you decide what choice to make for your own remodel.
Recently we asked Houzz readers to share their tips and stories about living through a remodel — whether in their home or away from it. Perhaps their stories will help you decide what choice to make for your own remodel.
Houzz reader cassis55 found a guesthouse through the Nextdoor app to rent for just three weeks. Something very short-term could be an option if you want to get away during just the toughest phases of the remodel. “It was 5 minutes away from our house which worked out great!” cassis55 commented.
Sometimes friends or family can step in to help fill the housing gap (though this, too, can be potentially fraught). After damage from Hurricane Harvey forced Houzz reader loulabelle22 to renovate, her next-door neighbors took her and her husband in. “We took up a guest room, a second guest closet and a good portion of their sunroom. They were gracious even when the 8 week renovation morphed to 16 weeks! And they wouldn’t even think about charging us rent,” loulabelle22 commented.
Consider the Cost of Where You’ll Stay
Paying for temporary housing during a remodel is an additional cost and requires planning ahead. “I added the cost of a 2- to 3-month apartment rental into my remodel savings plan a couple years in advance,” commented L Bakula. “And saving all the cash in advance took most of the financial worry out of the equation.”
While renting or escaping the remodel is probably the least stressful option, do consider that you’ll want to be really organized with what you pack for your temporary location. And even if you are, you may find yourself making a lot of trips to see your home. Houzz reader jimnat is renting an apartment and commented that, while it’s nice to escape the noise and mess, “it feels like all we are doing is driving back and forth between the house, office and apartment several times a day.”
What to Bring to a Temporary Living Space and How to Organize It
Sometimes friends or family can step in to help fill the housing gap (though this, too, can be potentially fraught). After damage from Hurricane Harvey forced Houzz reader loulabelle22 to renovate, her next-door neighbors took her and her husband in. “We took up a guest room, a second guest closet and a good portion of their sunroom. They were gracious even when the 8 week renovation morphed to 16 weeks! And they wouldn’t even think about charging us rent,” loulabelle22 commented.
Consider the Cost of Where You’ll Stay
Paying for temporary housing during a remodel is an additional cost and requires planning ahead. “I added the cost of a 2- to 3-month apartment rental into my remodel savings plan a couple years in advance,” commented L Bakula. “And saving all the cash in advance took most of the financial worry out of the equation.”
While renting or escaping the remodel is probably the least stressful option, do consider that you’ll want to be really organized with what you pack for your temporary location. And even if you are, you may find yourself making a lot of trips to see your home. Houzz reader jimnat is renting an apartment and commented that, while it’s nice to escape the noise and mess, “it feels like all we are doing is driving back and forth between the house, office and apartment several times a day.”
What to Bring to a Temporary Living Space and How to Organize It
Reader Laura M Grogan’s Airstream trailer. Photo from Laura M Grogan
The Pros and Cons of Camping Out on Your Property
Staying on the property can be a nice way to be close to the renovation but not actually have to live in a construction zone. The easiest option is a separate guesthouse or mother-in-law unit, but the majority of us do not have access to that.
Reader Laura M Grogan purchased a 25-foot-wide Safari Airstream that her family named the Y2K Prince and lived in for about nine months while their 1978 home in Durango, Colorado, was being renovated. “It was awesome to be parked in our own side driveway, be present for the remodel, plug into our own utilities and have access to a porta potty when the water had to be shut off for winter,” Grogan commented.
Other readers were less enamored of the camper experience. Sandra Lundgren stayed in a decrepit 23-foot trailer on her property. “Six months in that camper trailer almost drove me nuts, although it was only my cat and me,” she commented. Still, it had its upside. “[I]t was good to be staying onsite because I was aware of everything that was going on and involved in the process,” Lundgren commented.
The Pros and Cons of Camping Out on Your Property
Staying on the property can be a nice way to be close to the renovation but not actually have to live in a construction zone. The easiest option is a separate guesthouse or mother-in-law unit, but the majority of us do not have access to that.
Reader Laura M Grogan purchased a 25-foot-wide Safari Airstream that her family named the Y2K Prince and lived in for about nine months while their 1978 home in Durango, Colorado, was being renovated. “It was awesome to be parked in our own side driveway, be present for the remodel, plug into our own utilities and have access to a porta potty when the water had to be shut off for winter,” Grogan commented.
Other readers were less enamored of the camper experience. Sandra Lundgren stayed in a decrepit 23-foot trailer on her property. “Six months in that camper trailer almost drove me nuts, although it was only my cat and me,” she commented. Still, it had its upside. “[I]t was good to be staying onsite because I was aware of everything that was going on and involved in the process,” Lundgren commented.
Photo from Ck Duster
Houzz reader Ck Duster is living the camper life currently — in a recreational vehicle with three kids, two cats and two dogs as her family builds its dream home on a recently purchased camp. “The most difficult part for me is that the entire construction site is dirt and our 3 year old LOVES to play in it!” Ck Duster commented. “So keeping us all clean with the limited hot water supply in a camper and no washer and dryer has been quite a challenge!”
Houzz reader Ck Duster is living the camper life currently — in a recreational vehicle with three kids, two cats and two dogs as her family builds its dream home on a recently purchased camp. “The most difficult part for me is that the entire construction site is dirt and our 3 year old LOVES to play in it!” Ck Duster commented. “So keeping us all clean with the limited hot water supply in a camper and no washer and dryer has been quite a challenge!”
Photo from Ck Duster
Ck Duster isn’t kidding about the dirt — here’s a close-up of a pile that was near their camper. The dog, at least, looks thrilled.
Ck Duster isn’t kidding about the dirt — here’s a close-up of a pile that was near their camper. The dog, at least, looks thrilled.
A temporary wall separates the living space from the construction zone during a renovation. Photo from ceefe
What to Know About Staying in Your Home During a Remodel
Living in your home while it’s being renovated gives you the best view of the process but also potentially the most aggravation. Inevitably, there will be dust.
To keep sane, it’s a good idea to have some way of containing the dust. Houzz reader ceefe commented that her husband built this temporary wall to separate the rooms of the home that weren’t being renovated from those that were. Houzz reader kodiac23 used plastic to separate the construction zone from the living space, with heavy-duty adhesive zippers for entry and exit through the makeshift plastic walls.
What to Know About Staying in Your Home During a Remodel
Living in your home while it’s being renovated gives you the best view of the process but also potentially the most aggravation. Inevitably, there will be dust.
To keep sane, it’s a good idea to have some way of containing the dust. Houzz reader ceefe commented that her husband built this temporary wall to separate the rooms of the home that weren’t being renovated from those that were. Houzz reader kodiac23 used plastic to separate the construction zone from the living space, with heavy-duty adhesive zippers for entry and exit through the makeshift plastic walls.
A temporary kitchen setup. Photo from ceefe
Another key for living through a remodel is to set up a makeshift kitchen. Ceefe’s husband created this one, which was in the family room and had a hot plate, microwave and fridge. Reader lil4 outfitted a bedroom with a refrigerator, microwave, electric frying pan, and disposable dishes and silverware.
Alternatively, you might think of a kitchen remodel as an opportunity to try out local restaurants. “It was fun - for 3 months,” croweco says. “The final 3 - not so much! So we took a couple of trips.”
Another key for living through a remodel is to set up a makeshift kitchen. Ceefe’s husband created this one, which was in the family room and had a hot plate, microwave and fridge. Reader lil4 outfitted a bedroom with a refrigerator, microwave, electric frying pan, and disposable dishes and silverware.
Alternatively, you might think of a kitchen remodel as an opportunity to try out local restaurants. “It was fun - for 3 months,” croweco says. “The final 3 - not so much! So we took a couple of trips.”
Photo from ceefe
If you work from home, the constant noise, dust and the presence of workers during the renovation may challenge your powers of concentration, wrote kodiac23, who works from home and held conference calls in the car.
Of course, the big benefit of staying in your home as it’s being renovated is that this location gives you the best view of the progress and, along with it, the ability to spot any problems early.
“Close proximity to the ‘action’ also made us more accessible to answer questions,” croweco noted.
If you work from home, the constant noise, dust and the presence of workers during the renovation may challenge your powers of concentration, wrote kodiac23, who works from home and held conference calls in the car.
Of course, the big benefit of staying in your home as it’s being renovated is that this location gives you the best view of the progress and, along with it, the ability to spot any problems early.
“Close proximity to the ‘action’ also made us more accessible to answer questions,” croweco noted.
Added lil4: “It was well worth the inconvenience.”
Your turn: How about you? Where do you plan to stay while your home is being remodeled? Tell us in the Comments.
Tools for Creating a Cooking Zone During a Remodel
Outdoor grills
Coffee makers
Electric teakettles
Toasters
Toaster ovens
Slow cookers
Portable electric grills
Electric frying pans
Pros to Help With Your Project
Interior designers
Kitchen and bath designers
Kitchen and bath remodelers
General contractors
Architects
More
How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel
What It’s Really Like to Live Through a Remodel
Your turn: How about you? Where do you plan to stay while your home is being remodeled? Tell us in the Comments.
Tools for Creating a Cooking Zone During a Remodel
Outdoor grills
Coffee makers
Electric teakettles
Toasters
Toaster ovens
Slow cookers
Portable electric grills
Electric frying pans
Pros to Help With Your Project
Interior designers
Kitchen and bath designers
Kitchen and bath remodelers
General contractors
Architects
More
How to Survive a Kitchen Remodel
What It’s Really Like to Live Through a Remodel
While a rented home or apartment may be the first option you consider, many Houzz readers found that other alternatives were better for their situations. Reader ctabony commented that renting an apartment, house or Airbnb for six to eight weeks would have been costlier than paying for an extended-stay hotel. “We are paying $60/night. The room isn’t fancy, but it has a kitchen and allows pets,” ctabony commented.
Frances Fujii also considered an Airbnb, renting an apartment or house, and staying with family during her 10-month-long remodel. “We ultimately decided to buy a little trailer and went south for the winter, returning in the spring,” Fujii commented. “We had a grand RV adventure and felt it was the best decision we could have made.”
Reader Marla Robinson actually bought the house across the street. “With multiple dogs and the high cost of renting, we decided to use about half of the savings we’d set aside for our renovation and put it toward purchasing a temporary house,” Robinson commented. (Before following her example, you’d want to weigh the transaction costs involved in buying and selling in a short period as well as how confident you are that the local real estate market will go up.)