Home Remodel: Should You Live In or Move Out During Renovation?

I'm Serjay Kravchuk, Client Relations Manager and Project Manager at New Day Construction. The first thing I look at when a homeowner asks whether they should stay home or move out during a renovation is what parts of the house will actually be out of service. A single bathroom remodel is very different from a gutted kitchen or a whole-home project. I would rather work through that question before construction starts than after the house is already under demolition.

Quick Takeaways:

• Many homeowners can stay in the house during a remodel when enough essential living space remains usable
• Moving out makes more sense when several major areas or most of the home need to be under construction at the same time
• Staying home can affect the construction sequence because the project may need to move through the house in stages

Can You Live in Your House During a Remodel?

A lot of our clients stay in the house during a remodel. That usually works when enough of the home remains usable while construction is underway. A single bathroom remodel is much easier to live through if another bathroom is available, while a full kitchen remodel can mean several weeks without a working kitchen. The choice is usually up to the homeowner, but moving out starts to make more sense when several essential parts of the house need to be under construction at the same time.

When It Usually Makes Sense to Stay Home

Staying home can work even during a larger remodel if the project is planned around the parts of the house you still need. We can finish one bathroom while the homeowner continues using another, then move to the second bathroom once the first one is back in service. The same idea applies to different areas of the house. A lot of our clients stay home because we can work through that sequence with them instead of taking every part of the house out of service at once.

When Moving Out Is the Better Option

Moving out makes more sense when the homeowner wants several major areas remodeled at the same time instead of working through the house in stages. A full-home remodel does not automatically mean you have to leave. We can often move from one part of the house to another while keeping usable space available. If an entire floor or most of the house needs to be under construction at once, temporary housing may be the more practical option.

Hazardous-material work is a separate issue. The occupancy plan should follow the requirements for that specific work rather than assuming every lead or asbestos project automatically means leaving the entire house.

What Makes Living Through a Remodel Difficult?

Dust is the one problem that never seems to change since it can spread easily past the area that the workers are actually working on, despite all the precautions that have been taken. The early-morning noise is disturbing for those who work at home and those who have little kids who need to take a nap. Losing access to the kitchen and bathroom, even temporarily, is more than a minor inconvenience and changes daily life more than most people expect. The overall uncertainty of the situation, with people coming and going and equipment left in the hallway, makes it hard to feel comfortable at home.

How Living in the Home Can Affect the Remodeling Schedule

Living in the house changes how we plan the sequence of the project. If one bathroom needs to stay available, for example, we can finish the other one first and switch once it is usable again. The project manager works through those logistics with the homeowner so construction can keep moving without taking every part of the house out of service at the same time.

Can Staying Home Increase Remodeling Costs?

Staying home does not automatically make a remodel more expensive. The real question is whether keeping part of the house usable requires additional work or changes to the construction sequence. Moving out has its own cost because temporary housing has to be added to the homeowner's budget. I would look at both options against the actual project instead of assuming one is always cheaper.

Temporary Housing Options During a Remodel

An Airbnb or another short-term rental can make sense if you want to renovate the entire house at the same time. Not many of our clients take that route. We usually help homeowners work through the logistics of moving between usable areas as construction progresses from one part of the house to another.

How Long Might You Need to Move Out?

The move-out period depends on how much of the house you want under construction at the same time. A lot of our clients stay in the house because we can work through the home in stages. If you want a full-home remodel completed with several areas under construction at once, temporary housing may make more sense for that part of the project. I would make that decision based on the construction sequence rather than assume you need to leave for the entire remodel.

How to Plan a Remodel If You Want to Stay in the House

Decide which parts of the house need to remain usable before construction starts. A temporary kitchen can make a kitchen remodel easier to live through, while a whole-home project may need to be divided into stages so a bathroom or bedroom remains available. The project manager can then plan the sequence around those needs and help you navigate the remodel as construction moves from one part of the house to another.

See How We Completed a Five-Week Kitchen Remodel in Everett

Our premium kitchen redesign in Everett took five weeks and had a $110,000 budget. The project included rotating the island to make better use of the existing space, and the homeowners received weekly project updates throughout construction. I managed the project from start to finish. It is a good example of why a clear construction schedule and regular project updates matter during an active kitchen remodel.

See Our Premium Kitchen Redesign in Everett, WA.

Planning a Remodel?

The decision to stay or move out should be part of the project plan before construction starts. We can look at which areas need to remain usable and whether the work can move through the house in stages so you know what daily life will look like during the remodel.

Call (425) 522-5748 or book your free consultation online.