For anyone thinking of going through a remodel, one of the toughest calls you have to make is deciding whether to live at home or move out during the renovation. Some homeowners can't tolerate the noise and dust, so they'll eat up the additional expenses of living somewhere else. Others would prefer to save, so they'll stay put and deal with the temporary headaches. Since it's a big decision that could impact you for months, let's review the pros and cons.
Moving Out:
Pro: Your contractor will be very happy. That's because they can work faster and much more efficiently without worrying about getting in your way. Plus, they won't need to spend additional time cleaning up at the end of each day.
Con: Unless you have generous relatives you can live with, it'll cost you money to move. You'll need to find temporary housing during construction, plus you'll have to factor in additional costs in case the renovations don't finish on time.
Pro: You won't have to deal with a constant influx of workers coming in and out of your home. You can also say "adios" to dust, noise, privacy breaches, and so on.
Con: You won't be able to keep a diligent eye on everything that's happening during the renovation. Sure, you could visit the property regularly, but you won't get to monitor the work in real-time and catch mistakes before they happen.
Staying Put:
Pro: You don't have to pack up your belongings and live somewhere new. Instead, you get to keep your surroundings the same and maintain your usual routine.
Con: Even if you stay put, you may still have to adjust your living arrangements. For instance, if the kitchen is being renovated, you'll have to figure out how you'll cook all your meals.
Pro: Most people stay put to save money. If there's no need to rent a hotel or house for several months on end, this results in significant savings.
Con: Dust, drilling, and non-stop disturbances. Be prepared for your quality of life to take a dip. Fortunately, it's all temporary and you'll have a beautifully renovated space at the end of it all.
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