Should You Move Out Or Stay And Use Storage During A Renovation

Renovations are a thrilling time. Changing up your home so it meshes with your life and makes your day-to-day life more efficient is a fantastic feeling.  

However, if you are having an extensive scale renovation done, most of your home will be preoccupied with contractors trying to finish the job. Significant sections of your home will be torn out and inaccessible, making them impossible to live in - that is why many choose to move out during the renovation process.  

However, moving out isn’t the best option for everyone. In this article, we are going to go through what you should be considering when deciding if you should move out during the renovation process.  

Move Out or Live-In During Renovation?

The first thing you should ask is if you have to move out during the renovation. While you don’t need to do so, living in a house mid-renovation can make day-to-day life challenging to manage.  

There will be a lot of noise and dust throughout the home, making it hard to go about your day while also getting in the way of contractors and possibly slowing them down. However, if you stay within your home during the renovation, you can monitor the contractors and make sure they are working at a good pace and doing quality work.  

If you decide to move out during the renovation, you will have to find another place to stay, which could cost you a lot.  

To help you decide whether you should stay in your home during the model or move out, consider some of the following factors:

Health & Safety of Your Family

The construction process can make your home a dangerous and unhealthy environment. Building material, tools, ladders, debris, and other hazards will be present in your home for a prolonged period, possibly putting your family at risk.  

If you have children and pets, it may be best to live elsewhere as construction sites can underneath a lot of dust and toxic, which can seriously impact those living in the home.  

Size of the Project

If the renovation is only for one room of your home, it will be pretty easy to stay at home and live around that room rather than moving out.  

But, if you’re renovating your entire home or at least a large portion of it, there will be construction taking place throughout most of your home, making it incredibly difficult to live around. In this case, you will need to find somewhere to live temporarily and take most of your belonging out in the process.  

Location of the Project  

If the renovation takes place in a room off to the side and out of the way of spaces you use daily, it won’t cause too much inconvenience. Projects that encompass a good portion of your house, bathrooms, or rooms that you need access to will make living in your home challenging.  

Length of the Project

If the project only lasts a week or so, it probably won’t be too difficult to live through. If, however, the renovation will last a month or more, you will likely grow tired of the noise and inconvenience and will want to find alternative living accommodations.

Monetary Issues

Renovations can be costly, so adding additional expenses attached to temporarily relocating may be too much for some families. Storage, hotels, and other expenses can pile up, but it may be the cheaper option in the end.  

If you remain in your home throughout the renovation, you will most likely slow down the contractors as they will have to work around you. The longer the renovation takes, the more it will cost.  

What to do if You Decide to Move Out

So, if you decided that moving out would be best for your situation, there are some things to consider so you can make the process as easier as possible.  

Downsize Before Packing

Before you start to pack all of your things to get ready to evacuate, start getting rid of stuff you no longer need. Declutter as much as you can so you aren’t wasting storage space on unwanted items.  

Picking Select a Storage Solution

When you are picking a storage solution, it is going to come down to your needs. The two storage solutions best fit a temporary relocation are:

Portable Storage Containers - Portable storage containers are large, mobile storage units that are brought to your home where you fill them with your belongings. Once you have filled the container, the company providing the container will transport it to your new home or to a secure storage facility for safe keeping.  

Self-Storage Units - Self-storage units are storage units that you have direct access to. Many self-storage units allow 24/7 access and come in various sizes and unit types, such as temperature-controlled units for temperature-sensitive items. These units are also located in highly secure facilities with surveillance and other security measures.  

For a deeper dive into these storage solutions, check out our ‘Why portable moving containers? Pros and Cons’ article.

Finding A Place To Stay

Finally, you’ll need to find somewhere to stay. You may be lucky enough to have a relative or friend that will let you live with them temporarily. For everyone else, hotels, Air BnBs, and other room rental services will be needed.  

Moving out during a renovation will come down to your specific project. If the project will take some time or be invasive to your life, temporarily moving will probably be for the best. If it won’t take long and you can easily live around the contractors, staying won’t be strenuous. Either way, you will soon be enjoying a fantastic new renovation!

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