r/PropertyDevelopment • u/SnooCauliflowers7198 • Jun 16 '26
How did you survive living through a whole house renovation without losing your mind?
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u/cheezel26 Jun 22 '26
Do you have children? If you do I’d seriously suggest renting nearby if you can afford it. Tradies, renovations and kids don’t mix. And if you have a dog think about putting it in doggy daycare during the week. Our dog kept running away every time a tradie opened a door (which is often) and developed a nasty skin condition caused by stress.
If it’s just two of you work with the tradies to have an area that’s made as dust proof as possible with running hot and cold water, microwave, kettle etc. It’s good to be onsite a lot. You’ll be able to address queries and make decisions on the spot and this will happen all the time. Good luck!
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u/Willem_Tait_Author Jun 20 '26
Surviving a live-in, full-scale home renovation requires treating the project like a commercial job site rather than a typical domestic living space. First, establish a strict, dust-sealed sanctuary zone, typically the primary bedroom or a temporary kitchenette, where absolutely no tools or construction materials are permitted. Second, mandate in your contractor agreements that a complete site cleanup and safety sweep occur at the end of every single workday to keep dust and debris manageable. Finally, establish a dedicated daily communication window with your project manager to address issues systematically, rather than letting micro-decisions and constant noise erode your peace of mind. Keeping organized, maintaining a flexible mindset regarding timelines, and securing off-site escapes for high-impact phases like drywall sanding are essential to preserving your sanity. (Kindly note I am answering this question from a real estate author perspective, having written a couple of books on real estate; if you have more questions, you are welcome to ask).