How to Live in Your Home When It's Also a Construction Zone

by Lori Madden 02/27/2022

When it's time to begin a major home improvement project — such as a complete kitchen renovation or an upstairs addition — you may end up living in a construction zone for the next several weeks or months.

Fortunately, there are solutions out there that can help. These tips will help you live in your space even if your house is currently a construction zone.

Prepare for the Project by Getting Rid of the Clutter

When construction begins, your space is going to feel much smaller for a while. The best thing you can do to prepare for the oncoming mess is to purge unwanted and unnecessary items from your home.

Having an organized space will help ease both the physical and mental burden of the construction stage.

Clean Regularly

Taking a few moments each evening to surface clean the areas of your home that aren't under construction will help you feel more at ease. This also ensures that you have safe and comfortable spaces to retreat to when construction prevents you from using certain parts of your home.

It's not easy to live inside a construction zone, but the good news is most homeowners report that it is well worth the effort. When the going gets tough, think about the result.

Remind yourself that you will soon be cooking your favorite meal in your brand-new kitchen or resting your head in a lavish master bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The construction zone is only temporary, but your new and improved house will last a lifetime.

About the Author

Lori Madden

As a Florida native growing up in Sarasota, I have seen my hometown grow from a sleepy coastal town to a highly sought-after destination along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. After working in Chicago for 5 years, I returned to Sarasota and saw it through a new lens and really began to appreciate what makes Sarasota so desirable, including temperatures that allow for year round outdoor activities including tennis (a personal favorite), golf, boating, kayaking, fishing, paddle boarding, or just relaxing and/or shelling on our pristine sandy shores, including Dr. Beach’s #1 beach in the United States for 2017, Siesta Key! Sarasota’s cultural amenities are many and diverse, appealing to a wide range of arts lovers. Downtown Sarasota has become a destination in itself, drawing many new developments for those who want to be within walking distance of Main Street's offerings and the picturesque bayfront and marina. Foodies will find an eclectic mix of locally owned and operated restaurants offering something for everyone, and there are now Farmers Markets every day of the week in various locations throughout Sarasota, but the Saturday morning Farmers Market in downtown Sarasota draws the biggest crowds. Since 1988, my passion has been selling real estate, representing both buyers and sellers. I have been recognized by my clients and customers for an uncompromising work ethic and dedication to helping them achieve their real estate goals. Relying on my experience as a real estate paralegal and being highly organized, I am able to help make the transition between contract and closing a smooth one for my clients. With an eye for interior and landscape design, I've been known to pitch in and help Sellers minimize and/or reorganize their belongings in order to stage their home to maximize its sale potential. I specialize in out of state buyers looking for their piece of paradise along the Gulf Coast and make it a priority to keep them up to date on our quickly changing local real estate market. I welcome the opportunity to share with you all Sarasota and her surrounding islands have to offer!