Should You Live in Your Home During a Remodel?

So, you’ve finally decided to remodel your home—congrats! Whether you’re expanding your floor plan, updating your kitchen, or turning your outdated bathroom into a spa-like retreat, one big question looms over your construction site: Should you stay, or should you go?

Living in your home during a remodel can feel like camping indoors—except instead of roasting marshmallows, you're dodging construction workers and covering everything in plastic to avoid dust explosions. Let’s break down the pros and cons so you can decide if roughing it at home is worth it—or if booking a long stay somewhere else is the better move.

🚧 The Pros: Why Stay?

1. Save Money (More for the Remodel!)

Let’s be real—the cost to build a house or remodel one isn’t cheap, and finding a temporary place to stay adds to the budget. Staying home eliminates the need for rental costs, hotel fees, and extra expenses like storage units.

If you’re on a cost-plus contract or tracking every change order, saving on housing costs can give you extra wiggle room for upgrades—hello, heated floors!

2. Keep an Eye on the Work

When you’re on-site, you can monitor progress daily, making sure your general contractor and home builders stick to the blueprints and don’t veer too far from the vision. Spotting mistakes early means fewer costly fixes later.

Plus, when you’re around, it’s easier to approve decisions on the fly—like choosing between felt (underlayment) or upgrading to something more durable.

3. You Won’t Have to Move Everything Twice

Packing up your entire life for a remodel is no small task. If you stay put, you can section off areas to live in while work is being done—no need to move your furniture, kitchen supplies, or every single shoe you own to a storage unit.

🚧 The Cons: Why You Might Want to Move Out

1. Dust, Noise, and Chaos—Oh My!

Between backhoes rumbling outside and framing crews hammering away, your peaceful morning coffee might turn into a construction-site symphony. Add in sawdust settling on every surface (including your toothbrush), and suddenly, a hotel starts looking like paradise.

If your project involves serious foundation work, flatwork, or major building construction, expect daily disruptions that make normal living feel impossible.

2. Limited Access to Essential Spaces

Kitchen remodel? Say hello to microwave dinners in the living room. Bathroom renovation? Hope you enjoy brushing your teeth in the garage sink. If your project includes multiple rooms, getting around your home might feel like navigating an obstacle course.

If you’re considering a passive house or green building design with energy-efficient updates, keep in mind that some phases—like installing forced air heating/cooling or upgrading to fire-resistive materials—might make the space temporarily unlivable.

3. Safety Concerns (Especially for Kids & Pets)

A home under construction is a hazard zone. Between exposed wires, sharp nails, and open footer (footing) trenches, it’s not exactly kid-friendly. Pets aren’t fans of loud noises and strangers traipsing through their territory either.

Gaps in fascia, missing flashing, and half-installed GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets can make your home a danger zone until things are finished. If safety is a concern, relocating—at least temporarily—might be the smarter choice.

🚧 The Middle Ground: Best of Both Worlds?

If moving out isn’t ideal but staying in sounds like a nightmare, here are a few compromise solutions:

🏡 Live in a Sectioned-Off Part of the House

If only part of your home is under construction, consider sealing off the remodel zone. Your contractor can help set up plastic barriers or temporary walls to keep dust and debris from spreading.

🏕️ Stay Elsewhere During the Messiest Parts

Some phases of building construction are way worse than others. If your home will be without electricity, plumbing, or heat for a period, find temporary housing just for that time—whether it’s a short-term rental or crashing with family.

🚪 Get a Trailer or Temporary Living Space

If your yard allows it, setting up an RV or trailer on-site gives you a place to stay while keeping a close eye on your construction company’s progress. Plus, it avoids the hassle of moving your belongings off-site.

Final Verdict: Stay or Go?

Stay If…

✅ You’re remodeling one part of the house at a time.
✅ You can handle the noise and dust.
✅ You want to save money and monitor the project daily.
✅ You don’t mind occasional inconveniences (like showering at the gym).

Move Out If…

🚫 Your entire house is being renovated (especially kitchens & bathrooms).
🚫 You have young kids, pets, or anyone sensitive to dust and noise.
🚫 You work from home and need peace and quiet.
🚫 Major foundation, floor plan, or structural changes are happening.

Final Thoughts

Living in your home during a remodel isn’t for the faint of heart, but it’s doable with the right plan. Whether you stay or go, working with a great construction company and keeping communication open with your contractor will help the process run smoother.

If you’re planning a remodel and need expert custom home builders to guide you through it, don’t hesitate to get in touch. The right team makes all the difference—because no one wants to live in a construction war zone longer than necessary! 🏡🔨