How to Prepare Your Home for a Remodel
Remodeling your home is exciting—it’s like hitting refresh on your entire space. New floor plan, fresh materials, better forced air heating/cooling (yes please!), and maybe even a dreamy green building upgrade. But before your contractor shows up with a crew of builders, a backhoe, and a truckload of ready mix concrete, there are a few things you should do to prepare.
Think of this as your “remodel survival guide”—a fun, slightly dusty adventure that starts with planning and ends with a better home.
1. Pack It Up, Buttercup
Unless you want your favorite coffee mug buried under a layer of sawdust, it’s time to pack. Clear out rooms that are getting remodeled. Label your boxes, take pictures of your stuff, and protect breakables like you’re moving (because in a way, you are).
Be sure to remove anything hanging on the walls—especially near where framing, fascia, or flashings will be exposed. If your construction site includes plumbing, protect those cabinets and walls too.
2. Create a Temporary Living Plan
Living through a remodel is totally doable—but only if you’ve planned ahead. Set up a temporary kitchen or bathroom, designate a quiet space away from the chaos, and stock up on essentials like snacks and a little extra patience.
If your general contractor is working on multiple areas, you might want to consider a short-term rental or staying with family. Especially if the foundation, flatwork, or floating floors are involved—it’s hard to relax when the floor’s missing.
3. Protect What Stays
Cover your floors, seal vents, and block off areas not under construction. Dust has a sneaky way of getting everywhere. If you’ve got a passive house system or a high-efficiency forced air heating/cooling setup, seal off your vents to protect your HVAC.
Use plastic sheeting, drop cloths, and tape to protect what’s staying. Bonus points if your construction company helps with this—they get gold stars.
4. Get to Know Your Blueprints
Before any walls come down or glulam beams go up, make sure you’re crystal clear on the blueprints and your floor plan. Understanding your layout, grade, and the flow of the remodel can help you make decisions faster—and avoid costly change orders.
Ask questions. Understand your form, footer (footing), and frieze board (bird block) placements. This is your home—get curious.
5. Embrace the Unexpected (Like a Pro)
No matter how perfect the CAD (Computer-Aided Design) drawings are, remodels often come with surprises. Maybe the grain of your wood floors doesn’t match the new stain, or you discover expansive soils under the existing foundation.
That’s where contingency budgets come in. A good cost-plus contract will factor in the possibility of hidden surprises and give you peace of mind.
6. Communicate with Your Contractor
Stay connected with your contractor, construction workers, or custom home builders. Review the daily report, ask about the cost codes, and check if the timeline still aligns. If your team uses BIM (Building Information Modeling)—even better. It keeps everything transparent.
And yes, weekly check-ins are totally a thing. You don’t want to find out too late that your gable was framed wrong or your green board (pressure-treated lumber) wasn’t used in the right places.
7. Prepare for Noise, Dust & Chaos
Let’s be honest: remodeling isn’t quiet. If you have kids, pets, or work-from-home vibes, prep them for the noise. Earplugs, white noise machines, or maybe an extra walk for the dog during demo days can go a long way.
Also, notify your neighbors—no one likes surprise jackhammer mornings.
8. Secure Your Home
Construction crews are in and out all day. If you’re not home during the remodel, consider getting a smart lock, cameras, or a lockbox for your keys.
If your remodel includes electrical upgrades, don’t forget to check that GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets are up to code—especially in kitchens and bathrooms.
9. Get Permits and Finalize Bids
Before you break ground, make sure your permits are in order. Your L&T Construction team or general contractor should handle this, but always double-check.
Review your bid and clarify what’s included (and what’s not). Is damp proofing part of the basement remodel? What about fire-resistive materials for the new walls? Make sure it’s all in writing.
10. Get Ready to Love Your New Space
Yes, remodeling is messy. Yes, it takes time. But once your foundation is poured, your girder trusses are in, and the final coat of paint is dry, it’s all worth it. Whether you're upgrading a kitchen, expanding for a growing family, or building your dream passive house, you're investing in your future.
So, take a deep breath, trust the process, and keep your eye on that sparkly new space waiting at the end.
Final Word
Remodeling is a wild ride—but with the right planning, the right team, and a little prep, it can be smoother than a fresh pour of ready mix concrete. 💪
Need help planning your next remodel? Reach out to a local construction company or custom home builder today and get started on turning those blueprints into reality.
Let the demo begin! 🛠️✨