In this article, we’ll share our top moving tips for moving into your house before renovations are finished.
Many people are always wondering when the best time to move house in the UK is. With housing markets being as wild as they are right now, there’s a lot of questions surrounding where to buy, and what kind of property.
Many people opt to a ‘fixer upper’ of a house and while this can be an exciting time it can also be stressful, particularly if renovations in the property drag out longer than expected. Some people may have no choice but to move into an ‘almost done’ state of a house.
In this article, we’re going to be sharing our tips for smoothing the transition when moving house before renovations are complete.
Make Use of Available Storage Spaces
If renovations are being carried out in more than one room in your house, you may want to delay moving all of your furniture straight away.
Many people find it helpful to move just the items of furniture that they need for their daily lives to begin with. For example, beds, chairs and a table, and then placing the rest of the furniture into storage until the works are complete.
This can be helpful in creating space, as well as protecting your precious furniture from dust and damage while renovations are underway.
Shop around to find the best deals as prices of storage facilities can vary quite dramatically – and don’t be afraid to haggle.
Often, management of these facilities have the authority to negotiate on pricing. If you’re feeling a little cheeky and can give people estimated times of how long you need things stored, then why not ask family and friends if they have any room in garages?
How to Survive Whilst Living Without Essential Rooms
If the renovations are happening in just one room in the house, this tends to make things a little easier – unless that room is the kitchen or the bathroom. Although this makes things a little trickier, it’s still possible to navigate this.
If the Kitchen is Being Renovated
If your kitchen is being renovated, this can present some significant challenges. If you have a spare room (or even a shed with electricity), you can set up a temporary kitchen for use during the renovations.
While you may not be baking any cakes here, a kettle, a microwave and a mini fridge will help to keep your household running without having to resort to expensive takeaways.
Renovation in your kitchen may mean that your washing machine is out of action for a while. Small items can be hand-washed in the bathroom and hung up to dry on a rack or rail. For larger items, there’s little alternative other than finding out where your nearest launderette is.
If the Bathroom is Being Renovated
A bathroom is a pretty important room for a number of reasons, and it can be a major disruption if your bathroom is being renovated.
In terms of toilet use, if your bathroom is under renovation, it may be that your builders have already installed a portaloo on your property.
If not, you may need to rent one of these if the work is likely to take some time. In terms of washing, it’s a good idea to check out free trials at a local gym (if you’re not already a gym member) so that you can use their shower facilities.
Alternatively, if you have friends or family living nearby, you can always ask if you can use their facilities temporarily. For daily washing, the sink in your kitchen may not be ideal but can provide a short-term fix if you don’t have time to leave the house to visit a gym or family member.
If the Bedroom is Being Renovated
If a bedroom is being renovated, this can be an inconvenience but doesn’t have to be the end of the world.
If you have the space in your living room, you can rent a sofa bed while the renovation works are going on for reasonably affordable prices.
Pack a suitcase with a capsule wardrobe and enough underwear to see you through until your new bedroom is ready for you to move in. If there is more than one bedroom in the house, come up with a schedule for dressing in the room that isn’t being renovated.
In the case that children need to share a bedroom until the building work is complete, invest in an inexpensive room divider to help cut down on arguments during this time.
Working From Home Amongst Renovations
Moving into a new home during renovations is tricky enough under normal circumstances but, more so if one or more of you are working from home. Renovation and building works are often noisy and filled with distractions.
Find the quietest part of the house to work in and take everything that you need for your day’s work to prevent distractions. If necessary, invest in a good quality pair of noise cancelling headphones to ensure that you’re not working to a soundtrack of hammering, banging and banter.
Temporary Measures for Long Term Gain…
When it comes to stressful life experiences, moving home is right up there.
In fact, a recent study claims that moving is more stressful than starting a new job, having a baby or getting married. Add in renovation works and you could be looking at some seriously frayed nerves.
If it’s possible, you will usually be better off delaying your move until the renovation work has been completed as this will allow you to start with a clean slate and cut down on inconvenience, noise and dirt.
If, however, this is not possible, following the tips in this article can help you to keep the wheels turning on your daily life with as little disruption as possible.
Friends and family can be a great support for these times, just be prepared to potentially return the favor one day!