This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of CORT . All opinions are 100% mine.
We built our dream home thirteen years ago when it was just me, my husband, and a cat. This probably explains why we chose white carpets (big mistake!).
Fast forward to now and our family has grown to include twin boys, two dogs, and still one cat. It's still our dream home, but the downstairs carpet needs to go and our walls need some repair and repainting. Which means it is time for us to start a home remodeling project.
Tackling a home remodeling project when you have young kids and pets in the house requires a little extra planning and consideration. But there are a few things that you can do to make it easier on everyone and I guarantee your remodeled home will be well worth it.
Tackling a Home Remodeling Project with Kids
We are having our entire first floor repainted, carpeting replaced with hardwood in two rooms and on the stairs, and our existing hardwood floors refinished. It's not as major as knocking down walls or adding rooms, but this home remodeling project will put us out of our first floor for over a week.
With little kids and pets in our family this is going to require a mix of planning, juggling, and creativity for all of us.
With little kids and pets in our family this is going to require a mix of planning, juggling, and creativity for all of us.
No matter what size home remodeling project you are taking on, here are some things you can do to make it easier on your entire family.
Planning is Key
Careful planning is the most important thing you can do to make your remodeling project go smoothly. Be sure that you are hiring a reputable contractor who is willing to communicate with you about every detail in the process. Our contractor gave us a schedule of what work is planned for each day of the project to help me get organized.
Since one of my sons has asthma, part of our plan includes knowing what days he needs to be out of the house because of dust and fumes. Planning for these days in advance with outings to the library, the pool, and even grandma's house will make the week go much more smoothly.
Depending on your project's complexity and length you may find that you need short term housing while your home is being remodeled. Or, you may need to relocate your living spaces to other parts of your home. In either of these cases, furniture rental may be the answer for you.
Furniture rental from CORT is a mom's best friend when it comes to temporary solutions for the home. You can find everything from entire rooms to simple accessories to solve any dilemma your remodeling project presents.
So when your new living room furniture may not arrive for several weeks after your project is finished (this is us!), CORT is there to make sure you're not sitting on the floor for a month or more. They have furniture on demand which is there when you need it and gone when you are finished, with less hassle and flexible furniture lease term options. It's a total mom win!
Be Flexible
Speaking of flexibility, this is a key thing to remember when you're taking on a remodeling project with kids. Things will likely not go according to plan, and you need to be ready to roll with the changes.
Keep a running list of places you can go or friends you can ask for help when and if you need it. And don't beat yourself up if your kids end up watching a little more TV than usual or eating chicken nuggets more than once a week. Keeping a good attitude and your stress level down is far more important for all of you. Remember, this is temporary, and you'll soon have a gorgeous new home for your family!
Let them Get Involved (But Know the Rules)
Getting your kids involved in your remodeling project will help them to be more aware and understanding of why there are so many changes happening around them.
We let our boys help choose the paint colors and even test them out on the walls. They feel like they are part of the project and that has helped them to be a bit more patient when I have to talk to contractors or we need to run errands that might otherwise be boring for them.
But it's also important to set rules when there is construction happening in your home. Make sure kids know not to touch tools or building materials, and establish clear boundaries of which areas of your home are off limits during renovations. Depending on your kids' ages, baby gates can be very helpful to mark off spaces that need to stay kid-free.
Taking on a home remodeling project can be daunting when you have kids, but in the end, having a home that you love is well worth the inconvenience. Just be sure to keep these things in mind to make the project as stress free as possible for all of you.
Will you need to rent furniture or accessories during your remodeling project? Check out all the options from CORT and see how easy rental furniture can be.