How Long Does It Take to Renovate a House?

How Long Do I Move out for a Home Renovation?: An Overview of the Standard Home Renovation Timeline

At Sleeping Dog Properties, Inc., we’ve found that some of the most common issues faced by people as they figure out their home renovation plans are:

• Determining how long the process will take.
• Figuring out where to stay during the renovation (and for how long).

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

While there are no universal answers that can be applied to every project for every client in every location, (unless you tell us more about your project) there are some helpful preliminary steps you can take to help you figure out how long your project will take and, subsequently, determine how long you’ll have to move out.

First: A Quick Note on the Nature of Renovations & Requirements for Moving Out

Of course, not every home renovation project will require you to leave your residence. For example, if the renovations are only happening in specific areas of the house or at certain times of the day where they won’t be a nuisance (i.e., during your work hours when you won’t be at home anyway), then there’s no need to start stressing about extended stays away from home.

However, if your home renovation plans are particularly ambitious, complex, or will involve the dismantling and reconstruction of multiple rooms of the house, then it’s a good idea to start considering the question of “How long does it take to renovate a house?” so you can start determining how long you’ll have to move out while your project is being brought to life.

How Long Does It Take to Renovate a House?

The standard home renovation process can take several months, with most estimates placing the timeline between three months and eight months. However, there are many variables which can affect that timeline, including your home’s location, the materials needed to complete the job, the availability of your firm’s workers and outside contractors, and the complexity of the project.

Fortunately, you can find many tips for working with custom home builders/renovators (including how to select a custom home builder/renovator and what to ask a custom home builder/renovator) in our comprehensive custom home build/renovation prep guide. After all, it’s always comforting to know a general timeline for how long it will take to renovate a home, but it’s even better when you have a specific timeline for renovating your house.

Should You Stay in the House During the Home Renovation Process?

Estimating your own home renovation timeline before work actually begins is critical because you most likely won’t want to be living in the property while it’s undergoing construction. While some clients do choose to stay in the house during renovation, the majority of our customers find it easier to stay elsewhere until the job is done.

The reasons people decide to “move out” during a home renovation are plentiful, but the biggest reason is the fact that construction is a noisy, dirty, intrusive, and relentless process. While you might be able to tolerate the cacophony for a few days, three to eight months is a lot more to ask.

There’s also the possibility that any sort of construction work will stir up dangerous toxins like asbestos and lead that you wouldn’t want to be exposed to. But still, three to eight months is a long time away from home…so what are the options?

Where to Stay During Home Renovation

In our nearly 30 years in the industry, we’ve found a wide range of solutions for the question, “Where should I stay during my home renovation?” Based on the client success rates we’ve seen over the decades, we can recommend any of the following as viable options for finding a stay during home renovation:

• Contact a local realtor about renting a furnished apartment or even a home in your area.
• Consider Airbnb as another source for long-term stays at local apartments or homes.
• Take up temporary residency at a hotel suite, making sure it supplies all the accommodations that would be needed for a permanent living situation.
• If you’re feeling adventurous, use this as an opportunity to take an extended in an exotic locale by yourself or with your family!
• Finally, there’s always the option to stay with friends or family members – assuming they’re okay with it, of course!

Have Home Renovation Plans or Ideas of Your Own? We Can Help!

As many of our past and current clients already know, one of the benefits of working with custom builders/renovators is the fact that you can meticulously outline your vision, then receive in-person feedback on your home renovation timeline as soon as that estimate is available. Then, a client-centered design-build process can ensure that the original home renovation timeline is met, all without compromising anything in terms of quality or safety.

To speak with a Sleeping Dog representative regarding a home renovation project, or to simply ask about anything in this or another blog you’ve seen regarding the home renovation process, please contact us for more information!