Three tips that every homeowner undergoing renovations right now should follow

Investing in and living through an extensive home renovation is no easy task, let alone during a pandemic. Designer Kasia Waloszczyk is currently in a temporary living situation until her renovated house becomes livable and we know many others are either in the same boat or attempting to live in a half-finished home. After facing a variety of unique challenges, we caught up with Kasia to ask about her top tips for any homeowner that’s currently undergoing renovations.

BE PATIENT

There are lots of events, projects and plans that have either been completely cancelled or put on hold due to the current circumstances. While this can definitely affect your lifestyle and your expectations, try and be as patient as possible. Keep in mind that your most important priority right now should be your health and staying as safe as you can.

MAKE A FLEXIBLE SCHEDULE

Have a rough schedule, but allow space and time for flexibility in terms of each trade finishing their work. It’s more than likely that renovations will take longer than usual during this time, especially with fewer workers allowed on the job. A task that normally takes one month could take numerous. Account for each trade running behind and adjust accordingly.

PRIORITIZE THE “NEEDS” FROM THE “WANTS”

A common situation during a big renovation is to have no access to water. If you’re in a similar situation, prioritize the essentials that you need to have running rather than focusing on the “wants,” such as getting a fireplace tiled, that can be finished later. You might even be able to use your free time to learn quick fixes and skills on YouTube that you can test out when you have your essentials ready.