What’s more fun than having your house torn up, strangers parading in an out throughout the day, layers of sawdust so fine it makes powdered sugar look coarse and a whole heck of a lot of noise?

Just about anything, that’s what.

Should we head out of town during our Chicago kitchen remodel?

So, does that mean you should leave the premises during your remodel? Not necessarily. Here are a some scenarios to consider:

Stay put and prepare carefully

Most homeowners choose to stay put, and plan carefully, in order to weather the remodeling storm with as much grace as possible. If you choose an experienced kitchen remodeling contractor, you shouldn’t need to leave your home for more than a day or two, if that. Good contractors know how to create an accurate build-out schedule, which gives you an idea of what’s happening, when, allowing you to be prepared.

After that, it’s all about setting up a temporary kitchenette, having disposable dishware on hand and getting familiar with your local takeout menus. Read, Surviving a Chicago Kitchen Remodel, to learn more about remaining sane if you choose to stay in your home.

Live somewhere else close by

Then, there are homeowners who simply can’t stand to see their kitchen torn apart and in limbo. There are those who can’t stand the noise. Sometimes children’s or pet sensitivities make it impossible to remain in place. If that sounds like you, our advice is to live somewhere else, but close by.

Staying in the home of relatives or really close friends is certainly an option, but that comes along with its own share of worries and concerns. Unless they have a converted basement or designated guest space, it’s rarely easy to stay in someone else’s home for extended periods of time.

A long-term rental might be an option if you can find one, as is an extended stay hotel. However, this can get pretty costly and most people simply don’t have the extra room in their budget to spend thousands of dollars elsewhere.

Avoid the temptation to go on vacation

Of course, most people love the idea of timing their 2-week time share block with a summer road trip that will conveniently consume the lion’s share of the remodeling time. This is a fantastic idea in theory, but not so good in practice. While we fully endorse a well-planned remodel that goes exactly as scheduled, life doesn’t always pan out that way.

There are plenty of unexpected events that can crop up along the way, some of which may require your approval or input. If you’re on vacation and can’t be reached, or we need you to see something or verify something in person – that can cause a problem. In worst case scenarios, your absence could even lead to construction delays and/or extra costs. All in all, we prefer that clients stay local throughout the majority of their Chicago kitchen remodel so they’re available if and when we need them.

Enjoy the best of both worlds – stay a little and leave a little

Once you’ve made your kitchen remodel selections, the project is all signed off and the construction schedule is complete, we recommend enjoying the best of both worlds. Your contractor can tell you the ballpark times when staying away – i.e. planning a long weekend getaway - is a great idea.

These include things like the demolition phase, when noise and sheetrock dust is enough to drive anyone bonkers, or when your hardwood floors are being finished, a time when you’d have to leave the area for a day or two anyway.

By staying a little, and leaving a little, you’ll be around when the design-build team needs you but can also get some much needed time away from the noise, dust, chaos and general mayhem.

Looking for a contractor who is neat, tidy, efficient and provides reliable build-out calendars? Schedule a consultation with Kitchens & Baths Unlimited. Our high customer ratings are a testament to our professionalism and customer-centric business model.