Should I stay or should I go?

Planning permission granted, Cube lined up, and everything is ready to go ahead on your big home improvement project. You’ve made all the important decisions bar one. The 1980s song from The Clash is on repeat in your head with one last nagging question, “Should I stay or should I go?”. Let’s think this through together!

Personal preferences

Do you mind putting up with the dirt, noise and disruption or would you rather return when the final tile has been fitted? Our Contracts Manager Sally Schofield has spoken to many clients over the years and she points out that “much depends on the kind of work you’re having done. Whilst it might be easy to live in your home when your garage is converted, anything that involves taking down walls or removing your roof could provide a real challenge.” In any case, you should be honest with yourself and consider the size and layout of your home. What may have worked for your friends might not be right for you.

Stay put

One of the great benefits of staying on site is that you’re around to witness the progress of the works, make decisions and take in the odd exciting delivery, such as that pretty freestanding bath you’ve chosen. Depending on how big your home is, you may even be able to live in a self-contained or closed-off area which allows you to wash, cook and go about things as you’d normally do. Routines such as shopping, school runs or walking the dog can also continue uninterrupted.

Move out

Staying with the in-laws or friends, renting a flat, trying Airbnb and booking into a hotel are very popular alternatives to staying around whilst your home is having a makeover. All of these options come at a price though, meaning you’ll have to budget for extra spend as well as potentially being miles away from work, schools and it may feel unsettling being away from home.

Camping at the in-laws could have you on edge but then staying in a hotel can become boring and costly after a while. An Airbnb won’t allow you to take many of your own belongings with you whilst you could make a rented flat your own for the duration of your stay. Short-term lets are also very handy if your project overruns and you unexpectedly need to stay away for longer as there’s scope for a rolling rental contract if both parties agree. Bear in mind though that short-term lets are more expensive than long-term lets and you may not be allowed to take your cat or pooch with you. Staying somewhere away from the building site could also result in quicker progress because some builders feel less restricted when they can get on with the job and switch off water and electricity without causing inconvenience.

Hybrid home

Moving out only for the worst part of your building work could be a great halfway house option. You may spend some of the time staying with relatives, in a hotel or even on holiday and return to your home when the dusty business has settled. What may prove tricky though is timing everything with annual leave or school holidays, especially if your project takes longer than anticipated. If you’re moving in with family, it might be a good idea to agree on some ground rules with them up front so they don’t feel imposed on.

What do Cube clients do?

“Some of our clients choose to move out whilst Cube is looking after their extension or refurbishment project. In particular, when we work on loft conversions that require the lowering of the ceiling joists, clients definitely stay elsewhere”, says Sally Schofield. She also advises that you “should check with your home insurance that you’re covered, no matter if you’re staying on site or moving out.”

Occasionally our clients like S Henden from Dulwich decide to stay on side. We undertook a complete ground floor reconfiguration and refurbishment of their period property and they recall their experience: “Cube were very polite and had a positive attitude. This was very important to us as we were living upstairs in the house during the 5-month project. The quality of the work and finish is high, and the project was completed on budget. We have no hesitation in recommending them.”

Planning pays off

Of course there’s no such thing as the ‘perfect plan’ but some forward planning will definitely not go amiss, no matter what your preferred option is. The good old checklist might be a great help to ensure you’ve thought of all the nitty gritty bits. Also, have a chat with us to see how our team can support you in the best possible way to deliver your home improvement project smoothly. Cube offers you the complete solution to your extension, conversion or refurbishment project with a personal service. We were recently awarded the Houzz ‘Best of Service Award 2022’ for the fifth consecutive year and we’re already working hard to win it for a sixth time.

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