eXp Realty, LLC

How to Live in Your Home When It's Also a Construction Zone

by Kyung Kim 02/27/2025

When it's time to begin a major home improvement project — such as a complete kitchen renovation or an upstairs addition — you may end up living in a construction zone for the next several weeks or months.

Fortunately, there are solutions out there that can help. These tips will help you live in your space even if your house is currently a construction zone.

Prepare for the Project by Getting Rid of the Clutter

When construction begins, your space is going to feel much smaller for a while. The best thing you can do to prepare for the oncoming mess is to purge unwanted and unnecessary items from your home.

Having an organized space will help ease both the physical and mental burden of the construction stage.

Clean Regularly

Taking a few moments each evening to surface clean the areas of your home that aren't under construction will help you feel more at ease. This also ensures that you have safe and comfortable spaces to retreat to when construction prevents you from using certain parts of your home.

It's not easy to live inside a construction zone, but the good news is most homeowners report that it is well worth the effort. When the going gets tough, think about the result.

Remind yourself that you will soon be cooking your favorite meal in your brand-new kitchen or resting your head in a lavish master bedroom with an en suite bathroom. The construction zone is only temporary, but your new and improved house will last a lifetime.

About the Author
Author

Kyung Kim

Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.

I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.

As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.  

I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.