After attending the meeting with my HOA, I knew that the renovation was going to be able to start soon. We had a few things that needed to be done, but they were much faster than the initial preparation we did for getting the approval. And because we only had to submit the last forms and not wait for anything else, once we got it all sent in over the weekend, we knew we’d be able to start this week.
My contractor wanted to start on Monday, and I’m so glad we were able to stick to that. Because the hours the HOA has set that you are allowed to work on condos are almost the same as my work hours, I won’t be able to watch the work happening. But we are very lucky that we hired a contractor who has been great at keeping us informed about things during each step. Even as we were preparing things, we were getting frequent emails and texts letting us know what they were doing and with options that we needed to approve. Since this is the first time I’ve been involved in a remodel, I appreciate this. I still don’t know a lot about the process, but I feel less lost than I did before.
With the official start being on Monday, I knew things would be happening but I didn’t know how much would be done on day 1. So while I worked, I was getting emails to confirm things but I was curious to see what work would be done at the end of the day. So once I was done with work, I headed over to the condo to take a look.
I figured the demolition would have pulled up the floors and maybe some of the kitchen cabinets. I’m really glad I took some photos over the weekend because now I have some good before and during renovation pictures.
We had been told demolition would be done within a few days, but they got it all done in a single day! I think it looks like a lot more work than we are doing. We are putting in new floors, painting all the walls, and redoing the kitchen and one bathroom. This is more work than we originally planned, but this is getting everything on our list done before I move in instead of doing some of them later while I live there. It is much easier to redo a kitchen when I don’t have to live in the same space.
The entire process of finding and buying a condo has had different moments when it has felt real. And I have been trying to not get my hopes up about things until they are done and approved. So there were some things in the renovation that I was worried we would be told we couldn’t do (even though it looks like all the work I am doing has been done in other units). And I was trying to not be too hopeful about when we would start or what we could do. But when I walked into the condo on Monday evening and saw everything in progress, it really sunk in. This was happening. We are turning this condo into something that is really going to feel like it’s mine.
I still don’t know exactly when it will be done and when I can move in, but it’s going to be soon. Because we have been preparing for this renovation for a few months, everything we need is already ordered and waiting to be picked up. And while it looks like a ton of work, it’s considered a small job. I know there can still be random delays and setbacks, but the contractor feels good that things were prepared and it shouldn’t be too long of a process.
I guess now that things have started, I really need to start looking into moving. I haven’t looked at moving companies yet and I really haven’t packed up much. But I also have the luxury of taking my time when I move in. I should have at least 2 weeks where I can move in while I’m still paying rent. It might be closer to a month depending on the timing of when things are done. And because I can move a lot of my stuff in my car and it’s a quick trip back and forth, I should be able to do a lot on my own. I just need a moving company for the big and heavy stuff, but fortunately, I don’t have a lot that fits into that category.
I don’t know what will be the next moment this feels real to me. Maybe when I move in and am finally sleeping in there. And I have a feeling that will be happening before I know it!
You Might Also Like
One Step Closer To Moving (or My First HOA Meeting)
Still Waiting To Get Things Started (or Continuing To Work On Patience)
Still Preparing To Move (or Getting Rid Of Some Things And Buying Others)
More Serious Condo Hunting (or Being Real About What I Want)
A Busy Family Visit (or Making Some Choices For My New Home)
I’ll Have A New Home Soon (or The End Of The Condo Hunt)
