Advice on having the builders in

[DogFoodPie]

We are having some work done on our house and even though I know we are lucky to be able to do it, I am not looking forward to having people in the house a lot of the time for weeks. The house is quite scruffy and untidy and since I have been unwell for some time including having an operation I have not been able to do much so it's worse than ever. I can't help feeling as they are building lovely interiors all the time they may be a bit judgemental of the mess. Added to that I feel like I will be sitting about while they are hard at work. I do a little pottering now as I am recuperating quite well from my op but still having to take things pretty easy and have the odd nap. Our downstairs is all open plan and although I can go in my bedroom I don't want to sit in there all day. I will be in most of the time and my DH and DD will be mainly at work or school but may be home sometimes. I also have my dog to keep an eye on but she is quite good and quiet. I'm wondering what other people do while they are home with the builders in? Or would do in my situation.

I would also like some practical tips about how you managed without the kitchen and bathroom. They are doing these separately so we will always have one or the other. I'm a bit worried about being without the toilet, we only have one.

Best advice - move out. It makes it easier for everyone.

It can make things quicker as they can turn the water off to do the kitchen and bathroom at the same time.

Either find a hospitable friend / family or Airbnb it for a few weeks.

Even if you can't move out for the whole time, a few weeks could save your sanity.

They will keep the toilet connected as much as possible. They will need it too! No one expects a tidy house during building works. Make use of the garden if you have one. How about putting up some kind of tent/gazebo to escape to? Borrowed possibl

Thanks twizbe I would LOVE to move out for the whole thing but I don't think that will be possible but maybe a few days would be nice just to get away from it for a break.
That's good to know about the toilet mosiac great idea about the gazebo as we were thinking of getting one anyway but it would be really good if we had one at the bottom of the garden to escape to.

Hope your yuk ok

Oops I have posted on the wrong forum sorry about that guys

Put as much stuff in storage as possible. I remember getting sime rarely stuff out of the airing cupboard- which was on the other side of the house from the building work- months after the build was completed and finding a layer of brick dust all over it.

They will have seen all sorts, they won't be judging the state of your house.

I would just get on with whatever you normally do at home. Sound like you don't work?

They will start early and finish early, and stop for regimented breaks which they usually spend sitting in their van, so won't be as disruptive as you may fear.

Some builders even bring their own portaloo to use outside so they don't have to use yours.

I make anyone that works in my house tea/coffee every hour, it at least I offer it. This enables me to check on progress and possibly avoid a mistake without being too annoying.

If I go out, I'm out but on my return I would a offer hot drink immediately. I'd buy some plain mugs and a plastic tray for the purpose.

tulip I am off sick at the moment which is why I am not doing much and just watching TV and MNing quite a lot. So that's why I feel a bit guilty about the builders working hard while I am not doing much.
I will certainly offer to make tea as that will make me look like I am doing something worthwhile.

We have just had builders in for the last 10 weeks.

I offered a hot drink first thing in the morning and then after lunch.

They had their own kettle too.

You can't live in the house with no toilet available. Will you have access to a portaloo at least?

Never let them in your bedroom & claim to be WFH - they will never know!

I have had builders in for the last couple of weeks - it is a bit awkward/distracting when they are there (even though I’m always working in my office), and I feel more relaxed when they leave

Can you rig up a curtain or dust sheet anywhere so you can’t be seen which would be more relaxing for you?

@Mosaic123

I make anyone that works in my house tea/coffee every hour, it at least I offer it. This enables me to check on progress and possibly avoid a mistake without being too annoying.

If I go out, I'm out but on my return I would a offer hot drink immediately. I'd buy some plain mugs and a plastic tray for the purpose.

They’re working for me, and I’m not the caterer — I point out the kettle and teabags at the start of the job, make it plain I’m at work in my study, but can and should be consulted about anything that isn’t clear. I come down and talk to the head contractor at the start and end of the day with no stealth drinks making needed.

I'm always at home because I work from here, and I'm in favour of the 'make them brews' approach. I just make them one when I break off for one, so I don't feel like a caterer.... Gives me an excuse to eyeball what's going on in case of misunderstandings without making them feel I'm breathing down their necks. And I find workmen are diffident about using our kettle and rooting in our fridge however much I offer, but love to have tea made. And I also offer coffee/soft drinks- one chap who did work here loved Ribena!

I have some enamel cups, which are great because it doesn't matter if they get dropped. And I offer biscuits too.I find that workmen like it if you listen to their horror stories about other jobs (but those have always been about the actual work, never about previous clients).

In my experience, if ours have ever judged us on the state of the house (bad, it's a doer-upper with horrible tatty decor and plaster runs in all the wallpaper from a rewire), they have never let it show, and if they don't let it show, I don't care what they think. Some come and go like ghosts and you'd hardly know they were there, others I ended up sharing ladders with because I was decorating and there were three electricians and two plasterers working all over the house plus me all fighting for two sets of ladders, one mine, one theirs....

I thought it was fun, though it was exhausting.

Good luck with it.

Thanks everyone I am happy to make tea, but maybe not every hour . We have decided to set up a camping toilet in the spare room so that's probably going to help but I had my usual problem looking at the reviews on amazon and ending up unsure which one to get. Decided on one that is basically a bucket with a seat and lid so fingers crossed for it. I like the idea of locking myself in the bedroom and pretending I am wfh. So I will probably do that.

I also told my builders to either text or ring the doorbell if they want to speak to me (ie not traipse through the house). Both being on work calls & Covid are my reasons (I’ve sealed off their working space vs my living space & wear a mask when I go into the area they are working in)