If your renovation starts in two weeks, this is the checklist that will save you stress on Day 1. Vancouver-specific, no fluff — exactly what to do, when to do it, and why it matters.
3-4 weeks before construction starts
Talk to your neighbours
If you live in a strata, the renovation application goes to your strata council, but your immediate neighbours hear it second-hand. A short conversation — “we’re renovating starting March 1st, expect noise weekdays 8-5, finishing about April 30th, here’s my number if anything comes up” — heads off 90% of neighbour complaints. In a detached home, same applies — tell the houses on either side and across.
Move what you can, store what you can’t
For a kitchen renovation: empty the kitchen entirely. Pack pantry, dishes, small appliances into labeled boxes. For a bathroom: clear the bathroom completely, including the medicine cabinet. For a full-home renovation: rent a Pods unit or storage locker. Many Vancouver homeowners use Pods or Public Storage.
Make plans for cooking and eating
A kitchen renovation means 5-8 weeks with no functional kitchen. Plan options:
- Set up a temporary kitchen elsewhere (basement, garage, dining room) with microwave, kettle, small fridge, induction burner
- Eat out / order in (budget $150-$300/week extra for a household of 4)
- Cook batch meals in advance and freeze them
- Use a barbecue if you have outdoor space
Childcare and pet planning
Renovations are noisy, dusty, and have strangers in the house all day. Plan:
- If kids are home during the day, daycare or a sitter for the loudest days (demolition week)
- Pets boarded with friends or family for demolition week — dust and noise stress them out
- If you work from home, plan to work from a coffee shop or co-working space during loud days
Insurance check
Call your home insurer. Two things to confirm:
- The renovation is disclosed and covered (most renovations under $50K don’t require special coverage; larger ones might)
- If you’ll be vacating during construction, the “unoccupied” coverage period and any restrictions
1-2 weeks before
Confirm material deliveries
Your contractor should provide a delivery schedule showing when cabinets, appliances, tile, fixtures arrive. Confirm:
- You’re home or someone is home for major deliveries
- Driveway access is clear for trucks
- For condos: freight elevator is booked at delivery times
Photograph everything
Walk every room with your phone’s camera. Photograph:
- Existing condition of walls, floors, ceilings in adjacent (non-renovated) rooms
- Existing condition of areas that’ll be passed through (hallways, entry)
- Outside: front yard, garden, driveway, walkway
This protects you in the unlikely event of damage during the project. Documentation makes any claim simple to resolve.
Plan utility shutoffs
Your contractor will need to know how/where to shut off:
- Water (main shutoff location, plus any sub-shutoffs)
- Gas (if any gas appliances are affected)
- Electrical panel access
For a condo: confirm building water shut-off has been scheduled with the strata.
Designate a job-site bathroom
One bathroom should be off-limits to construction (your family’s) and one available for crew use. Make sure the crew has access without traipsing through your private spaces.
The week before
Protect what stays
Crew typically protects floors and adjacent areas, but you can add layers:
- Cover furniture in adjacent rooms with plastic dust covers
- Remove wall art near construction areas (vibration can knock things off walls)
- Close vents in renovated rooms to limit dust spread through HVAC
Set up a temporary work zone
If you work from home, set up your laptop in a quiet room far from construction. Get noise-cancelling headphones. Plan key meetings for outside the home if possible.
Confirm communication plan with your contractor
- Who is your single point of contact? (Should be one person, not a phone tree)
- What hours are they available for questions?
- How are progress updates communicated? (Weekly written report + photos is standard at Renew Co)
- What’s the change-order process if you want to modify scope mid-build?
Day 1 — what to expect
- Crew arrives 7:30-8 AM: tools, equipment, dust barriers go in first
- Floor protection installed: from entry to construction area
- Plastic barriers up: containing dust in the work area
- Walkthrough with project lead: confirms scope, marks plumbing/electrical locations, identifies any final questions
- Demolition begins: this is the loudest day of the entire project
- Lots of dust: even with barriers, fine dust spreads. Plan to be out of the house if possible, or sealed in a room far from construction.
Throughout the project
- Don’t enter the work zone without confirming with the crew (safety + you want to stay clean)
- Communicate small concerns early via your project lead — small issues caught early are easy fixes
- Stick to the scope agreed in the quote. Change orders are normal but should be in writing, signed, with adjusted price
- Trust the timeline. Construction has ups and downs but a good crew delivers within the original window
How Renew Co supports homeowners through the process
Every Renew Co project includes a written project plan, a single project lead, weekly photo updates, and clear communication on what’s happening when. We’ve been through hundreds of project starts; we know what’s stressful and what isn’t, and we work to reduce the stressful parts.
See our home renovation overview or specific service: kitchen renovation, bathroom renovation, basement renovation. Request a free estimate when you’re ready to talk.
