If you’re planning a home extension or second storey addition in Perth, you might be wondering: Can you live in your home during renovation? The answer is yes…
The good news is that in most cases you can stay in your home during the works. For Perth families considering an extension or a second storey addition, remaining in your home is not only possible, it’s usually the most practical and cost-effective option.
The only time moving out becomes unavoidable is during extensive internal renovations, when the original home is being stripped back to its shell or the kitchen and bathrooms are being remodeled. In those cases, stepping out allows the building team to work more efficiently, and you can return sooner to a completely refreshed home. But for extensions and second storeys, the most popular renovations in Perth, families often remain in their homes throughout.
Why Staying in Your Home During a Renovation Makes Sense in Perth
1. The Cost of Renting in Perth
Perth’s rental market is tight. Vacancy rates remain low, and weekly rents for family homes now average between $670 and $730 per week. For a renovation that takes six months, the cost of renting elsewhere could quickly add $15,000–$20,000 on top of your build budget, not to mention the hassle of moving, storage, and juggling two households.
That’s money far better invested in your new kitchen, an alfresco entertaining area, or the finishes you’ve always wanted.
2. Comfort and Continuity
Staying put means no disruption to school drop-offs, work commutes, or your connection to your neighbourhood. Your family remains settled, pets stay in familiar surroundings, and you avoid the upheaval of packing up your life.
3. Keep Life Moving as Normal
Living at home during a home extension in Perth or a second storey addition means your family’s routine can continue with minimal disruption. School runs, work, and daily life carry on, without the upheaval of moving out and renting elsewhere. You get the comfort of staying in your own home, while our team focuses on the transformation behind the partitioned areas.
How Living at Home During Renovations Works
Extensions and second storey additions are built in a way that keeps the bulk of construction separate from your everyday life.
At Addstyle, we use partitioning and temporary barriers to clearly divide the renovation zone from your living areas. This allows our team to work efficiently while your family continues to use the rest of the house with minimal disruption. Dust and debris are contained, access points are managed, and essential services remain available as much as possible.
You’ll still hear some noise, of course, and there may be short periods when we recommend stepping away, for example, if ceilings are opened or utilities need to be switched off. You’ll always have clear notice of when access or services will be affected, so your family can make simple arrangements for those days rather than facing months away from home.
A Client Story: Living Through a Second Storey in Nedlands
This Nedlands family needed more space for their growing teenagers. Like many Perth homeowners, they weighed up their options: move to a larger house or extend the home they loved. When they considered the costs of selling including real estate fees, removalists, stamp duty, and the challenge of finding the right property in a tight market, extending made far better financial sense.
They chose to add a second storey with Addstyle and were able to live in the home throughout the works. The new floor was built above them while family life continued downstairs. When it came time for the kitchen, they scheduled the cabinet works over a holiday. And when the staircase was installed, they simply moved into an Airbnb for a week.
“We undertook major works to our home and were able to live here with minimal disruption throughout,” the homeowners explained. “We stayed downstairs while the second storey was built above us, went on holiday while the kitchen was installed, and only moved out for one week when the ceiling was cut through for the staircase. It was much easier than we expected, and we saved thousands by not having to rent.”
Their experience shows how extending or adding a second storey can give families the space they need, without the cost and upheaval of moving. See the photos of this Nedlands family’s renovation HERE.
When Moving Out is the Better Choice
While most families can remain at home, there are some projects where temporary relocation is the smartest option. If your renovation involves:
-
Extensive renovation to interior of the existing home,
-
Reconfiguring all living areas at once, or
-
Remodeling the kitchen and bathrooms simultaneously,
then it may be more practical to move out for a time. This allows our team unrestricted access, speeds up the process, and avoids the challenge of living without essential amenities.
The Addstyle Advantage
For more than 35 years, Addstyle has been Perth’s most awarded home renovation and extension specialist. We understand that your home is not just a building site, it’s where your family lives. That’s why we take every measure to keep works contained, keep communication clear, and keep you comfortable during your renovation.
How Do I Get Started With a Home Renovation in Perth?
The first step is understanding what’s possible for your home and your family. Every renovation is unique, and whether you’re planning a home extension, a second storey addition, or a transformation of your existing spaces, tailored advice makes all the difference.
At Addstyle, we’ve helped Perth families create award-winning renovations for more than 35 years. We’d be pleased to meet with you, discuss your ideas, and show you what staying in your home during the works could look like.
Book your complimentary consultation today and take the first step towards your renovation journey with confidence.
