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Podcast — Strangers in Your House

What could be more disturbing than having strangers in our house?

Even if they are there to help us, to build our remodel, to offer their talents and labor, it can still feel like an invasion of our sanctuary, of the one place we feel safe.

Do we fall apart over this? Or strike out in anger? Or do we plan our strategy with understanding and savvy?

Click below to hear some wisdom and tips.

Podcast — Strangers in Your House

Photo: Door Security Pro

Hire a remodeling consultant? It's something to consider

Sometimes the remodeling industry seems like the Wild, Wild West. It's crazy out here!

The cast of characters is huge! You've got your builders and general contractors and remodeling contractors and architects and designers and engineers and plumbers and roofers and tile setters and butchers and bakers and candlestick makers. Oh wait. Well, anyway, it can be very confusing.

And that's why consultants were invented. They are experienced in a certain field (remodeling in this case), can be a source of wisdom detached from any of the above, and can help and guide you through a project.

I know what you're thinking: The industry is already populated with so many characters, and now you add another? How does that help?

Good question! And to find out what these "building consultant" characters are up to, I asked renovation consultant Gary Belk a few questions. Here's what he said:

Kathy's Remodeling Blog: Why would someone remodeling a house hire a consultant first rather than an architect or contractor?

Gary Belk: Getting unbiased advise about the feasibility of your project and budget should be the first step. In my experience contractors and architects are reluctant to be the one to tell the client that their expectations about time and money are way off base. As a consultant it is my job to help the client understand and if needed, be the one to deliver the “unpleasant” facts. My clients pay me to give them an honest assessment. My main function at this point is to make sure their expectations are in line with the amount of money they want to spend.  I also help clients decide what professionals are needed for the project and help assemble the right team.  How does a homeowner choose the right professionals or even know what professionals to hire? A good consultant is a bit like a matchmaker and knows the right professionals for the client and the particular job.  

Getting rejected by a remodeling company

Have you ever been turned down by a remodeling company or a tradesperson?

You may have been rejected, but a savvy contractor's manner of turning down clients may be so artful that you don't even realize it happened. All you know is that you're calling other companies.

First, why would a potential client be rejected by a remodeling company? Aren't all remodeling companies desperate for clients?

No they are not. Well, not all of them, anyway. In my decades of reporting on the industry, I've heard these reasons for subtly turning a client away:

• The homeowners are obsessed with price, with getting a deal, and put that above all else, even down to questioning the cost of a single sheet of drywall.

• The homeowners may be excruciatingly picky and demand way more perfection than is problable or possible. While there are companies who cater to super picky people with high-end projects, the costs are proportionate.

* The homeowners may be rude or bigoted. I talked with a highly respected female remodeling company CEO who told me that if a client seems disrespectful of different genders, races, sexual orientation or whatever, she will not take the job and subject her employees to that.

• The homeowner may have a brittle personality and be just unpleasant to be around. Who needs that?

• The potential client may have tustled with or sued previous contractors. One way contractors find this out is to ask about past experiences with remodeling contractors. If a homeowners tells the truth, that reveals a lot.

In these cases and more, remodeling contractors are wise not to pursue particular jobs. But they must do so in a way that doesn't anger the homeowners, as those homeowners might well refer other people who are more compatible with the companies.

If you are being rejected, you'll hear phrases like this:

• We're not a good fit for your project.

• I'll give you some name of other companies.

• We're too busy to take this on right now.

Or, a strategy used by some remodeling companies when they face a difficult client is to price the job so high that the bid is sure to be rejected. And if the high bid is accepted, at least there is extra money to make the painful job worthwhile.

The worst way of all for a contractor to turn down is a client is to shut down communications and not return calls. I hope no legitimate remodeling company chooses that tactic. 

10 ways to love your Valentine during a home remodel

In the middle of a home remodel this Valentine's Day? No doubt it can be stressful. But instead of bickering and lashing out at the one you love, how about making this a time of sweetness? Here are some ideas to ensure a romantic weekend, despite all the dust and rubble:

1. If the kitchen is out of use, buy a wine fridge and stock it with a few bottles of white wine and champagne to enjoy while watching movies (or home improvement TV shows!). It can be your gift to yourselves for working so hard on your new kitchen.

2. Splurge on designer-looking work gloves for you and your squeeze.

See the whole list at www.diylife.com

Couples' retreat for married remodeling company owners

While everyone tries to balance family and work life, married business partners are working on two sometimes diametrically opposed relationships simultaneously.

Paul and Nina Winans, married 33 years, began their annual couples retreat workshop (Feb. 26–27, 2010, in Tempe, Ariz.) to help others encountering the same challenges, says Nina, who had a bookkeeping background when she began to work with Paul 31 years ago. Before they sold their successful $2.4 million company in 2007, she was vice president. Now Paul is a facilitator and consultant for Remodelers Advantage, and both are principals in Winans Consulting.

The Winans learned about their own relationship from mentors. “It’s been an ongoing process,” Paul says. “But we were able to take input from people who know more than we do ... which helped us see things differently.”

See the rest of the story at www.remodeling.hw.net

Remodeling now could save homeowners a bundle

Farewell to 2009.

Notice we did not say a "fond" farewell. Frankly, we are glad to see it go.

It seems everyone has struggled through, both professionally and personally. Here's hoping for better things in 2010!

We know many of your remodeling plans have been placed on the proverbial back burner this past year.

Remodeling is costly, and who in their right mind would consider undertaking a major project when people are still losing jobs, salaries have been cut and contracts you have had for years are in question?

That is what we thought for the first half of 2009, but by the middle of the year we began to see that there is opportunity hiding in the ruins.

So, the question is, "Should I wait for the economy to rebound before I remodel?" Some who have been hit the hardest, of course, may have no option.

Others, however, need to at least stop and think about taking advantage of the situation, rather than just being content to sit by as a victim of forces beyond our control.

There are several great advantages about remodeling now before the recovery is complete.

See the whole story at www.deseretnews.com

Single mom, kids get surprise home remodel

When Leslie Nelson met Deb Farnsworth last year, she couldn’t have imagined their friendship would result in a community project that changed her entire house. Nelson just wanted to change her life.

Farnsworth leads a Celebrate Recovery group at Valley Real Life church. The ministry focuses on those “struggling with hurts, habits and hang-ups.” Farnsworth recalled their initial meeting. “Leslie had come out of a dysfunctional, abusive relationship and was a recovering meth addict. When she told me her story, crying, I asked her, ‘What do you want?’ ”

Farnsworth’s voice broke as she recalled Nelson’s answer. “She just looked at me and said, ‘I need prayer.’ ”

That reply touched Farnsworth.

See the rest of the story at www.spokesman.com

The remodeling blues from Home Depot

For lack of a kitchen sink, Darrell and Colleen Brandt wash their pots and pans in the bathtub. Sheets of cardboard and drywall serve as their countertop.

It's exactly the situation the Golden Valley couple were trying to avoid when they chose a contractor for their kitchen remodel. 

In September, they hired the Home Depot because they thought the home improvement giant would use only the best remodeling professionals.

See the whole story at  www.startribune.com

How to ghostbust your home

What You'll Learn:

• Introduction
• Who You Gonna Call?
• The Investigation
• Proper Ghost Removal

Troy Taylor is the author of more than 40 books on all things paranormal—most notably haunted houses. He's also the founder of the American Ghost Society, a network of ghost hunters who collect stories of sightings and hauntings, then use investigative techniques and equipment to track down evidence of the supernatural. Here he explains how you can find the right ghost buster to rid your old house of its specters and spirits.

via www.thisoldhouse.com

Ensuring healthy indoor air quality during a remodel

Living through a major home remodel can turn anyone’s life topsy-turvy, but when you suffer from asthma, it can become a hazard to your health. That’s why it’s important to hire a contractor who knows how to minimize indoor air pollution during a home remodel, according to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Dust, debris and fumes from demolition and construction can wreak havoc on your eyes, nose and skin. A skilled remodeler will know what steps to take to minimize pollutants infiltrating the other living spaces of the home. 

John Martin, owner of Straight and Level Construction Co. in Austin, Texas, recently won a regional Contractor of the Year Award for a residential remodel for a family with three asthmatic children. The scope of the project included a second-story addition, a first-floor addition and kitchen remodel.

via www.shorenewstoday.com

Ask an expert: Keeping home, family safe during remodeling

By Michael McCutcheon for the Mercury News

Q: How can I keep my home and family safe during a remodel?

A: That's a great question. Clients usually dwell on price vs. quality, and the remodeling schedule, but rarely do they seriously consider the safety of their family and home during a remodel.

Yet I would argue that this is one of the most important aspects that separate a well-run remodel from the average project.

Recently I was asked to look at a troubled remodel that was still in progress. Among other transgressions, I was shocked to see that the contractors had been leaving the back of the house open every night when they left. This was a house with a single woman and young girl living alone!

via www.mercurynews.com

Coping Skills: What are your priorities?

 

When Harriet Burke and her daughter Kathy Scheidemen decided to expand Burke’s 1961 tract house into a “green,” energy-efficient home for the two of them, they agreed they would spend $200,000 and “not a penny more,” Scheidemen recalls.

 The two women made a list of their desires, including two separate living areas, vaulted wood ceilings, a solar-electric system, solar heated water, a rainwater reclamation cistern, and all new drought-tolerant landscaping, among other items.

 When the contractor’s bid came in double the budget, at $400,000, Burke said: “Oh my goodness. What are we going to do?”

 The pair, who live in Santa Barbara, California, did what most homeowners have to do at some point: they prioritized their desires.

 At the top of the priority list were adding the extra space, turning existing flat ceilings into vaulted ceilings and adding the solar panels that would power the whole house.

 But at the bottom of the priority list – and thus dropped – were the rainwater reclamation cistern and antique wood on the ceilings, among other things. The wood on the ceiling was just too expensive, Scheidemen explained. And the cistern would require a complicated permitting process. And besides, California is in a drought and doesn’t get much rain, so the benefits of the cistern would be negligible.

4 steps to avoid a 'remodel gone wrong'

A recent article on Bankrate.com, nicely written by Margarette Burnette, lists four steps to make sure you don't end up with a nightmare remodeling story to share at dinner parties. Sure, a nightmare remodel makes for some lively minutes of banter. But really, in the end, you want a successful remodel. If you need something to talk about at dinner parties, focus on the goofy things your kids or pets did.

Here are the four steps mentioned in the article. Let's see if they make sense:

1. Research before the job starts

Yes, yes, yes. I concur. If there's one thing I've heard from homeowners over the years, it's this: "We should have done more research before we started. We didn't really understand the process." And the trouble is, when you lack knowledge, you lack power. So how do you learn about remodeling? Buy books on remodeling, or check them out of the library. Look for contract-it-yourself books. Even if you will hire a contractor, you should know what a contractor does. Research the heck out of materials and appliances and new products. The bigger your potential remodel, the more time you should spend on this.

2. Document everything

Yes, again. Write notes for every meeting you have with the designer or architect, the contractor, subcontractors, the building department officials and anyone else. Memory is funny and faulty. We all forget what was said or twist the facts to conform to our wishes. Create a notebook where you keep everything having to do with your remodel: notes, receipts, warranty information, contracts.

3. Raise concerns immediately

Definitely. You don't want to appear like a nag. And you don't want to let your emotions take over. But if something seems wrong, bring it up sooner rather than later. Sometimes the success of your communication is all in the tone of your voice and the way you phrase your concern. I'm partial to these phrases: "I have a concern about something. Is this a good time to discuss it?" Or: "I'd like to get some clarity on this." Or: "I'm not sure this element of the remodel is what I wanted." These might sound like a weak way of addressing a contractor. But civility is always the best course. Trust me on this.

4. Escalate if necessary

Be careful with this one. Yes, you should certainly take legal action if you've got a lot of money involved and the work is simply awful. Likely, you scrimped on steps one and three above. I'll tell you that it's very rare for a person who has thoroughly researched a remodel beforehand — the process, the best contractors in town, the right materials, the most talented and ethical subcontractors — to get into trouble. I'm not saying it can't happen, but it's rare. You really don't want to end up here, where you're turning to expensive lawyers and getting involved in a drawn-out legal battle. The grief and stress are unimaginable. Your main concern should be to avoid putting this step into action. So, steps one through three should be your focus.

And, having said all that, happy remodeling!

Acting childish during a remodel?

I don't mean to make fun of these adorable children dressed up like adults. Really I don't. They're precious.

But this image got me thinking about what happens when people involved in a remodel -- homeowners, designer, contractor, craftsmen -- act like children. Is that not frustrating?

So what kinds of childish behaviors are there? 

For inspiration, I looked at the postings on Answerbag.com in response to this question: 

What forms of childish behaviors annoy you the most?

Here are some of the responses:

• Bullying

• Over-competitiveness

• Bad losers

• Name calling

• Excessive attention-getting behavior

• Selfishness

• Crybaby

• Throwing fits and tantrums

• Doesn't listen to sound advice

For all our projects, leaving behind childish behaviors and embracing adult behaviors -- logical, rational, disciplined, compassionate -- will make the experience much less stressful.

(Photo credit: I can't recall where I found this photo. If it is yours, please alert me so I can give credit where credit is due!)

Move down the street during whole-house remodel? This family traveled the world

Before we get started here, let's establish one fact: This economic recession we're in will end. Our lives will get back to normal. And those who undertake whole-house remodels won't be seen as freaks or objects of envy.

So that brings us to a family in Oregon who decided to take that longed-for trip around the world for the six months it took to remodel their home. The family includes Amy Youngflesh, her husband Craig Smith, and their two sons, Ethan, 11, and Harrison, 9. You can see them here in Egypt.

This makes sense to me. The meticulously planned remodel included extensive work to the kitchen, adding a family room, adding a bathroom for the boys, and vaulting the ceiling of the master suite.

As you can imagine, that kind of work would be near impossible with the family underfoot. Many people choose to move out during a big remodel, renting a house nearby. So why not take that long trip and keep tabs on your remodel with the help of the Internet, digital cameras and all the rest?

I think it's an inspired idea. And the builders (who were extremely trustworthy, and that's the only way this would work) liked it too. No need to keep extra quiet or worry about disrupting the family. To help keep an eye on things, some friends and family members looked in on the project. And when the couple and their kids got back, the job was done and they slid right into their "new" home.

Is this not brilliant?

Read the whole story in The Oregonian.

The kitchen remodel is driving her to drink

If you've undergone your own kitchen remodel, you know about the stress. 

There are strangers all around your house, inside, outside, in the driveway, in the street. There's noise and dust and chaos. 

And just when you feel like heading into the kitchen for a pot of tea and comfort foods, AWK! The kitchen is not there, at least in any functional way.

In the Seattle Times, food writer Nancy Leson writes about her own kitchen project. It's only just begun and she's already hitting the bottle.

How ironic that those of us who remodel are the ones to whom home means the most. And we are the ones most destroyed when our homes are torn apart. 

To follow Nancy on her journey into chaos, click here.

How to talk to a contractor

Speaking with a contractor or subcontractor can be difficult, especially when your remodeling project is already in progress . That's because your house is likely torn apart, and the place you go for comfort is no longer a refuge. It will be a refuge after the remodel is done, and better than before, but it is not a place of peace during the actual work. 

In fact, not only is your house not a place where you can go to get away from the troubles of life, but it often has become the source of troubles in your life. Think power saws, workers, boots, dirt, drills, dust, trucks, trash, and so on. 

So what happens when we are in tense environments? We sometimes lose our graciousness and go into fear mode and we speak in anger. Unfortunately, this can bring about the opposite result we seek. Whereas we want contractors or subcontractors to change their behaviors, we get the opposite result when we speak to them in anger. We get workers who dread coming up the driveway, who will do anything not to show up and get yelled at some more. This is just human nature.

The little guide below could be helpful in moments of extreme stress. Being kind and using "I" statements will bring much better results than will speaking out in anger. Here are some ideas:

What you want	Wrong way	Better way
To hire an honest, ethical remodeling contractor.	Assume every contractor is a scoundrel and let them know how you feel.	Do vigorous research and call references to make sure the candidate has a long track record of ethical behavior.
To get a lower price than what the bid says.	Say: “What a rip-off. Are you a crook?”	Say: “How flexible are you with that price? How can we get that lower?”
To have the place left cleaner each night after the crews have gone.	Say: “This place is a filthy mess. What were you, born in a barn?”	Say: “I’m interested in having the place left cleaner each night. How can you help me with that?”
To get shoddy work done over and done better.	Say: “If you don’t fix this, I’ll sue.” (Note: This may become necessary, but not at the beginning of your negotiations.)	Say: “I’m concerned about the quality of this part of the job. How can this get done right?”
To have better communications with the contractor during the job.	Pout about non-returned calls and adapt an attitude of bitterness.	Say: “I feel uncomfortable with the lack of communication we are having. What would work better for you? Office phone? Cell phone? Emails? Texting? A message book at the house?”

10 brilliant things homeowners do . . .

. . . to create awesome remodels.

Based on my experiences, here's my list:

1. Being clear about what you want

2. Becoming clear about your budget

3. Getting professional design advice

4. Checking out the companies you're considering

5. Not taking the lowest bid

6. Sticking to the plan during construction

7. Not overestimating your ability to handle stress

8. Being realistic about how long remodeling takes

9. Respecting the crew

10. Appreciating what scores of workers have gone through to make your dream remodel come true

Feel free to download the PDF e-book I created on this topic.

What would you add to this list? What would you subtract?

When remodeling your condo, do you play by the rules?

If you live in a condo, you know the truth about this: You often have to jump through hoops to do a remodel. There's the board to consider, and the neighbors. And the rules.

Frank Nelson wrote an interesting article on remodeling a condo, in today's Real Estate section.

As he writes: "Any homeowner who has lived through a remodel can attest to the stress of the experience. But for condo owners governed by association rules and regulations, this additional layer of oversight can heighten the strain and lead to conflicts with neighbors and boards." Read the whole story.

So that got me wondering, when remodeling your own condo, were you successful keeping your neighbors and the board happy? Did you even try?

(Photo: Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Ever been in over your head?

There's an interesting story by Michelle Hoffmann in today's Real Estate section titled: Weekend wasters struggle with DIY home-repair jobs.

The subhead says: That HGTV show made it look so easy. But growing numbers of budget-conscious homeowners are tackling jobs beyond their skills -- often to the dismay of their mates. Can you relate?

And the story starts out like this:

When her husband decided to fix a leaky pipe in the bathroom in their West Hills home, Ethel Brook, 78, watched his progress with chin in hand and furrowed brow. As one weekend rolled agonizingly into two, the retired market researcher gently suggested for the 450th time that her husband of 20 years hire a professional.

Undaunted, a determined Leonard Brook, 79, "sweating and hunched over," his wife recalled, plodded onward in his quest to fix the bathroom pipe.

Meanwhile, Ethel, desperate to get her bathroom back and save her husband from another lost weekend, called Rick Hill, owner of a House Doctors handyman franchise in Santa Clarita. Within a day, Hill fixed the problem and repaired the wall damage.

"Things got a little out of hand," Ethel recalled. "It was too big of a project for my husband. He couldn't repair it. And I couldn't take it anymore." Read the whole story

For me, I started to suspect my husband was in over his head replacing a leaky pipe when he bought a fire extinguisher in case his soldering caught fire. The job did turn out, even though it took one full weekend day to finish, including trips back and forth to the hardware store. And I couldn't help but compare what Bill makes in a day in his career to what it would have cost a plumber to come out. If Bill wanted to do it for personal satisfaction, fine. But, honestly, he didn't seem to be having much fun.

This brings to mind the story of Ian Denchasy of Culver City, who tore out his entire kitchen on a whim and finally realized he didn't have a clue how to get it back together again. A kind carpenter saved the day.

How about you? Have you ever gotten in over your head? And how did you survive it?

(Graphic: Los Angeles Times)

Keeping the house clean during remodeling: How do you do it?

A Good Housekeeping article titled A Cleaning Routine for Busy Women may be discriminatory. What about busy men? Do they not deserve a cleaning routine?

But that's beside the point of this post, which is: How do you keep your house clean during remodeling? And if your house is like my house, there are projects going on all the time. So the question is, how do you keep your house clean, period.

The Good Housekeeping piece suggests these strategies: Establish priorities, set time limits, delegate and finish tasks.

But, I've come up with another solution, which I think is a marriage enhancer: Pay an expert to clean your house.

I didn't know how to do this (my own mother was the stay-at-home type) until I did some publishing work with a woman in her Santa Monica home and she had a housekeeper a few days a week. I learned during this time how to talk to a housekeeper, how to stay out of a housekeeper's way so the work can get done and how to show appreciation.

My own program is modest: My friend Candy comes by every other Monday from noon to 5 p.m. and does her magic, for which we pay her $85. I pay one time, and my husband pays the next. She dusts, and does the floors and bathrooms and kitchen, and she even does windows when time permits. Most of all, she has organized our stuff -- luggage in one closet, camping stuff in another. Who knew?

And even though our house is in a constant state of improvement and upheaval, we always feel an emotional lift when Candy has been there. And I don't spend my days thinking I'm supposed to be cleaning the house. That's Candy's job.

So, how does it work for you? How do you keep your house clean, with or without a remodeling project going on?

Four types of clients: Which one are you?

I was chatting not too long ago with an acquaintance who is a flooring contractor, known heretofore as "Flooring Guy."

So Flooring Guy had some recent client experiences that compelled him to explain to me the four types of clients he encounters:

1. First of all, there are what Flooring Guy calls the rats.These folks are cheap, miserable and borderline immoral when it comes to getting more than their dollars justify. Whatever is done for them, Flooring Guy said, they are unhappy because they have decided to be unhappy. There's no winning with people like that, and contractors run a risk of being ripped off by them.

2. Second are the regular folks who work hard for their money and are frugally trying to get a good deal but do not cross over the morality line to do it. They do their research and get their job done and have reasonable expectations about the quality they are paying for. Most clients are of this type.

3. The third and fourth type of clients, according to Flooring Guy, are "rich people" who have buckets of money to pour into their homes. And that's a good thing for the trades.

However, one of these rich types is miserable because they have decided to be miserable and are unhappy with most of what happens. These are the people who will get down on their knees with a flashlight shining underneath a cabinet and point out a slight imperfection where the sun never shines. And of course they want it redone. Now. You kind of wonder if that shift between ages 2 and 3, where most of us start accepting a few things about life, never occurred.

4. The last type, Flooring Guy says, are the rich people who are both demanding in their standards (with the money to back it up) and also very appreciative of the work done for them, and respectful of the people who do it. They will not accept bad work, but if there is a slight imperfection deep under a recess that no living human being will ever see, they are jiggy with it. They are happy, Flooring Guys says, because they have decided to be. And here's the kicker: These happy folks tend to get the best work done.

What do you think? Is Flooring Guy on the mark? Did he leave anyone out?

Photo courtesy of iStockPhoto

Seeking sanity amid chaos

As far as I can tell, half the battle in remodeling is maintaining some semblance of sanity during the chaos.

In a tragic coincidence, the people most likely to remodel are the very people who most need their homes for sanctuary, serenity and sanity. Unless you're flipping a house, that is, and then never mind.

But for those of us for whom home is everything, remodeling must be done, and sanity must be sought.

In the living room shown here, Betty Frazier of Leisure World, who was in her 80s when she undertook a whole-condo redo, had a few tricks to maintain her composure while her home was asunder:

• She went to Starbucks often to enjoy a latte.
• She brought home design magazines with her to keep her inspired and hopeful that this mess would become her haven. (And don't you just love what she did with the place?)
• Lots of driving around to find deals on stuff. When her friend asked if she was afraid of getting lost on her forays, Betty said no, in fact that's how you find tucked-away upholstery and tile and woodworking shops, by getting lost.
• And finally, Betty kept in mind her life philosophy, which is embroidered on a towel in her guest bath:

Life's journey is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy Cow . . . What a ride!"

How do you stay sane during a remodel? Or do you?

One word on cooking during a kitchen remodel: How?

Before the demolition crew arrives to tear out your old kitchen in favor a new one, consider this: How are you going to eat with no kitchen?

Val and Bernie Van De Yacht (left) collected a stack of restaurant menus before their North Hollywood project started, and Val said it seemed like a vacation. Two weeks later she declared take-out food "gross" and the couple hauled their new microwave oven out of its box in hopes of cooking some fresh vegetables.

The foodies at Chowhound have some tips on getting through a remodeling ordeal. Families with children have even bigger challenges during a kitchen remodel, and the experts (parents) over at Parent Hacks have listed several strategies on cooking for a family during a kitchen remodel.

Here are some ideas:

— Set up a temporary kitchen in a laundry room or second bathroom.
— Move the refrigerator to an attached garage, covered patio or even the dining room.
— Make use of a steamer, rice maker, toaster oven, microwave and crockpot.
— Use a breadmaker to fill the home with comfort-food aromas.
— Cook and freeze meals in advance, then reheat during the remodel.
— Barbecue!

(Photo: Myung J. Chun, Los Angeles Times)