Home renovations sound exciting but that’s until you’re in the middle of one. When your house is going through renovations, all you hear and see is just dust, noise, and a million things out of place.
Also, the contractors coming and going, walking all around the place, walls getting torn down, and tools scattered everywhere, it’s easy to lose track of your stuff. Most people don’t even think about it until their stuff gets damaged or just disappears from the working site.
If you’re not careful enough, your furniture and valuables can end up covered in dust, scratched, or worse, stolen or lost in the chaos.
And this actually happens more than you’d think because according to a survey by the National Association of Home Builders, nearly 30% of homeowners report some kind of damage or loss during renovations. So securing your stuff isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a necessary step, this can save you from a lot of regrets and problems later on.
In this post, I’ll walk you through simple, practical ways to keep your belongings safe during a renovation. There will be no overcomplicated steps, just real, effective solutions to help you stress less and focus on the fun part which is transforming your space and see become better.
8 Tips to keep your items secured during renovation
Renovations are messy, there’s no doubt about that, dust everywhere, tools scattered around, and your stuff can easily get lost, broken, or stolen if you are not careful enough.
In this section, we’re going to talk about simple ways to keep your valuables safe while your home is under construction. Here we will discuss methods like locking things up, moving them out, and also give you an idea on what to expect.
These steps can save you from expensive mistakes because nothing’s worse than finishing a renovation only to realize your favorite lamp didn’t survive the process.
Create an inventory of valuable and fragile item
Before you even think about moving a single thing, make a list of everything that matters, and not just in your head, you need to actually write it down. A quick spreadsheet, a note on your phone, even photos and videos can save you from lots of headaches later.
During renovations, stuff gets shuffled around a lot, it gets covered in dust, or in worst case, broken. Having an inventory or list somewhere means you know where things are and can check if anything’s missing or damaged after the work is done.
A few years ago, I thought I’d remember where everything was, and I put too much trust in my memory because, after the renovation was done, everything was scattered. A framed family photo ended up scratched, and I had no clue where half my smaller items were for weeks. Since then, I always take 10 minutes to document everything whether we are shifting or renovating.
If you’re hiring contractors, an inventory also helps if anything accidentally gets misplaced. Studies found that 34% of homeowners reported losing or damaging items during renovations. So yeah, take the time to create an inventory of all your valuable items, it’ll save you a lot of frustration later.
Consider renting a storage unit
For peace of mind, always find a reliable Manchester self storage company. It will offer a secure and convenient solution to your problem, allowing you to clear out valuable items without worrying about them getting damaged or misplaced. Instead of constantly shifting things around your house, you can keep them in a safe location until your project is finished.
Renting a storage unit keeps your things safe and out of the way, which makes the renovation way easier. You don’t have to stress over paint splatters on your couch or drywall dust in your clothes. And once the work’s done, you can bring things back in slowly, making it easier to organize.
Most storage places let you rent month-to-month, so you’re not locked into a long contract. You just need to pick a size, drop your stuff off, and you’re good. Some even offer climate control if you’ve got furniture or electronics you don’t want warping in the heat. This makes the renovation process a lot simpler and this way, the workers can move around easily without any problem.
Use Protective Covering
If you’re renovating, things are gonna get messy. There will be dust everywhere, inside drawers, on your couch, even in rooms you’re not touching. And if you’re not careful enough, paint splatters, debris, and accidental scratches can ruin furniture and flooring badly.
The easiest fix to this is just to cover everything. You can use plastic sheeting for furniture, drop cloths for floors, and painter’s tape to seal off rooms. If you’re sanding or demolishing anything, zippered plastic barriers are great to keep dust from spreading. Also, buying a roll of plastic is cheaper than fixing scratched wood floors.
Secure access points to your Home
If there’s one thing I learned from renovating, it’s that people will walk into your house like they own the place, be that contractors, delivery guys, or neighbors. And if you don’t lock things down, you’re practically inviting trouble for yourself.
So, the first thing you have to do is get a lockbox for keys. You can also go for smart locks, that is even better, you just need to give each worker a temporary code so you can revoke access when the job’s done.
Second thing you need to do is install some security cameras. They don’t have to be fancy, just something that lets you check in when you’re not there. It’s better than taking chances because theft happens more often than you think during renovations.
A September 2024 survey found a 22% increase in theft related offences from construction sites. And it’s not just strangers, sometimes it’s people you hired that play the trick on you, so installing a camera is never a bad idea.
Lastly, keep the valuables out of sight, things that are expensive and portable, it should be locked away. That’s not paranoia, just common sense and preparing beforehand so things don’t go bad. Renovations are messy enough without worrying about things disappearing.
Protect fragile items
Renovations are chaotic, with things moving around, dust everywhere, and somehow, the one thing you didn’t think would break, ends up breaking. So before you even start, take the time to pack up anything delicate, whether it’s glassware, vases, picture frames, anything that could shatter needs to go somewhere safe.
Bubble wrap them all but if you don’t have those towels work too. Store things in a different room if possible. I once left a mirror leaning against a wall, thinking it’d be fine. But then a gust of wind came from an open door and knocked it over.
It’s also worth covering furniture with sheets or plastic so you won’t have to deal with dusty, dirty furniture pieces.
Discuss security measures with the renovation team
Having strangers in your home for weeks (or months) isn’t exactly very ideal. You’ve got valuables, sentimental stuff, maybe even pets running around, so, before work starts, ask your renovation team about their security procedures.
Ask them questions like do they lock up at the end of the day, or who has access to your home, all this helps in clearing a lot of things.
A good team should have clear policies, there are some contractors who install temporary locks or security cameras for the safety of your property. Others use a key lockbox so only authorized workers can enter. If they shrug or give vague answers when you ask, it’s best to step back.
Also, consider moving important things like jewelry, documents, electronics, out of the house or into a locked room.
Regularly check on the Construction site
Look, I get it, you don’t want to micromanage your contractor, but checking in regularly isn’t about being annoying, it’s about ensuring your stuff is protected and secure.
Things go missing on job sites very frequently, sometimes it’s accidental, sometimes not. Tools, appliances, even smaller items like smart thermostats, contractors have had to replace all of them because they vanished mid-project.
Then there’s damage. I once saw a brand-new hardwood floor get wrecked because a crew didn’t put down proper protection. The homeowner caught it late, and fixing it wasn’t cheap.
So, doing quick, unannounced check-ins can save you a ton of stress and also gives you a peace of mind. You’ll spot issues early, make sure safety measures are in place, and keep your belongings where they should be.
Install temporary security measures
You don’t want to wake up one morning and realize your brand-new kitchen faucet is missing, or worse, someone walked off with your expensive power tools when you weren’t paying attention. Theft during renovations is real, especially if you have workers coming in and out all day.
You can sort this out by talking to your contractor, some offer temporary security options, like installing cameras or better locks to secure access points. If not, grab a few motion-sensor lights and a WiFi camera yourself.
Also, don’t leave tools or materials outside overnight, you don’t want lumber and appliances disappearing, you will be needing them.
Conclusion
Renovations can get messy fast, and the last thing you need is extra stress over lost or damaged belongings.
Taking a little time to prepare and secure your stuff makes a huge difference. It doesn’t matter whether it’s moving things to another room, renting a storage unit, or just covering everything properly, do it because it will provide you a peace of mind and also ensures your valuables are safe and secure.
When you’re not constantly worrying about scratches on your furniture or dust in your electronics, you can actually enjoy the process of renovation. And trust me, renovations take enough energy as it is.
So, having a plan in place means you can focus on the fun parts like picking paint colors or watching your space come together without second-guessing every move.
If you’re going through a renovation or will have one soon, do yourself a favor and get everything we discussed in this post, done before the first hammer swings.
