How to Be a Good Neighbor During Your Home Renovation

by Shannon Levy

There’s no doubt that going through a home renovation is a stressful process. Unfortunately, it can also be stressful for your neighbors. The noise, the people and equipment flowing in and out of your driveway, the mess. All of the elements that can make your home a bit chaotic during a renovation can also make your neighborhood feel chaotic.

That’s why it’s so important to keep neighborly etiquette in mind during your home renovation - especially in a high density city like San Francisco.

While a renovation is a lot to handle without adding concern for your neighbors to the list, there are some practical reasons why you should do it. It’s not just about being a considerate neighbor - there will also be times when you’ll need your neighbors’ collaboration (such as if you need “neighborhood notice” for permits). And, as they say, you get more bees with honey.

Yes, there are things that will be out of your control during the process, but here’s how you can be considerate with what you can control.

How to Practice Neighborly Etiquette During Your Home Renovation

While there are a lot of things you can’t control during a home renovation, there are steps you can take to make the process smoother for yourself and your neighbors. While none of these tips are required, they can certainly make for a more pleasant renovation experience.

Here are a few things to do and not to do:

Do:

• Introduce yourself to your neighbors if you haven’t already - building a rapport will help you during the project (and could make it more fun to live in your neighborhood!)
• Communicate with your neighbors - tell them in advance about your project and listen to any concerns they may have (while it doesn’t guarantee they’ll be friendly about the situation, it certainly doesn’t hurt to start with an open communication)
• Show gratitude with your neighbors - if your neighbors are friendly during the renovation process, let them know you appreciate it and understand it can be frustrating for all involved

Don’t

• Hire a team that acts disrespectfully - that means to you, your neighbors, or your property (look out for things like blocking neighbors’ driveways, consistently showing up late, doing things like smoking on your stoop, etc.)
• Assume it’s only your problem - there will be noise, there will be a squeeze on parking, there will be annoyances for you and your neighbors - be open and as considerate as possible if you receive complaints and do what you can to resolve them

It’s All About Mindfulness

As a former renter enduring neighborhood renovations and now homeowner who’s survived my own renovation, I’ve seen many sides of this situation. Anyone living in crowded cities knows, sound travels. Especially in San Francisco, those charming Victorians we all love so much have thin, old walls. Construction happening next door may as well be in your own living room!

Keeping that in mind, understand why the situation can be frustrating for your neighbors. Of course, even when you’re open with your neighbors, you will still likely encounter interpersonal challenges and people opposed to your project. I'm not saying you should go overboard in making people happy. Rather, use your best judgement and be as open with your neighbors as possible.

While it’s impossible to please everyone, the way you approach the situation with your neighbors can make all the difference!

Image Credit: Bernadette Gatsby