Like any other remodel, you can count on dust, noise, and lots of traffic. Needless to say remodeling gets messy. Then there is the inconvenience of construction encroaching on your most personal space, the bathroom.

The inconvenience of renovating a bathroom depends on how many of them you have  in your home. If you are overhauling your one and only, this project is one you will want to start and finish as quick as possible.

There are surprises in any remodeling project, but you can prepare mentally and physically by considering these pointers:

Dealing with dust. Sanding drywall is a dusty job, and so is cutting and removing a tub. Ripping out old tile? Expect some flying shards and more dust. By covering the floors leading from the exit to your bathroom. This will help limit the foot traffic from carrying demolition dust all over the house.

Collet all materials. Before you dig into the project, be sure all materials are on site, from fixtures to hardware. Otherwise, you can plan on installation delays and scheduling challenges with various tradespeople.

Set up a makeshift bathroom. If you depend on the bathroom that is under construction for daily use, be sure to ask the designer/ builder to set up a temporary bath, if you have the space. However, if you don’t have the space, you might have to rely on a neighbor or nearby friends and family.

Plan on delays. Despite a careful plan, detailed schedule and having all materials on site, you can bet on a remodeling project running longer than you expected. If you plan on doing a lot of the project yourself, expect a learning curve. However, you need to allow leeway, because with the level of complexity involved in an all-out bathroom renovation, you must count on surprises along the way.

Have fun with it. Embrace the process and take plenty of before and work-in-progress pictures. Keep your eye on the prize. That dream bathroom, the updates you have been wanting for years, the features that will clinch a higher home sale price. Remember during all of this dust and through all of the delays why you are going through this.