Andrea,

When I moved into this house I had a month between signing the paperwork and when I had to be out of the apartment. The contractor was going full-tilt - by the time I got moved in he had completed a lot of the indoor work (put in new shower surrounds, raised the ceiling in kitchen from an oppressive fur down cave-like feel, etc.) That said, my plan when I moved in was to completely fill two rooms that the contractors didn't need to touch with all of my furniture.

Sinks and toilets worked but we bathed in a galvanized tub for a few weeks. At first we had beds and cots in one bedroom and I painted and tiled another one. When it was ready, I moved the kids' beds in there, and set up a futon for myself in the living room and started working on that room we'd first slept in. When that was was ready I moved furniture into there and cleared out the third bedroom that had been packed full and painted and tiled it. I finally moved my daughter into that room and we gradually unpacked as I finished my end of the work. Hopefully it won't take you so long to get settled in, but it is possible to have possession of a house and still have to camp out for a while. It certainly helps you appreciate the finished house!

SRS