WHAT HOMEOWNERS FORGET (BUT DEFINITELY SHOULDN’T)
What Homeowners Forget (But Definitely Shouldn’t)
Renovations are exciting — new floors, new showers, new kitchens, new layouts — but in the middle of all that excitement, homeowners often forget some of the smaller details that end up making the biggest difference.
Here are the things almost EVERY homeowner overlooks… until they're right in the middle of the renovation calling us saying, “I didn’t think about that.” Let’s get ahead of it.
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Life keeps going. Renovation doesn’t pause your day-to-day — it runs alongside it.
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Decisions drive everything. The fastest projects have the fewest last-minute choices.
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The “little things” add up. Dust, doors, kids, pets, punch lists — they all matter.
Renovations are exciting — new floors, new showers, new kitchens, new layouts — but in the middle of all that excitement, homeowners often forget some of the smaller details that end up making the biggest difference.
People assume their life will “pause” during a renovation. It won’t.
You’ll still:
- cook
- shower
- sleep
- work
- parent
- host life events
- run errands
- have routines
- live your life
Renovations don’t stop life — they just run alongside it. Preparing for this mentally and physically makes the process so much easier.
Many homeowners wait until demolition is done to make big design choices.
But here’s the truth:
- Your tile should already be selected.
- Fixtures should already be ordered.
- Grout color should already be chosen.
- Cabinet layout should already be finalized.
- Paint colors should be at least narrowed down.
Making decisions early prevents delays and keeps the job on schedule.
Not contractors. Homeowners choosing materials late.
Older homes especially.
You may start a bathroom remodel and suddenly discover:
- The plumbing lines are old
- The electrical isn’t grounded
- The shower valve is outdated
- There's no shut-off valve
- Wiring needs to be upgraded
These aren’t extras — they’re code, safety, or function updates that most homeowners don’t anticipate.
Even with:
- plastic barriers
- zipper walls
- floor protection
- air scrubbers
- daily sweeping
Dust will still find its way:
- under doors
- around corners
- onto furniture
- onto ceiling fans
- into rooms you haven’t stepped into in weeks
You can’t avoid dust — you can only manage it. The more prepared you are, the less it will stress you out.
Contractors tend to start around:
- 7:30am
- 8:00am
- 8:30am
Because they have:
- materials to pick up
- inspections to meet
- schedules to hit
- trades to coordinate
Homeowners sometimes forget how active, loud, and time-sensitive these mornings can be. If you’re not a morning person, this is good to know before the first day.
When you renovate:
- floors level out
- framing straightens
- humidity changes
- new materials settle
- old materials expand or contract
Sometimes:
- doors may not close perfectly
- baseboards may need adjusting
- trim might need touch-up
- paint may need a second look
This is NORMAL in renovation. Everything will be fixed during the “punch list” phase.
Homeowners forget how much stuff comes with a renovation:
- tile pallets
- flooring boxes
- vanities
- plumbing fixtures
- paint
- bags of texture
- drywall sheets
- saws & tools
- trash bags & buckets
Most jobs need:
- a corner of the living room
- a garage area
- a dining room wall
- a patio section
Clearing space early makes the whole process smoother.
People assume they’ll still cook during a kitchen renovation.
Reality:
- no sink
- no dishwasher
- no counters
- no stove
- no room
Homeowners forget how much they rely on:
- meal planning
- dishwashing
- cabinet access
- storage space
A temporary kitchen setup is a life-saver.
They get curious. They wander. They touch things. They want to “help.” They get scared of loud noises.
Renovation is a sensory event:
- new people
- loud tools
- vibrations
- movement
- open doors
Planning for kids and pets EARLY reduces chaos later.
This is the part nobody talks about — but we will.
During a renovation, homeowners almost always say:
- “Can we go ahead and paint this room too?”
- “Since you’re already here, can we update this?”
- “I didn’t realize how old this looked compared to the new stuff.”
- “The new floor makes the old trim look bad. Can we change it?”
It's natural: new work makes old work stand out. Planning for a small “upgrade fund” reduces stress and guilt when you have the urge to improve something else.
Demo looks bad.
Rough-ins look bad.
Drywall looks bad.
Primer looks bad.
Tile before grout looks bad.
Homeowners forget that everything looks “mid” until it all comes together — usually in the last 15% of the project.
The ugly phase is temporary.
Contractors will always do a final walk-through to check:
- touch-ups
- paint details
- grout lines
- caulk
- trim gaps
- hardware alignment
- floor transitions
Homeowners forget this step exists and panic when they see small imperfections.
Relax — the punch list is where everything gets perfected.
At Sherman R.E. Properties, we don’t just talk about the pretty “after” photos — we walk you through the real-life, day-to-day experience of renovation so nothing catches you off guard.
