WHAT HOMEOWNERS FORGET (BUT DEFINITELY SHOULDN’T)

Written By trever sherman

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.

🕒 1. Life Still Happens During a Renovation

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.

📅 2. Contractors Need Decisions BEFORE the Job Starts

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.

**The biggest delay in most projects?
Not contractors.
Homeowners choosing materials late.

🔌 3. Your Home Might Not Have the Electrical or Plumbing You Expect

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  • The shower valve is outdated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.

🧹 4. Dust Travels Like It Has a Personal Mission

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.

👷 5. Renovation Days Start Early (And They’re Real Work)

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.

🚪 6. Doors May Stick, Floors May Shift, and Walls May Move Slightly

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.

🚛 7. You Need Space for Materials — Lots of It

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.

🍽️ 8. Kitchens Being Down = Routine Being Down

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.

🧒 9. Kids & Pets Always Change the Plan

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.

🗂️ 10. You’ll Want Things You Didn’t Plan For

This is the part nobody talks about — but I 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.

🔍 11. Renovations Don’t Look Pretty Until the Very End

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.

🧘 12. The Punch List Phase Is Normal (And Necessary)

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.

trever sherman
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