What to Expect During a Home Renovation

Feb 26

Written By Erika Morris

The Honest Truth from an Interior Designer

The Highs & Lows of a Renovation

The Highs:

Demo & Framing: The project is fresh, no major expenses have come up yet, and everyone is optimistic. Framing gives you the first real sense of what the space will feel like, and this phase usually moves quickly.
Drywall & Paint: After the rough-in work, drywall goes up, and suddenly, your space looks like a home again. This is a big turning point!

The Lows:

Rough Plumbing & Electrical: This phase drags because progress isn’t visually obvious. It feels like nothing is happening, even though critical work is being done behind the walls.
Mid-Project Lulls: There will be slowdowns, often while waiting for materials or scheduling subcontractors. Cabinets, in particular, can delay things. This is why having your design finalized before demo is crucial.
The Last 15%: Once the big items are in place, small details and punch list items can take longer than expected. Without tight oversight, this phase can drag out.

What’s Normal vs. What’s Not

This list assumes that you have worked with a designer to flush out all of the details that can possibly be decided in advance. Even with the best preparation, these day-to-day issues will arise anyway. Your designer is your advocate—they will notice craftsmanship issues that you may not, and they can suggest compromise solutions when problems arise. The value of a designer significantly cuts down on these issues. Without one, you risk major material delays due to miscalculations, making rushed decisions, or sacrificing design integrity because a contractor needs an answer immediately. Contractors rarely provide enough notice for thoughtful decision-making; they ask when they need it NOW. A designer can anticipate those questions and either have them decided on way in advance or know how to handle them strategically in the moment.

Normal:

✅ Weekly meetings with your contractor and near-daily communication.
✅ Contractors and subs coming and going throughout the day—it’s a job site.
✅ Small project delays due to scheduling issues or minor mistakes (e.g., a drywall texture needing to be redone).
✅ Subs using your toilet occasionally and some construction debris piling up in a garage or off to the side.
✅ Touch-ups needed on entry points and corners at the end of the project.
✅ Change orders for small, logical upgrades—extra painting, additional trim work, etc.
✅ Your contractor questioning unique design elements, especially if they “always do it” a certain way. Push for what you want!
✅ Progress, calendar, or terms billing—everything documented in writing.

Not Normal:

❌ Your contractor acting annoyed when you ask questions or going days without updates.
❌ Your job site being completely empty for more than three days without explanation.
❌ A contractor trying to convince you to be happy with something you didn’t ask for or something that is clearly wrong.
❌ A dirty job site—some mess is expected, but there should be no trash, grime, or personal belongings left behind.
❌ Major gouges in drywall, flooring, or appliances—these should be repaired by the responsible sub. Take photos weekly to document progress.
❌ Your contractor suddenly asking for a large, unexpected sum of money without proper documentation.
❌ A contractor refusing to explore how to execute your design properly—there’s always a way!
❌ Huge cost increases for previously bid details—unless something truly changed, unexpected big-ticket add-ons should be questioned.

Tips for a Smoother Renovation

Document EVERYTHING. Keep notes, take weekly progress photos, and maintain a record of all communications.
Schedule weekly contractor meetings. Avoid Mondays and Fridays. Mid-morning or lunch hours tend to be best when the site is quieter.
Expect issues. Something will go wrong—whether it’s a scheduling hiccup, a minor mistake, or a material delay. If you have a designer, rest easy knowing your project will still turn out great.
You get what you pay for. If you go with the lowest bid, expect to pay in time, quality, or surprise costs later. Lower bids often mean critical details were missed or the subs are lower-quality.
Be hospitable. Keep a cooler with water and soda on-site, greet your workers by name, and give them space to do their jobs. When mistakes happen, be respectful. Kindness goes a long way in ensuring quality work and timeliness.

At the end of the day, renovations are stressful, but they’re also rewarding. If you go into the process with realistic expectations and a clear understanding of what’s normal, you’ll be able to navigate the ups and downs without unnecessary panic. And when the dust settles, it’s always worth it!