Home Reno: Expectations vs. Reality

Expectations vs. Reality . . .

After watching countless episodes of HGTV, I’m sure we all have our own ideas of how a home renovation should go. I’m talking tight timelines, designer-inspired DIYs and reveals that feature everything but the post-construction dust. Yes, I always feel inspired after watching, and I love seeing the process unfold from start to finish in just 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the reality of home renovations isn’t as neat and tidy.

This is our first home, and this is our first renovation project. Like most new experiences, we’re learning as we go and tackling the challenges one day at a time. It’s always something on the job site, and I frequently have to remind myself of expectations vs. reality. Here are a few ways my (somewhat misguided + embarrassingly green) ideas have been put in check by real reno situations:

Timeline

Expectation: “Your project will take 7 weeks to complete.” – Property Brothers

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but your project is going to take [MUCH] longer than expected. Timeline delays are a normal part of renovation projects. And, I’m speaking from experience. Even though we purchased our home last summer, we didn’t start renovations until the beginning of this year. It took us multiple months to secure city permits. This is something I definitely wasn’t planning on.

Reality: Delays happen, and they can push your project back days, weeks or even months. It’s never a bad thing to add a little cushion to your timeline. Chances are, you’ll need it.

Budget

Expectation: “We’re smart with money. We can stay on budget.”

Money is always a talking point when it comes to home renovations. Nine times out of ten, it can even be a source of contention. To reduce future points of stress, you’ll want to get bids and quotes from each trade or from a general contractor before starting work. It’ll give you a good base number and help gage the overall financial situation. You’ll also want to set aside a healthy chunk of change as a contingency plan. This article has some helpful how-to’s. 

Reality: No matter how tight or frugal you are with your cash, there WILL be unexpected costs as the project progresses. It’s basically a fact of construction.

From Plans to Real Life

Expectation: “If we hire an architect, take measurements, work with a designer, etc., things will go exactly as planned.”

After the initial demo, you’ll probably find that walls aren’t square, pipes are in odd places, and the inner workings of your home are just different than expected. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a good plan in place–I’m a big fan of doing your homework before tearing walls down–but it does mean that you need to allow for some level of flexibility. We’ve had to tweak our architectural plans multiple times to accommodate things like structural imperfections that come with an older home. Thankfully, we’re working with skilled trades + vendors (read more at the bottom of this post) that are keen to problem solve. It’s made a world of difference.

Reality: 2D + 3D plans can are a necessary piece of the puzzle, but sometimes you’ll have to make adjustments on the spot and in the space. Creative thinking, experience and ingenuity can turn most problems into solutions.

Working with Trades

Expectation: “They’re experts. They’ll know exactly what I want.”

Even though you hire skilled trades, you’ll need to communicate as many details as possible. How you want your tile to look and how your tile guy actually lays the tile could possibly be different. It’s better and far more cost effective to discuss your expectations before the work is done. It’s also a good idea to share photos and renderings with your trades if you have them. This ensures that everyone is on the same page before the cement is set.

Reality: Everyone does things differently so communication is key. You’ll want to talk through every single detail before the project starts and then check-in on progress throughout renovations.

Creative Differences

Expectation: “Oh, we like the same things.”

While this may be true on a broader spectrum, I’ve come to realize that there are so many smaller decisions where preferences may differ. This is often the case when it comes to picking finishes–things like tile, fixtures, paint colors or accessories and furniture. If you feel strongly about something, make sure you communicate it. Also, it’s important to realize that compromising or meeting in the middle isn’t settling for something less. It’s just different than you originally envisioned. I speak from personal experience when I say that some of my favorite design features in our home are the result of going with someone else’s ideas.

Reality: Stick to your guns if something really matters, but be open minded to ideas that are different from your own. There’s no one way to renovate a house.

Forever Projects

Expectation: “When we’re done, we’re done!”

The beauty of homeownership is that there’s always a project that needs to be done. This can be daunting, but it also allows for phase 2 projects like landscaping or custom finishing work to come at a later date when you replenish your budget. So, don’t stress if something doesn’t get done initially. We’re putting all our effort into finishing the interior renovations before our second baby arrives this summer. This means the exterior and landscaping projects may not be done by the time we move in.

Reality: Take things in stride and tackle the priorities at the top of your list. There will be plenty of time to personalize your design + do a few Saturday DIYS in the months/years to come.

The Finished Product

Expectation: “The minute construction is done, it’ll be Insta worthy.”

Turns out, you need to hire a professional cleaning crew to come in after the renovation is complete. Your wood floors aren’t washed, windows don’t look sparkly clean and the walk-in closets haven’t been cleared of construction dust. Spoiler alert! Those Fixer Upper reveals take hours of prep to get the home looking suitable for living. You definitely don’t want to eat off the countertops before the entire place gets a thorough wipe down. Plus, empty rooms aren’t as pretty as staged ones. Once you get your furniture set, the space will really start to look and feel like home.

Reality: Hire someone to do the deep cleaning, and give yourself ample time to settle in. It may even take a few weeks/months to fill your new space. After you’re settled, start snapping the pics.

Have you ever done a home renovation? Do any of these expectations vs. reality ring true?