06/19/2026
🏡 What's Your Why Wednesday: Surviving & Thriving During Home Renovations! 🛠️
Hi everyone, Brad and Trish here! Welcome back to another .
Today, we are diving into one of the "whys" that we both love the most: home renovation. As work moved us from place to place over the years, we always loved purchasing homes that needed a little TLC so we could put our own personal touch on things.
If you can see the space behind us, we are in the midst of a major renovation right now! We are transforming our old 3-season room (which was really a "no-season" room—too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter! 🥵❄️) into a fully integrated part of our indoor living space, all while improving our view of the lake.
Renovations can be incredibly fun, but without the right planning, they can also turn into a nightmare. Whether you are tackling a small cosmetic update or a major structural overhaul, we want to share the lessons we've learned to ensure the joy remains in your project.
Here are our top 10 things to consider before starting a renovation, in order of priority so everyone has the same expectations:
🎯 1. Define your goal: Know exactly what you want to achieve.
💰 2. Budget: (You know this is our favorite part!) Establish your numbers early.
📐 3. Project scope: Map out exactly what work will be done.
👷 4. The right team: Hire professionals you trust.
🦺 5. Safety: Test for hazards like lead and asbestos.
📜 6. Legalities: Ensure all codes and permits are handled.
🤝 7. Clear contract and understanding: Get everything in writing.
🗓️ 8. Timeline and living arrangements: Know where you will sleep and eat while the dust flies.
📦 9. Preparing the area: Clear out the space properly.
🔍 10. Monitor progress: Stay actively involved throughout the process.
💡 Our Best Advice:
Always plan on the cost being more than quoted—make sure you have a contingency fund! The same goes for your timeline. For example, if your renovation is scheduled to be completed by November 15th, don’t plan on absolutely being able to host Thanksgiving dinner... unless you are totally okay with a backyard picnic! 🍂🦃 Have your contingency plans ready.
We want to hear from you! What are your best words of wisdom for surviving a home remodel? Drop your tips in the comments below! 👇
As always, please hit the Like and Subscribe/Follow buttons. It helps us tremendously! We can't wait to see you next week for another What's Your Why Wednesday. ✨