The difference between a renovation that goes smoothly and one that goes sideways usually comes down to a handful of things homeowners wish they had known up front. Here are five.
1. Permits protect you, not just the city
Permitted work gets inspected, which means a third party confirms it was done to code. If a contractor wants to skip the permit to save time, that is a risk to you when you sell or file an insurance claim. Most structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work requires one.
2. Older homes hide surprises
In a Detroit home built before 1960, expect the unexpected behind the walls: knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized plumbing, or framing that was modified decades ago. A good contractor budgets a contingency and tells you about it before the wall comes down, not after.
3. Sequence matters
Renovations have an order: demo, rough mechanicals, inspections, insulation, drywall, then finishes. Rushing a step or letting a trade get ahead of an inspection is how projects stall and budgets blow up.
4. Get change orders in writing
Any change to the scope should be a written change order with a price, signed before the work happens. Verbal agreements about extra cost are where disputes start. No exceptions, even on small items.
5. Never pay it all up front
A reasonable schedule is a deposit, then payments tied to completed milestones, with a final payment after the punch list is done. If a contractor wants most of the money before real work starts, walk away.