Make Your Remodel Count: 10 Decisions You'll Regret if you Don't Get Them Right
- Kole Bailey
- Jul 28, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Jul 29, 2025
👋 Hey I'm Kole Bailey -- And This is the Advice I'd Give a Friend
As a residential general contractor here in Boise, I’ve seen firsthand how certain decisions can make or break a remodel. This guide is basically me talking to a friend who’s about to start their project — no fluff, no sales pitch, just the stuff that actually matters. These decisions have a huge impact on your experience, your budget, and how much you end up loving (or regretting) the end result. If you can avoid these common pitfalls, you’ll set yourself up for a smoother process and way better return on your investment — both financially and in how you live in your home every day.
Not Thinking Through How You Actually Use the Space
I’ll be honest — most people don’t come to me asking for a more functional layout. They come in excited about tile, cabinets, colors — all the visual stuff. And that’s totally fair. But what I’ve found over time is that the best remodels — the ones people are happiest with a year later — are the ones where we took a little extra time up front to think through how they actually live.
And I get it — thinking through all those little details isn’t easy. Where you drop your keys, how the kitchen flows when you’re making breakfast, where backpacks and shoes pile up — that stuff takes effort to notice and be intentional about. But honestly, that effort is just as important as the financial investment. You can spend all the money in the world, but if the space doesn’t function for your daily life, you won’t love it.
Your drafter and builder can bring your vision to life — but we can’t read your mind. We don’t live in your house. The more clarity you bring to how you want to use your home, the better we can design and build something that truly fits.
Not Getting Clear Documentation
One of the biggest mistakes I see is jumping into a remodel without crystal-clear documentation. I’m talking full plans, specs, selections, and a detailed scope of work — all in writing, all agreed on before anyone swings a hammer. Without that, everything becomes a moving target. Your contractor is guessing, subs are filling in the blanks, and you’re left wondering why things aren’t turning out like you pictured. Verbal agreements and vague allowances are where budget overruns and miscommunication thrive. Get it all on paper — the more boring and detailed, the better. It might feel like overkill now, but it’ll save you from confusion, finger-pointing, and expensive rework down the road.
Don’t Underestimate the Impact on Your Life
Let me be real with you — remodeling is exciting, but it’s not glamorous while it’s happening. I’ve seen even the most prepared homeowners get blindsided by the day-to-day reality. There’s dust in places you didn’t think dust could go, you might lose use of your kitchen or bathroom longer than expected, and trades are in and out of your space constantly. If you’re living in the home during construction, it’s a grind. My advice? Mentally prep for the inconvenience up front. Plan where you’ll cook, shower, or set up a quiet space if needed. If it’s in the budget, getting out of the house is worth every penny. I don’t say this to scare you — I just want you to go in with eyes wide open so you’re not caught off guard. It makes the whole experience smoother.
Rushed is Chaos, Planned is Smooth
I’ve never seen a rushed remodel go well. When you start making decisions on the fly — picking finishes last minute, changing layouts mid-demo, scrambling to answer contractor questions you didn’t think about — the whole thing starts to unravel. Costs go up, timelines slip, and stress skyrockets.
That said, moving with urgency is still important. You might be carrying two mortgages, renting a second place, or living in a construction zone with your family — and I get how much pressure that puts on you. But here’s the thing: the more time you spend upfront getting the plan right — finalizing the layout, materials, and specs — the faster and cheaper the actual build goes. Clear plans equal fewer change orders, fewer delays, and fewer surprises. So yes, move with purpose — but don’t skip the planning. That’s what sets you up for a smooth, successful project.
Not Engaging a Contractor Before Finishing Construction Docs
Too many people wait until their construction plans are “done” before bringing in a builder — and by then, it’s often too late to make meaningful changes without blowing up the whole design. When you don’t involve a contractor early, you miss out on real-time budget feedback, value engineering opportunities, and a second set of eyes to catch expensive or unrealistic ideas before they hit the paper. A good builder can loop in their subs or suppliers to sanity-check the design, flag material lead times, or suggest smarter ways to build the same thing for less. It’s not just about cost — it’s about building momentum and making sure the project is set up for success from day one. Design and construction should work hand in hand — not in silos.
Getting Caught Working with Someone “Set in their Ways”
One of the most frustrating things I hear from clients is, “Our last contractor just wouldn’t listen.” Some builders have been doing things the same way for 20 years — and they’ll keep doing it that way no matter what your vision is. They’ll shut down new ideas, ignore design intent, or tell you something “can’t be done” just because they don’t want to figure it out. That mindset kills creativity and leads to homes that feel generic and misaligned with how you actually want to live. You need a team that’s flexible, collaborative, and willing to problem-solve — not just default to what’s easiest for them. A custom remodel should feel custom. If your contractor isn't willing to think differently, you’ll feel boxed in every step of the way.
Not Setting Budget (& Realistic Contingency)
One of the fastest ways to feel overwhelmed or disappointed during a remodel is not setting a clear budget upfront — and not building in a real contingency. Without those guardrails, decisions pile up fast, and before you know it, you’ve blown past what you thought you were going to spend. That said, if this is a passion project and you truly care more about getting exactly what you want than what it costs — own that. There’s nothing wrong with going all-in on your vision if the investment makes sense for you. But most people do care about cost and outcome — and if that’s you, get intentional early. Plan the budget. Track it. And add a buffer for the unknowns and the inevitable features you don't think you need now but you will end up splurging on as the project gets rolling. That’s how you stay in control, avoid hard decisions under pressure, and finish the project feeling good about both the result and the money.
Having a Murky Financial Process
A remodel is a major investment — and you need to understand exactly how the money flows. That means more than just getting a lump sum number. Ask how your contractors budgeting process works. What kind of financial controls are in place? How are subcontractors paid, and are lien waivers collected? How do they track work in progress and cost to completion? What are the payment terms, and when will you be expected to write checks? Financial clarity is the foundation of trust. You don’t want to find yourself halfway through the job wondering where the money went or if you're going to run out of funds. A solid financial process means fewer surprises, better accountability, and peace of mind that your investment is protected.
Not Considering How Decisions Affect Resale
Even if you’re planning to stay in your home forever, life happens — and resale value still matters. I’ve seen people make super personal or overly trendy design choices that feel fun in the moment, but end up being major turn-offs when it’s time to sell. Trying to force a feature into a kitchen that results in a narrow walkway, fitting a water closet in the master bath at the expense of vanity size, or choosing to forego storage because you personally don't need it for example can be a real turn-off if you ever need to sell. This doesn't mean you shouldn't customize your home to be uniquely yours but be aware of the line you can cross that could hurt you down the road.
Choosing to DIY Part of the Project when Working with a Contractor
Look, I get the temptation. You think, “I’ll just paint that one wall,” or “We can do the flooring ourselves and save a few bucks.” But jumping in to DIY parts of the project while working with a professional contractor almost always leads to friction, delays, and headaches. It complicates scheduling, messes with warranties, and blurs the lines of responsibility. Now instead of a clean, coordinated process, your project has gaps and handoffs — and that’s where mistakes happen. If you’re hiring a contractor, let them manage it start to finish. If you want to roll up your sleeves, save the DIY for after the job’s done. You’ll have way more control, way less stress, and your contractor won’t be stuck trying to work around you.
Wrapping It Up
Remodeling your home is one of the biggest investments — financially, emotionally, and logistically — that most people ever take on. The decisions you make before and during the process shape how it all turns out. My goal with this guide wasn’t to overwhelm you — it was to give you the same straight-up advice I’d give a friend: what to watch out for, where people go wrong, and how to get it right the first time. If you take the time to plan well, ask the right questions, and work with the right people, your remodel can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do. You deserve to love where you live — and to enjoy the process of getting there.
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