Personal Residence Renovation

[Alessandro Di Luciano]

Currently working through a live-in first-floor renovation at my parents’ house, and we’re finally nearing the end of the rough-in stage. It’s exciting to see everything slowly coming together!

I’ve helped with family and friends’ projects before, but those were mostly DIY. This time, I’ve been working with contractors, which has been a whole different experience.

For those who’ve been through renovations—what was the most difficult part for you?
And if you’ve managed projects like this, what advice would you give to keep things running smoothly?

So far, we’ve had our share of challenges, but I have to say, we’ve been pretty lucky. The contractors have been great to work with and have made it possible for us to stay in the home during the process. That’s something I really appreciate.

Would love to hear your experiences—whether it’s nightmare stories, lessons learned, or things you wish you had done differently!