Hi Reader,
Imagine you're cooking dinner and suddenly decide you're going to bake a Black Forest cake as well.
Can you do it? I suppose so, if you've got all the ingredients, the time, and the energy to juggle both.
But if you're already stretched thin making dinner, adding a complicated dessert may just turn the whole thing into chaos.
This is exactly what happens when homeowners expand their renovation mid-project.
I've noticed something over the years: homeowners are most likely to expand their project when things are going really well.
Everything’s going great, you’re excited about how things are coming along, and then you think: "While they're here, we should just do those two bathrooms as well."
That impulse isn't necessarily wrong. Sometimes doing it all at once makes sense! The experts are there, the tools are in place, you’re already living in a reno zone — there are good reasons to ask the question.
But you need to be honest with yourself about what you're signing up for.
When that "while we're at it" moment hits, ask yourself:
Do you have the money? Not just for the work itself, but for the unknowns that come with opening up new spaces.
Do you have the time? More decisions, more shopping, more coordination… even if your contractor can absorb the work, you're managing a bigger project.
Do you have the bandwidth? Mental energy matters. Are you prepared to take on more while already juggling a renovation?
If the answer to all three is yes, then go for it.
But if any answer is "maybe," be aware that you're walking into scramble mode — and so are the construction pros you’ve hired.
Planning beats momentum
If at all possible, try to have the "what else might we want?" conversation before the project starts. During planning, you can map out the full scope, get proper pricing, and make intentional decisions.
Mid-project additions — even good ones! — means replanning on the fly. Adding scope puts everyone into juggling mode.
Going bigger can absolutely be the right call. Just make sure you're deciding from a place of planning, not momentum.
If you can plan for it upfront, great. If you're adding it mid-stream, make sure you've actually got the bandwidth for it. Otherwise, you're setting yourself up for a lot of stress that could've been avoided with a little patience.
Till next time,
Gerald
P.S. I’m working on a new series on budgeting for your build or reno. What construction / reno budgeting questions do you need some straight answers to? Hit reply and I’ll make sure to work them into the series.
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