What mistakes do homeowners make when renovating?

A couple of weeks ago, we asked this question on Instagram, and the response was brilliant. As it goes, plenty of you have either made these mistakes yourselves, or watched friends spiral into renovation chaos. So, we thought we’d expand on what Thomas, Henry, and Pierre shared, because these insights are too important to stay buried in an Instagram carousel.

Here’s the thing: we’re not trying to scare you. Renovations are manageable, but they’re also more complex than most people expect – and knowing what commonly goes wrong is half the battle. The other half? Having the right support in place from day one.

Thomas: “The devil’s in the details… and who’s ordering them”

Thomas worked as a residential estate agent in central London for six years before co-founding The Page. Between that, and his mum being an interior designer, he’s seen his fair share of renovation projects. The smooth ones, and the trainwrecks.

His biggest observation? Homeowners forget to agree who’s responsible for what before the job starts.

“Prior to a job starting, outlining who’s responsible for ordering fixtures and fittings is imperative and often forgotten,” Thomas explains. “Then on-site meetings that should happen at key stages, like the start of the second fix, frequently go by the wayside. And lastly, people don’t always agree variations to the quote in writing as they arise, which can result in disputes down the line.”

It sounds simple, but it’s remarkable how often these basics slip through the cracks. Your builder thinks you’re ordering the taps. You think they are. Suddenly it’s week eight and your bathroom’s at a standstill because no one ordered anything. Or you verbally agree to an extra radiator but never put it in writing, and now there’s a £600 surprise on the final invoice.

These aren’t catastrophic mistakes, but they create friction, delays, and stress; all of which are avoidable with clear communication from the start.

Henry: “Don’t squeeze out the management to fit in the marble”

Henry co-founded The Page after a leasehold renovation that spiralled from £10k to over £100k. He’s now 14 months into his own Kensal Rise renovation, so he’s living and breathing this stuff daily.

His warning? Homeowners try to fit too much scope into their budget and management is always the first thing to go.

“Renovating is surprisingly expensive, so when you’re already stretching, cutting management feels smart. It’s not!” Henry says. “Sometimes, especially in smaller renovations, management isn’t easily identified in a quote. My advice would be: instead of squeezing as much construction into your budget as you can, descope and include the right level of management.”

“No one wants to overspend on management, but knowing what level you need for your project is crucial. If you have no idea – that’s where we can help you!”

This is one we see constantly. People think, “I can project manage it myself. How hard can it be?” Then reality hits: the electrician needs an answer about downlight positions by Tuesday, the plumber’s waiting on your radiator spec, the builder’s asking about that structural beam, and you’re supposed to be in back-to-back meetings all day.

Good management isn’t a luxury. It’s what keeps everything moving in the same direction.

Pierre: “It’s not a handful of decisions; it’s hundreds”

Pierre is our Commercial Director, but he comes with 15+ years of running a super prime London construction company. He’s overseen renovations in mansion blocks, Victorian terraces, and stonking St John’s Wood houses. If there’s a construction contract detail; Pierre knows it.

And his take is perhaps the most eye-opening: Most homeowners dramatically underestimate what a renovation actually involves.

“Most homeowners think a refurbishment is a handful of decisions on how they want the finished project to look, and a builder who ‘deals with the rest,'” Pierre explains. “In reality, it’s hundreds of small choices, daily problems to solve, and more project management than most full-time jobs. All while your house is being taken apart.”

“Without someone steering it properly, the project doesn’t just drift… it confidently heads in the wrong direction.”

That last line is key. It’s not that your builder isn’t good at their job, it’s that without someone actively coordinating everything, projects don’t pause politely and wait for clarity. They keep moving. Often in entirely the wrong direction. And by the time you realise, it’s expensive to fix.

So what does this all mean for you?

If you’re reading this and thinking, “Right, I definitely need help”. Good instinct! That’s exactly why we created The Page.

We’re not here to scare you away from renovating. We’re here because we know it’s doable, even enjoyable, when you have the right support. Whether that’s helping you understand what level of management your project needs, making sure responsibilities are crystal clear from day one, or simply being on the other end of the phone when the inevitable questions crop up.

Renovations don’t have to be overwhelming. But they do require more time, effort and money than most people expect. And honestly? That’s okay. You just need to know that going into the project and make sure you have the right people in your corner for when things get complicated.

Got a renovation project on the horizon? We’d love to chat about how we can help. Get in touch here and let’s make sure your project heads confidently in the right direction.