All solid points — and from 50 years in the trade here in the GTA, I’d add a few that catch first-timers off guard almost every time.
The double-move cost. Most homeowners price out displacement at 4-6 weeks. Kitchen and primary bath teardowns routinely run 10-14. At $150-$250/night in the 905 suburbs, that gap is easily $2,000-$5,000 in unbudgeted accommodation alone — before you add a single change order.
Soft costs nobody quotes you. If your scope touches a load-bearing wall, you need an engineer’s letter. That’s typically $800-$2,000 in Ontario. If your permit drawings require a certified designer (not always included in the contractor’s scope), that’s another line item. And Ontario’s inspection fee schedule — usually a percentage of construction value — adds two to four mandatory site visits once walls close. Combined, soft costs on a mid-size reno can run 2-4% of total project value. Budget for them before the first nail goes in.
The micro-decision trap. Abdul nailed decision fatigue at the macro level, but what actually stalls jobs in my experience is the small stuff: outlet placement, grout colour, cabinet pull finish. We’ve had kitchen jobs pause for a week waiting on a tile sample that “just needed approval.” Those decisions need a hard deadline written into the contract. If they’re not in the contract, they own your schedule.
One resource that might help with the planning side — our community FAQ covers what to ask a contractor before signing: Most commonly asked Questions