What To Learn From Fixer To Fabulous' Unhappy Clients

HGTV's "Fixer to Fabulous" is a popular show in the home reno world due to the creative design approaches. Dave and Jenny Marrs include clever hidden design features to make homes feel not just convenient, but also as personalized as possible. Of course, these are things that anyone would want to achieve with a reno, however, there should be a balance between creating a dream home and being realistic. As the Marrs face another lawsuit by clients who have claimed that their homes were never finished, we can learn to maintain realistic expectations and timelines with home projects.

In 2023, the stars of "Fixer to Fabulous" were sued by a client who claimed the repairs to their home were never done. This involved changing the kitchen sink and extending hardwood floors into bedrooms. They were sued in 2018 by another client who claimed their home was never completed, but that case was dismissed in 2022, per KNWA-TV and FOX24 News. Dissatisfaction and unmet expectations are common in the construction and design world, so it's crucial to get ahead of these issues from the beginning.

A big lesson from this is that you shouldn't be too ambitious when planning a home project. There might be many things that you want to create or change, and it's easy to get carried away trying to fit everything in, but it's better to start small and act conservatively. One advice is to consider building different parts at a time instead of doing everything at once. It can even save you the money and stress of moving elsewhere as you could occupy one or some parts of the home while you wait for everything to be completed.

To do this, first list what is needed in order of importance and necessity. This type of planning is one of the tips for a successful home renovation. The top priority should be safety, so any structrual issues take precedence. Functionality is also important, so some places to tackle first in a home renovation are the kitchen and the bathroom. Do this, and you might soon find that some things can hold for a while. Even though working in phases means a longer timeline, it will make the project better to manage overall.

Acting cautiously and going slow gives you a realistic timeline. Whether it's a new build or a renovation, the excitement can create a tendency to be optimistic about how long it will take because you can't wait to be done and settled. Home projects tend to go longer than planned, so you need to manage your expectations. For example, renovating an entire home can generally take up to a year.

As you draw up your timeline, understand that finding contractors, getting permits, and material sourcing is unpredictable — and that's before the actual work begins. When the work starts, anything from the weather to holidays can wreak havoc on your project timeline. You might even run out of money and need to pause for some time. Because of this, include extra time in your timeline for unforeseen issues and maintain a flexible attitude so you're not disappointed.