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Everything we do teaches us something — even when we’ve done it before.
And let me tell you… this renovation? It came with a lot of lessons.
If you’ve noticed a little silence from me lately, it’s because I went back to Canada to take on a major renovation project on one of my townhouses. And by major, I mean completely gutted — top to bottom — and replaced with everything new.
As a real estate investor with multiple properties, I’ve done renovations before, so I thought I knew what to expect. But this one brought new challenges, new growth, and a whole new level of learning.
Here are the top 4 things this project taught me:
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Vetting your contractors and subcontractors is critical — who they are, how they work, and why you trust them.
I hired someone based on a good referral, but once the work started, it was clear they were not quite what they claimed to be. I learned to ask better questions upfront — not just about credentials, but about communication, timelines, and how they handle pressure. A strong referral isn’t always enough. Your standards matter more than their résumé.
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Don’t assume experience equals excellence.
One of the subcontractors actually told me, “Look, I’ve been doing this for 20 years.” But just days later, I caught some errors that could have cost thousands. It was a wake-up call: just because someone’s done something for years doesn’t mean they’re still doing it well today. We have to stay engaged, ask questions, and never hand over our power just because someone sounds confident.
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Communicating your expectations clearly — without fear — is everything.
There were moments I wanted to scream. But I reminded myself: I’m not here to explode, I’m here to lead. I learned how to speak up with confidence — calmly, directly, and without apology. Setting expectations early and correcting course when needed saved time, money, and my sanity. Leadership doesn’t need to raise it’s voice — sometimes it’s simply not backing down.
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I know more than I give myself credit for.
At times, I felt like I was being challenged — like I was just “the client” and not supposed to know the ins and outs. But then I remembered: I’ve done this before. I do know what I’m talking about. I had to start owning my authority. This experience reminded me to trust myself — in renos and in life.
In the end, this wasn’t just a renovation.
It was a reset — a reminder that our personal growth shows up in unexpected places.
Sometimes it’s not in the books we read or the podcasts we listen to, but in the everyday moments where we’re called to speak up, trust ourselves, and stand in our worth.
So now I’m curious — what are you building right now? A new space? A new chapter? A new version of you?
Whatever it is… trust yourself. You know more than you think. ❤️
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