One day before closing on my house, I lined up contractor estimates, met the mold remediation specialist, and discovered how the attic's "little dead critters" had gotten inside. A quiet day on the renovation timeline—but an important lesson in getting ahead of your renovation before moving in.

Even the best-managed home renovations yank you out of your comfort zone and into a noisy, dirty, stressful reality where strangers suddenly become the most important people in your life. Your home renovation doesn’t have to become a Death Spiral. With the right approach, you can stay in control of your reno—and your sanity.