Just finished our home renovation in Palo Alto, here's what I learned
We finally wrapped up our home renovation in Palo Alto last month after about five months of chaos. It was a long road but the end result is great. The biggest lesson I learned is that you really need a reliable home renovation contractor in Palo Alto who knows the local permit process inside and out. We almost hired someone from out of town who was cheaper but had no clue about the city's requirements, which would have been a disaster. The company we went with was recommended by a neighbor and they were worth every penny. They handled all the paperwork, kept us updated, and even helped us pick fixtures when we got overwhelmed. There were still surprises like old wiring and a leak we didn't know about, but they dealt with it without drama. If I had to do it again I'd still pick them. My advice to anyone starting this is to ask for references from projects in the same city and actually call them. Don't just look at photos online. Has anyone else been through a renovation recently? I'd love to hear your stories.