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+--- Thread: Is a full gut renovation even worth it here or should we just move? (/showthread.php?tid=1857)
Is a full gut renovation even worth it here or should we just move? - marenwalsh - 09-21-2026
We've been going back and forth for months about whether to renovate or sell, and honestly I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Our place is fine structurally but everything inside is dated and we've outgrown the layout. We got one bid from a design build firm that made my eyes water and another from a guy who seemed way too cheap to be trustworthy. I keep hearing that professional home remodeling and renovation in Palo Alto is a different beast because of the permit timelines and the cost of everything, but I don't know anyone who's actually done a full gut and come out happy. Did you stay in your house during the work or move out? How did you handle the endless decisions about finishes? And is it true that once you start opening walls you basically have to redo everything? I'm half tempted to just buy something already updated and call it a day, but then I look at the interest rates and think maybe renovating is the lesser evil. Would love to hear from anyone who's been through a whole house renovation around here, especially if you have tips for keeping your sanity and your marriage intact.