On the other hand, the dumbest thing we did was fail to lock down a construction calendar and cutoff dates. There’s a flow chart to things; now we know. Not knowing then cost us time, money and certain touches. To wit: The badass backsplash we wanted needed to be installed before the cabinets and appliances. Oops. Today, we’re getting by with white paint until we can sort out tile options. Knowing the timeline also would have led us to extend our rental lease, thus avoiding the unnecessary hardship of moving into an active construction zone.