The projects that run smoothest almost always have one thing in common: the homeowner handled a specific set of tasks in the weeks before demo, rather than scrambling on day one. Here's the complete list, organized by how far out you should tackle each one.
4–6 weeks before demo
- Finalize every selection — cabinet style and finish, countertop material, tile, hardware, fixtures, and paint colors. This is the single highest-leverage item on this entire list.
- Confirm appliance model numbers if you're supplying your own appliances, so cabinet and countertop cutouts are sized correctly before fabrication.
- Set up a temporary kitchen or bathroom plan — for kitchens, this usually means a folding table, microwave, and mini-fridge in another room; for a sole bathroom being remodeled, confirm access to another bathroom in the house.
2–3 weeks before demo
- Confirm your permit is submitted (your contractor should be handling this, but confirm the timeline aligns with your demo date).
- Empty the cabinets and drawers in the room being remodeled — pack contents into labeled boxes stored elsewhere in the house.
- Clear a path from the work area to the nearest exterior door for material and debris removal.
- Arrange care for pets during the loudest demo days, or plan a quiet space away from the work zone.
1 week before demo
- Remove wall décor and anything fragile in adjacent rooms — demo vibration travels further than people expect.
- Confirm parking arrangements for the crew, especially important on narrower streets in older neighborhoods.
- Set up your temporary kitchen/bathroom station so it's functional from day one instead of being assembled in a panic.
- Photograph the space as it currently is — genuinely useful for before/after comparison, and occasionally useful if any dispute arises about pre-existing condition.
Day before demo
- Do a final walkthrough with your project lead to confirm scope, especially anything discussed verbally that should be documented.
- Charge your phone and make sure you have your contractor's direct contact information saved, not just a general office line.
- Remove valuables from the work area and immediately adjacent rooms as a general precaution.
The one thing people forget: a decision-maker needs to be reachable
Nearly every project hits at least one moment where a quick decision is needed — a minor field adjustment, confirming a detail discovered once demo opens things up. Projects move faster and stay closer to schedule when there's a clear, reachable decision-maker throughout the build, not just available for the initial consultation and final walkthrough.
We walk every client through a version of this checklist specific to their project during the pre-construction meeting, so nothing on this list is a surprise when your start date arrives.