I get what you mean about the difference between charm and just sloppy work. I once redid a 1920s kitchen—spent hours sanding old trim because every time I walked by, I’d spot a spot I missed. It’s not about chasing perfection, but if something’s gonna bug me every day, I’d rather fix it now. Little things add up, especially in old houses.
I hear you—those little imperfections can drive you nuts if you let them slide. I’ve learned the hard way that what bugs me during a walkthrough will definitely bug a buyer later. Sometimes it’s worth sweating the details, even if it means a few extra hours with the sander.
Totally get where you're coming from. I always say the devil’s in the details—if I spot a crooked cabinet handle or a weird paint line, it’ll haunt me until I fix it. Sometimes I have to remind myself not to obsess over every tiny thing, but honestly, those little tweaks can make a space feel so much more polished. It’s wild how much difference a smooth wall or perfectly aligned tile can make in the vibe of a room.
if I spot a crooked cabinet handle or a weird paint line, it’ll haunt me until I fix it
Same here. I’ll notice a tile out of line from across the room and it just bugs me until I redo it. Once spent an hour re-leveling a single backsplash tile because the grout line was off by maybe 2mm… probably overkill, but you see it every day. It’s those little things that separate a DIY job from a pro finish, in my opinion.
I get where you’re coming from, but sometimes I wonder if it’s worth the stress (and time) to chase every tiny imperfection. I mean, I’ve spent hours trying to get a patch of wall perfectly smooth, only to realize no one else even notices. On a tight budget, I have to pick my battles—sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially if it means I can move on to the next project. That said, crooked handles? Yeah, those drive me nuts too.
