Totally get where you're coming from—old houses are a different beast. I’ve had contractors show me glossy “after” pics, but when you ask about the weird stuff (like sloped floors or ancient wiring), they just shrug. I want to see the messy “during” shots, too. If someone’s only got photos of kitchens in new builds, I’m out. Give me proof they’ve wrestled with plaster and not just drywall.
You’re speaking my language with the “during” shots. I always ask for those too, and not just the Instagram-worthy afters. It’s wild how many contractors just gloss over the gnarly bits—like, if you can’t show me a photo of knob-and-tube wiring you had to work around or a wall that turned out to be 70% horsehair plaster dust, I’m not convinced you know what you’re in for at my place.
One thing I started doing is making a list of specific old-house issues and asking point-blank: “Have you dealt with X? Can you walk me through it?” For example, if your floors slope, ask how they’d approach leveling without wrecking the original trim. If they start talking about self-leveling compound like it’s a cure-all, that’s usually a red flag for me—sometimes you want to preserve the quirks, not erase them.
I get why some folks like seeing only the shiny final product, but honestly, I’d rather see photos where everything looks like a construction zone. That’s where the real skill shows up. Sometimes I’ll even ask to see progress pics from jobs in my neighborhood—if they’ve worked on houses built around the same era as mine, that’s a good sign they know what to expect.
Totally agree it’s tough to find people who don’t just treat old houses like new builds with weird problems. But keep pushing for those details and don’t feel bad about being picky. In my experience, the ones who are actually proud of their work on old homes will have no problem showing off the messy stuff and talking through their process step by step. Those are the folks worth waiting for, even if it means your reno takes a little longer or costs a bit more upfront.
Couldn’t agree more about wanting to see the messy middle. I always ask for progress shots and, if possible, references from folks with houses as old as mine. One thing I’ve found helpful is asking contractors to explain how they’d handle restoring original windows or patching lath and plaster—if they start talking about ripping everything out, that’s usually my cue to keep looking. It’s wild how many people just want to slap drywall over everything and call it a day. The ones who geek out over the weird old stuff are worth waiting for, even if it means living in a construction zone a bit longer.
Totally get what you mean about contractors wanting to just drywall over everything. Drives me nuts. I’ve had a few try to convince me that “it’s just easier” to gut and modernize, but honestly, that’s not always the point with these old places. Curious—how do you guys handle it when you can’t find someone who’s actually willing to restore instead of replace? Do you ever just bite the bullet and DIY parts of it, or is that asking for trouble with stuff like plaster or windows? I’ve tried patching plaster myself and, uh, let’s just say it’s not as easy as YouTube makes it look...
Honestly, I get why contractors push for drywall—it’s faster, cheaper, and less hassle for them. But if you’re set on restoration, sometimes you just have to get your hands dirty. I’ve had to DIY plaster repairs more than once. It’s messy and takes patience, but it’s doable if you’re willing to accept a few imperfections. For windows, though, I usually draw the line—old sash windows are a beast and can get expensive if you mess up. Sometimes it’s worth hunting down a specialist, even if it means waiting longer or paying more.
