Have you ever wondered why unfinished home projects seem to pile up? You start with every intention of finishing that weekend, only to walk past the project weeks—or even months—later and realize it’s still not done.
You’re definitely not alone.
Maybe you bought everything to redo a closet, started replacing some shelving, pulled off a piece of trim that needed replacing, or finally decided to tackle that storage area you’ve been thinking about.
You got started.
You made progress.
And then…life happened.
Welcome to what I like to call the 80% Done Club.
Starting a Home Project Is Usually the Fun Part
Starting a new project is exciting.
You have an idea of what you want the finished project to look like. You make a trip to the hardware store, buy the materials, get the tools out, and start working.
For a while, everything is going great.
Then you realize you need something you didn’t buy.
Or the project takes longer than you expected.
Or you run into something you weren’t expecting once you start taking things apart.
Sometimes you’re simply tired after working all week and don’t want to spend another Saturday working on the house.
Before long, the tools get put away and you tell yourself:
“I’ll finish it next weekend.”
Then next weekend becomes next month.
That’s how a lot of unfinished home projects begin.
Why Do Home Projects Get Left Unfinished?
One of the biggest reasons is that it’s easy to underestimate how much time goes into the last part of a project.
Getting something 80% finished can sometimes feel pretty quick.
It’s that last 20% that gets you.
That’s when you’re making another trip to the store, cutting the last pieces of trim, fixing the little things that didn’t turn out exactly right, or figuring out a problem you didn’t expect.
Sometimes the project is also usable even though it isn’t completely finished.
That’s when it becomes really easy to put off.
Once the closet works, the shelf holds stuff, or the room can be used again, finishing those last few details doesn’t feel quite as urgent.
So they sit.
There’s Nothing Wrong With DIY
As a carpenter, I’m definitely not going to tell you that every home project needs to be hired out.
There’s something satisfying about working on your own house and being able to say, “I built that.”
There are plenty of DIY projects homeowners can tackle themselves, especially if you have the tools, time, and patience to learn along the way.
The problem isn’t starting a DIY project.
The problem is when an unfinished project starts becoming a permanent part of the house.
If you’ve been saying “I’m going to finish that” for the last six months, it might be time to admit that it’s probably not at the top of your weekend list anymore.
And that’s okay.
Closets and Storage Projects Are Easy to Put Off
Closets, pantries, shelving, and other storage projects are perfect examples of projects that can stay on the to-do list for a long time.
Maybe you’ve wanted to replace wire shelving with solid shelves.
Maybe there’s a closet that could hold a lot more if the space were laid out better.
Maybe you’ve been planning built-in storage for an empty wall, mudroom, pantry, or another underused area of your home.
These projects are easy to put off because the space technically still works.
But every day you’re still dealing with the same clutter, wasted space, or storage problem that made you want to change it in the first place.
Sometimes getting the project finished isn’t just about making your house look better.
It’s about making your home work better for you.
When Should You Hire Someone to Finish a Project?
There’s nothing wrong with deciding that you’d rather spend your weekend doing something else.
You might have the ability to finish the project yourself. You just don’t have the time—or maybe you simply don’t want to anymore.
That’s when hiring someone can make sense.
Instead of looking at the same unfinished home project for another six months, you can finally cross it off your list and enjoy the finished space.
And sometimes you don’t need someone to completely redo the room.
You may just need help with the part of the project that’s keeping you from getting it finished.
What’s Your 80% Project?
Take a look around your house.
Is there a project you’ve been saying you’ll finish “next weekend”?
A closet that needs better storage?
Shelving that never got installed?
Trim that still needs to be finished?
A built-in you’ve been thinking about?
A pantry or storage area that isn’t working the way you want it to?
Maybe this is the weekend you finally finish it.
And if you’ve been a member of the 80% Done Club long enough, Cory’s Carpentry may be able to help you get that project across the finish line.
Cory’s Carpentry specializes in custom closets, built-ins, shelving, custom storage solutions, and finish carpentry for homeowners in Lebanon, Tennessee and surrounding Middle Tennessee communities.
Whether you’re trying to finish an existing project or you’re ready to finally start the closet or storage project that’s been sitting on your list, I’d be happy to talk with you about it.
Ready to get that unfinished project off your list? Request a free estimate from Cory’s Carpentry.