When Gia and her sister inherited their grandmother’s home in New York, they knew they were stepping into a renovation journey filled with challenges. The house, a century-old property, needed major renovations. Gia acknowledged both the beauty and the burden that came with owning such an old house.
Gia’s grandmother left the house two years ago, leading Gia and her sister to face expected and unexpected hurdles along the way. Renovation stress is common among homeowners. Block Renovation’s report in 2025 revealed that over 85% of more than 1,000 surveyed homeowners experienced stress during their renovation projects. Additionally, 57% dealt with “renovation fatigue” due to delays and the multitude of decisions.
Gia maintained a philosophical view on the process. “We knew it needed work, but after opening up the walls, we found more than expected,” she explained. Amongst the discoveries, some were unsettling.
Issues with the gas supply and electrical system caused Gia to spend much time outside the house, where she first noticed an unpleasant smell. An old mouse infestation had left the basement with a distinct odor. As temperatures rose, the smell intensified, described by Gia as akin to “rotten meat soaked in spoiled milk.”
To trace the odor’s source, Gia investigated a previously unexplored crawl space under the deck added decades ago by her grandfather. The space contained roofing and construction materials. It had provided shelter for neighborhood cats post-infestation.
Gia discovered there were actually two crawl spaces. One was a concrete box with a small window entry. Curiosity led her to explore deeper, and she found the smell emanated from the second compartment, where a mummified raccoon lay. Having veterinary industry experience didn’t ease the shock of finding more remains, including an opossum skull, a bird, chicken bones, and, most troubling, a mummified cat.
The laborious task of cleaning and bagging the remains took several hours. Gia expressed relief that the odor was eliminated, but renovations continued. The scope of the work unfolded more issues daily. Gia had already hired junk removal teams twice and anticipated more rounds.
The family aimed to turn the house into a livable space. Despite the ongoing challenges, Gia remained hopeful. With the help of her boyfriend, a plumber, and her contractor father, she hoped to keep the house within the family.