Pamelia,
think it really depends on urself, like wat delfine and shelled said, i think it's just old wives' tales and never-ending.
like for my new place, my mum says i should not be there during renovation, my mil says i should not even start renovation at all, cannot move in... and i should not even be at the house for key collection this sat!! but me and hubby just decide to dismiss all these. have discussed with him that reasonable ones we will just follow. So we decide i will not be at the new place during renovation period, that's all. the rest such such no moving in, cannot be at the house during key collection, etc will be ignored.
so i think it depends on how comfortable you are and if you are not, then just stay away.