8 Steps to Planning a Whole House Remodel — Without pulling your hair out

Tired of living in a cramped, shabby and outdated home? Need to do a kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel and redo the living space while you’re at it? Need to update but don’t want to leave your current neighborhood or even your current address?

A whole home remodel can address all these issues and more, allowing you to create the ideal home of your dreams without packing up and selling your house. However, planning a whole house remodel is a big job — and it can be stressful being sure you are making all the right decisions. With the right design-build team, the remodeling process can be efficient and enjoyable

Step 1: Get a Clear Vision

If you’re just starting out planning your whole house remodel, your essential first step is developing the vision of what you want for your home. The beauty of an entire house remodel is that you can create exactly the home you want, so it’s worthwhile investing the time and energy understanding precisely what is important to you and your family. Look at home improvement magazines, websites, designer and contractor blogs for ideas of what to include in your new home, write down any inspiration, and make a list of the top 5–10 must-haves. One great place to do this is at Houzz.com where you can search and save inspirational images with notes about what you like into an unlimited number of idea books.

Step 2: Map Out the Remodel Areas

Are you planning to remodel your entire home, or do you want to focus on the kitchen and bathroom remodels? The term ‘whole house remodel’ can refer to a combination of any rooms, an addition or the entire house. Look at precisely what you want then determine what you can afford to invest.

Step 3: Consider Your Utilities

Your utilities such as water, gas, and electricity may put some constraints on your remodel, particularly if you’re planning to change the structure drastically, or build up or out. If you’ve got a significant remodel in mind, it’s worthwhile consulting a remodeling professional early, to talk you through what is possible and the challenges associated with your current home.

Step 4: Think About The Future

A whole house remodel is a significant investment of your time and money, and quality work will last you a lifetime. So it’s important to keep in mind what life might look like in your current home in years to come. Children will grow up, and grandchildren may come along. Visiting relatives or entertaining parties. As you age, accessible design including easy to operate options and well-lit areas become more important. Think ahead to get the most out of your remodel.

Step 5: Keep In Mind Structural Requirements and Matching

Once again, drastic changes may interfere with the structural support of the home, and in the case of additions, this is true. Each City or building jurisdiction has its own unique requirements above and beyond the current building code. Consult with a design-build firm to help you work out how this will impact your home. New structures should match style and color scheme to your existing home, so this is important to keep in mind.

Step 6: Choose Your Style And Design

Talking about style, what look do you want for your new space? A whole house remodel allows for a complete style overhaul, so the sky’s the limit. Choose a few styles that appeal to you and talk it over with your design-build contractor to see how it will fit with your plans.

Step 7: Write Everything Down

There’s nothing worse than working things out or hearing about a great new addition for your remodel and then forgetting about it! Save yourself the stress and get a folder and notebook to maintain all your notes and any clippings, pictures or quotes you collect in the planning process.

Step 8: Contact An Experienced Contractor

Due to the complexity of the project, most homeowners prefer to work with an experienced and skilled design-build contractor when it comes to whole house remodels. Start talking to contractors early to get a feel for the company you feel most comfortable working with. Having a professional on call makes the planning process so much easier.

If you’re planning a whole house remodel, why not talk to our industry experts at Gordon Reese Design Build to help guide you through the process.

Originally published at gordonreese.com on January 11, 2018.