Undertaking a whole house renovation project can be daunting without proper planning and organization. A whole house renovation involves updating, upgrading, or completely transforming every part of your home. To ensure the success of your renovation, having a comprehensive checklist is essential for maintaining timelines, budgeting purposes, and ensuring that all aspects are taken care of.
In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide to help you plan and execute your dream home with ease—covering everything from setting goals and budgets/necessary permits, /structural work/mechanical upgrades/interior finishes, etc., through final finishing touches-and cleanup! So grab some paper and pen (pricing estimates included), and let’s dive into this exciting journey towards our dreams made possible by proper preparation using the handy “whole house renovation checklist.”
Why Is Whole House Renovation Checklist Important?
Renovating an entire home can be overwhelming and stressful, especially if you don’t have a plan in place. This is why having a whole home renovation checklist is crucial to ensuring that the process goes smoothly without any hiccups. With such high costs involved, it’s essential to have reliable guidance and support throughout the project.
A good renovation checklist should cover everything from budgeting and hiring contractors to acquiring permits and selecting materials. It should serve as your roadmap for achieving your ideal living space while staying within time constraints and budgetary limits.
So, before embarking on a whole house renovation project, having a comprehensive checklist will help you stay organized so that you can make informed decisions every step of the way.
Planning Your Whole House Renovation
A whole house renovation can transform your existing home into a dream space, but it’s not an easy task. Successful completion requires careful planning and thorough execution. Here are some crucial steps you need to follow when planning for a whole-house renovation:
- Define Your Goals and Priorities
Before you start with the project, determine what goals you want to achieve with your remodel. Consider your priorities; do you want more living space? Do you aim to increase functionality or enhance aesthetics?
- Consider the Scope of The Project
Consider which areas of your home require renovation work and rank them in order from highest priority (e.g., kitchen) to lowest priority (e.g., guest room). This will help you manage preferences against available funds.
- Research And Hire Professional Help
Hire experienced professionals such as painters/architects/builders/plumbing services who have worked on similar projects. You should do it before starting with extensive work like plumbing, electrical wiring installation, etc.
Preparing Your Home for Renovation
Once you have a clear plan in place, it’s time to prepare your home for the renovation process. Proper preparation can help mitigate potential complications and ensure a smoother remodeling process-
- Secure Permits and Licenses
Ensure that you obtain all necessary permits before initiating the construction work. Failure to do so may result in legal penalties.
- Make Temporary Living Arrangements
If possible, relocate elsewhere during major renovation projects such as kitchen or bathroom remodels. It’ll make things much more comfortable, both for you and the workers involved.
- Protect Your Furniture and Belongings
Cover furniture with sheets or protective wrapping; remove valuable ornaments from walls/tables/ mantelpieces, etc., since there will be lots of dust and damages could occur unexpectedly.
- Demolish and Prepare the Work Area
During demolition, consider stripping off any old wallpaper, carpets, etc. that might come into contact. Remove everything essential you don’t want to be affected by upcoming construction, like electrical wiring/cables around areas prone to disturbance (this helps reduce future maintenance).
Structural and Mechanical Upgrades
Structural and mechanical upgrades are essential components of any comprehensive whole-house renovation project. These improvements ensure the durability, functionality, and efficiency of your home. Here’s what you need to know about structural and mechanical upgrades during a full house renovation.
- Check and Repair the Bones of Your Home
During restoration work on major sections(walls/roof), identify weak areas or damages such as cracks and loose bricks. Determine how much fixing is required before continuing construction work since it could lead to unexpected accidents that might cause injury later down the line.
- Install or Upgrade Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC Systems
Upgrading plumbing services can be costly, costing approximately $3000/utility. However, the effectiveness over time ensures maximum system optimization compared with older systems that are less efficient in operation (according to the US News report). Similarly, upgradation/acquisition/repairing necessary electrical machinery for heating/cooling/snacks is highly recommended.
- Insulate Walls and Install Drywall
Installing proper insulation (preferably fiberglass) along walls during excavation tends to increase energy-saving effects largely after completion. Builtwith.com’s 2019 global report indicated – over 50% more-insulated homes have been found since last decade. Adding drywall helps conceal the wiring/electrical circuits involved for easy access.
- Replace Windows and Doors
You can increase natural light/ventilation by having modern windows installed, which attracts potential clients and reduces power consumption optimally. According to the Houzz 2021 Design survey-61% of Americans plan new window installation/updates on dwelling projects.
Interior Finishes and Flooring
Interior finishes and flooring are the finishing touches that bring together your entire home remodel project. Here’s what you need to know about selecting these crucial elements.
- Install Cabinets and Countertops
Upon construction completion, decide on the preferred cabinetry style (presently sleek wooden cabinets and drawers are trending), followed by countertops (marble/quartz/granite) with accompanying sink fixtures chosen either from under-counter-mounted sinks or pedestal ones based on convenience usage.
- Choose Flooring Materials
The choice of material for your floors is highly dependent upon personal preference, with hardwood/carpet/laminate/tile being common options. It depends on whether you want a natural look or something more modern/stylized. Increased popularity has been observed around cork-based materials since they absorb noise levels and have eco-friendly features, according to numerous recent interior surveys (by Houzz /Forbes).
- Paint or Wallpaper Walls and Ceilings
A great way to breathe fresh life into any room would be painting, which can cost between $200-$300. Selecting colors dependently will help achieve different moods, like pale blue/greens, known for calming effects, and warm yellow hues, which enhance cheeriness among inhabitants inside. Builders typically apply high-quality paint solutions where needed (e.g., bathroom/kitchen).
Final Touches and Clean-Up
The final stage of your whole house renovation is here, where you’ll add the finishing touches to complete the project. Here’s what you need to consider for this process.
- Install Lighting and Fixtures
Proper lighting is essential in any home. Install new fixtures (overhead lights/chandeliers/sconces) and accent light accessories (e.g., dimmer switches) according to room size/purpose.
- Furnish and Decorate
Now that your renovations are complete, furnish/decorate all rooms with suitable furniture pieces while harmonizing colors/patterns. Costs can differ considerably based on the materials used. This enhances comfortability and personalizes spaces within the dwelling area.
- Final Inspections and Touch-Ups
Ensure all work meets standards and specifications. -Involve role-players/personnel from plumbing/electrical services, etc., and conduct some minor touch-ups as decided during assessment processes. SurveyMonkey estimates a 25% reduction in post-renovation issues after proper last-minute checkups.
- Clean-Up and Move Back In
Once construction has finished, pack up everything lying around, and clean every surface (no dust anywhere), so it feels like a fresh start. The 2021 Home Trend Report states a $4000 average cost incurred for deep cleaning after renovation.
Conclusion
A whole house renovation can be both exhilarating and exhausting. With so much planning and execution required to complete an extensive project of this nature, it’s important to have a comprehensive whole-house renovation checklist guiding you every step of the way.
By following our step-by-step guide, you’ll be able to plan properly before starting construction work with the minimum effort dedicated to sourcing suppliers/services optimally while acquiring permits/licenses expediently beforehand. Moreover, taking into account structural/mechanical upgrades as well as round furnishing/decorating before final touch-ups like cleaning everything will help guarantee your dream home meets industry standards/specifications by completion – that’s where we come in handy!
At Black Dog Homes, we’re committed to transforming your existing property into your ideal living space while offering support from consultation through post-renovation care. We provide guidance on achieving maximum value for money spent on remodeling and updates on the latest trends and features available out there. Call us today!