How to Remodel a Home: A Simple Guide to Get Started
Home remodels can be complex and complicated. Where do you start? How much should you budget? How will you live in your home during the process?
A major remodel requires patience, perseverance, and a healthy budget.
But having all three of those is easier said than done.
Where to Start with a Home Remodeling Project
Regardless of the size of your remodeling project, we hope the steps below will help your project succeed.
Clarify Your Needs and Goals
Your home remodeling project can be as simple or complex as you want it to be. You can go for the complete gut job or just make a few small changes. The choice is yours.
However, we recommend taking the time to understand what you want and why you want it. The more you know about your vision, the easier it will be to achieve it.
First, determine your goals for the remodel by addressing your biggest needs and pain points.
Are there outdated aspects of your home that simply need an update?
Does your floor plan need to be better suited for your family?
Are you attempting to increase the resale value of your home?
Do you need to add more space?
By addressing your needs, you’ll get a clear idea of what needs to happen – whether you need to remodel your whole home, a room or two, or you simply need to update a handful of aspects like cabinets and counters.
Once you have a clear understanding of your goals – and we recommend clarifying these with anyone else involved – it’s time to envision your remodel.
Envision Your Remodel
Before you get started, you need a clear vision for your space(s). You need to develop an idea of what you want to do with your remodel or update.
You don’t have to, but making a mood board (physically or digitally) can be an excellent way to accomplish this.
If you want to go the digital route, there’s no better place to start than Pinterest. You’ll find plenty of mood boards already assembled around different styles – or of course you can create your own.
If you’re more traditional and want to create a real mood board, grab a bulletin board or poster board and start filling it up with cutouts from your favorite home design and decor magazines, along with printouts from Pinterest and Houzz
Just like you did with your goals, make sure anyone else involved in the remodeling decision-making is on board with your stylistic vision.
Note here that if you aren’t sure how to put together a stylistic vision – don’t worry! Most home remodeling experts and contractors offer design help.
Choose to DIY or Hire an Expert
Your next decision is whether to DIY your project or hire a professional. And if you’re going to hire a professional, should you hire a design-builder or contract different pieces of your project yourself?
Going the DIY route will only make sense if you have professional experience, your project is small in scope (like painting the dining room), or you have a ton of time on your hands. Sure, you may be able to learn how to do some simple flooring on your own, but it will require a significant time investment – not to mention there’s a decent chance you’ll make a mistake.
Your next option is to hire a design-builder, a general contracting company that provides both design and construction services. You’ll work with one or two people throughout the duration of your project, and they will handle everything.
Lastly, you could hire an architect and a contractor separately. This route tends to be more expensive, and is probably only necessary if you’re looking for an elaborate addition to your home.
If your project is smaller in scope – like installing new kitchen cabinets or redoing flooring in one room, you might not need a full design-build. You could stop by your local cabinet shop or flooring store.
Make a Financial Plan
How much your remodel will cost depends largely on your hiring decisions. So you may want to consider your finances first before making a hiring decision.
Thankfully, you have a handful of ways to finance your remodel these days. You could finance it with:
Cash. This is obviously the most ideal method, but not everyone has enough saved up for a serious project.
Home remodel loan. These are unsecured personal loans. Your loan isn’t based on your house as collateral, and you qualify based on your personal credit score.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC). This is a secured loan backed by your home, meaning you usually qualify for a lower interest rate. It’s a revolving line of credit, so you can take what you need when you need it.
Home equity loan. Similar to a HELOC, this type of loan is backed by your home’s equity. The difference is you receive your loan as a lump sum and with a fixed interest rate.
Credit cards. If you’re only making minor updates to your home, only using a credit card might make sense. But we wouldn't recommend this for a larger project you can’t pay off within a couple of months.
Make a financial plan before you dive into your project, and if possible, save some beforehand.
Consider the Long Term
Home remodels can be expensive. It’s natural to look for ways to cut costs and save during the process.
But you should consider your costs over time. You may save a few thousand dollars in the short run by using cheaper materials, but they may lead to sooner-than-expected replacements or repairs, ultimately costing you more.
For example, let’s say you’re redoing your flooring. You could go with a cheaper option at around $5 per square foot. But you’ll need to buy more and pay for another installation in around 10 years.
Alternatively, you could pay $10 per square foot for a more durable hardwood that lasts you 30-40 years.
If you’re working with a design-builder, they’ll help walk you through the pros and cons of different materials. But if you’re handling things yourself, do your research on your material choices.
Make a Plan for Construction
Depending on the size and scope of your project, your life at home could be seriously impacted. Kitchen remodels, bathroom remodels, and big additions could seriously disrupt your day-to-day.
Make sure you have contingency plans in place and consider the changes you might need to make before the work begins. For instance, if your kitchen is unusable during the construction phase, make sure you’ve budgeted to eat out for a few weeks!
If you’re working with a contractor, talk with them about:
The project’s timeline
The day-to-day logistics of life during remodeling
Considerations they need to be aware of while working in your home
Any concerns you may have about the process
Make sure you and your family are all on the same page about the process!
Get Started with Your Home Remodel
Now that you have a solid plan in place, it’s time to get to work! Here are a few final tips to consider as you start on your remodeling journey:
Overestimate your planned budget
Go for efficiency over size
Try to avoid moving utilities to save on money and headaches
Even if you’re doing a small DIY project, consult some experts first (stop by the Nashua Home Design Center!)
Best of luck on your project. Enjoy the process!