It’s exciting to dream about a beautiful home that functions well, has enough storage, brings you joy, and even increases in value, whether it’s your current residence or a fixer-upper vacation spot you’re eyeing. Good news: The dream is doable if you plan and prioritize correctly.
A whole-home remodel involves making extensive interior and/or exterior changes to the layout of most rooms. Like any major investment, it can be intimidating. Here’s how to lay the groundwork for a successful whole-home renovation.
Budget. Materials, labor, and return on investment vary by region. Determine what you can afford before engaging with contractors, designers, and architects. Don’t get bogged down by details like which projects return the most value or the Italian tile you must have in the bathroom.
Instead, focus on the average cost of projects like a kitchen or bath remodel, an addition, new windows, and landscaping. We work with customers to provide an initial budgetary assessment, and then dive into the formal estimate once we design the space.
Remember: Your future in the house. If you expect to stay for years, you can spread the cost over a longer time frame and potentially afford more.
Inspect. The structural condition of your house takes priority over aesthetics, and it will certainly affect your budget. Address issues with the foundation, roof, or mechanicals before or during a remodel, not after. Don’t sink money into a crumbling, inefficient home. Consider hiring a professional to give you a full report on your home’s health, from top to bottom.
Remember: Energy-efficiency. A remodel is the right time to invest in better insulation, an energy-efficient HVAC system, and Energy Star–rated windows.
Assess. Now you can have fun by creating a wishlist, divided into needs and wants. Start with your home’s function—what works and what doesn’t?
Here are some questions to ask:
- Where do you spend most of your time?
- Are there spaces you don’t use at all?
- How’s the lighting throughout the house?
- Would you spend more time outdoors with a better yard?
- Is there storage where you want it?
- Is your kitchen functional but cosmetically worn and outdated?
- If you plan to age in place, is the owner’s suite on the ground level?
- What frustrates you? What do you love?
- What’s your dream room—a library, a gym, a bar?
Remember: Open-concept floor plans aren’t the only way to go. Defined living spaces are making a comeback.
Hire. With a budget, a handle on your home’s condition, and a clear vision of what you want, you’re ready to shop for a contractor to turn your dream into a reality—on schedule, on budget, and on terms with all regulations.
Remember: Search the membership listings of leading professional organizations such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA).
Start Smart With CCG
Are you ready to realize your home’s full potential? Call Central Construction Group to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation. We are experienced in end-to-end whole-home remodeling, from budget-planning to design to construction. Call 317-213-6246 or connect with us on Facebook or Instagram.