Thinking of Remodeling? Things to Keep in Mind Before Making Changes to your Home.

Home Maintenance

Oct 2

Bright, modern kitchen with white cabinets and a central wooden island.

Smart remodeling improves comfort and boosts resale value. Use this homeowner’s guide to set goals, build a realistic renovation budget, secure permits, hire licensed contractors, and manage your construction timeline with fewer surprises.

Architectural blueprints laid out on a wooden desk.

1. Define your remodeling goal

Choose one primary outcome before you start: livability, energy savings, or resale value. Clear goals drive design choices, scope, and spending, and they help your general contractor price accurately.

A calculator and pen on a notebook for budgeting a renovation.

2. Build a realistic renovation budget

Include labor, materials, fixtures, permits, and a 10 to 20 percent contingency. Typical project ranges in many markets:

Minor refresh$3,000 to $12,000

Full bathroom remodel$12,000 to $30,000

Full kitchen remodel$25,000 to $80,000

Inspector with hard hat reviewing a permit on a clipboard.

3. Confirm permits and HOA rules

Check your city’s building permit requirements and any HOA guidelines before demolition. Unpermitted work often leads to rework, fines, and delays during inspection.

Exposed wall framing and electrical wiring during a renovation.

4. Inspect structure and systems first

Assess framing, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC before cosmetic work begins. Finding issues early protects your budget and schedule once walls open up.

Contractor and homeowner shaking hands inside a home under construction.

5. Hire licensed, insured professionals

Verify license and insurance on your state’s website.
Request portfolios, references, and a detailed written contract.

6. Compare multiple detailed bids

Collect two to three line-item proposals. Evaluate value, not lowest price alone, by comparing materials, workmanship, and realistic timelines.

Interior design mood board with material swatches.

7. Choose durable, low-maintenance materials

For kitchens, baths, and entryways, prioritize long-term maintenance and manufacturer warranties over short-term savings.

A wall calendar with dates circled for a project timeline.

8. Set a realistic timeline

Lead times, weather, and inspections affect schedules. Build buffer days around material deliveries and inspection windows to prevent cascading delays.

9. Plan for daily life during the remodel

Create a temporary plan for cooking, laundry, work calls, and pets. Reserve short stays elsewhere when major systems will be offline.

10. Track payments and change orders

Release payments only when milestones are complete. Keep every change order in writing, including cost and schedule impacts.

Hand adjusting a modern energy-efficient smart thermostat.

11. Invest in energy and safety upgrades

High-impact improvements include efficient HVAC, smart thermostats, LED lighting, modern wiring, GFCI protection, better insulation, and sealed windows.

Person taking a photo of an unfinished wall with a smartphone to document progress.

12. Document progress

Photograph each stage, especially concealed systems. Photos support warranty claims, future maintenance, and disclose upgrades at resale.

Think ROI. In many markets, well-executed kitchen and bathroom remodels recover a large share of cost at resale. Niche add-ons do not always deliver the same return.

Pre-construction checklist

Primary goal and written scope, including model numbers for key finishes
Budget with 10 to 20 percent contingency
Permit and HOA requirements confirmed
Two to three comparable contractor bids
Signed contract with milestones, warranty, and cleanup plan
Logistics plan for daily life during construction
Material lead times and delivery dates on the calendar
Inspection schedule and documentation plan

Jeff Lambino