The Ultimate Home Remodel Checklist
Check out “The Ultimate Home Remodel Checklist” for a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know. From budgeting to selecting a contractor to choosing materials, this checklist covers it all.
Are you considering a remodel of your home? Whether you’ve lived in your home for 5 minutes or 20 years, turning a house into the home of your dreams is an exciting yet incredibly daunting project for any homeowner to undertake. But, having a home remodel checklist can make the experience more organized and rewarding.
With our step-by-step guide to creating your home remodel checklist, you’ll have everything you need for your home improvement project.
But first, what are the stages of a home renovation?
What Are The Stages Of A Home Remodel?
The stages of a complete remodel typically involve the following steps:
- planning and preparation;
- demolition and removal;
- electrical work;
- plumbing work;
- drywall and insulation;
- painting;
- flooring;
- all finishing work (trim, doors, cabinets, light fixtures, etc.)
Why Having A Home Remodel Checklist Important
It’s a good idea to have a home remodel checklist to keep you organized during each step of the renovation process. It can also ensure your project meets local building codes and requirements, stick to deadlines, stay on budget, and inform everyone of progress.
Here are some tips to help you create a comprehensive home remodel checklist.
Tips For Creating A Home Remodel Checklist
Step One – Start With A Plan
If you don’t already have a plan for your home remodeling project, the first thing you should do is make one. This should include an itemized list of all tasks to be completed during the renovation and any necessary materials.
If you are renovating your entire space at once, you can itemize your task list depending on the renovation phase. For example, you can do all the painting or install the flooring at the same time. Alternatively, if you are renovating your home one room at a time, you can create a separate list for each room.
We’ve included a breakdown of the typical tasks for each area of the home below to help get you started with your list.
Step Two – Prioritize Tasks
Once you have an overall plan, the next step is prioritizing which tasks must be completed first. This will help you stay organized and verify that all necessary steps are finished before moving on to the next task.
When prioritizing where to start with your home renovations, here are some important considerations you can make to help you narrow down where to start.
- What remodeling tasks will improve the home’s value?
- Which jobs are most important for safety, such as structural repair or electrical work?
- What renovations will enhance the functionality of my house, like installing a new bathroom or improving insulation?
Step Three – Make A Budget and Timeline
Once you have your plan in place, the final step is to create a budget and timeline. Doing this will help confirm the project is completed on time and within budget.
When creating your budget, make sure to include the following:
- cost of materials;
- delivery fees (for materials shipped to your home);
- cost of tools required (a dumpster for the demo, rented tools, etc.);
- labor costs;
- building permit;
- inspection fees.
When making the budget for your home remodel, it’s also important to keep in mind that additional costs can arise during remodels. It’s best to create a budget with some wiggle room.
Whole Home Renovation Checklist
Bathroom Remodel Checklist
Is a bathroom renovation on your to-do list? Here are some key tasks to include on your home remodel checklist specific to your bathroom.
- Find inspiration for how you want your finished dream bathroom to look.
- Finalize the design and choose materials.
- Start the demolition process – this scope of work will vary depending on how extensive of a remodel you are planning.
- Make any needed repairs, such as walls, plumbing, etc.
- Paint the walls.
- Start the installation process – this includes installing plumbing fixtures, lights, tile, flooring, cabinets, etc.
When creating your checklist, feel free to get as granular with the tasks as you would like. And try to make them specific to the work you are doing. For example, if you aren’t replacing your cabinets, but plan to paint them instead, feel free to include that on your checklist.
Kitchen Remodel Checklist
Kitchen remodeling is one of the most popular home renovation projects. Here are some key tasks to include on your kitchen renovation checklist.
- Get inspiration for the design of your kitchen.
- Finalize the design and choose your materials, including cabinets, backsplash, flooring, etc.
- Start the demolition process, including removing walls and cabinets as needed.
- Make any repairs to walls, plumbing, etc.
- Move electrical and plumbing to suit your new layout – this may include relocating appliances, sinks, taps, etc.
- Paint the walls.
- Begin the installation process, including installing new cabinetry, countertops, backsplash, light fixtures, doors, flooring, etc.
- Put on the finishing touches, including trim, plumbing fixtures, hardware, etc.
- Install appliances.
The steps included on your home remodel checklist will again depend on the scope of your kitchen remodel. Customize this list to fit your exact needs.
Check out the 10+ Budget Kitchen Remodel Ideas To Increase The Value Of Your Home!
Remodel Checklist For The Rest Of Your Home
Renovating the other rooms in your home, such as the living room, bedrooms, hallways, etc., are usually much more straightforward unless you need to make a significant repair or plan on making a large change to the space. Big changes could include removing walls, changing the floor plans, etc.
For an aesthetic remodel, here are the tasks you should include on your home remodel checklist.
- Get inspiration for the design of your room.
- Finalize the design and choose your materials – this includes furniture, flooring, wall treatments, lighting, etc
- Paint the walls.
- Install flooring, trim, light fixtures, and other finishes you’ve chosen for your space.
- Set up your furniture and decorate.
If you are making more extreme changes in these other rooms of your home, you will need to include tasks such as demolition, repair work, and other installation tasks.
In addition to all the interior work you will be doing, it is also beneficial to list any exterior upgrades you plan to do. This can include exterior painting, new windows, etc.
Making a home remodel checklist is essential to managing a successful home renovation project. Your checklist will help you plan and budget the remodeling project, prevent costly mistakes, and reduce stress throughout the process.
When planning your renovation, you might have some additional questions. Here are some answers to the most frequently asked questions.
FAQ’s
In What Order Should You Remodel Your Home?
There is no “best” order for a home renovation process. Deciding where to start and where to finish in your home can depend on a variety of factors, including:
- what are or areas of your home need to be renovated the most?
- what areas of your home do you want to prioritize?
- which remodeling projects will boost the value of your home?
Answering this question for yourself is vital to developing a practical home remodel checklist.
That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on creating a home remodel checklist, as well as some sample checklists for all the rooms in your house. Read on to learn more!
What Time Of Year Is Best To Renovate?
Depending on where you live, the best time of year to renovate is typically the spring or fall. This is because it’s usually not too hot or cold, so you can open windows for ventilation and get your work done much more quickly and efficiently. Also, if you’re hiring contractors to do the job, they may have more availability in these seasons as opposed to during peak summer or winter months.
However, renovating in the summer or winter may be ideal, depending on your location and climate. For example, winter renovations can benefit specific environments due to the lack of rain, which can slow down particular tasks.
Ultimately, the best time of year will depend on factors like budget constraints and project timeline. It’s important to consider these when deciding when it would be most advantageous for you to start a renovation project.
Where Can You Find Ideas and Inspiration?
When making your home remodel checklist, try to visualize the look and feel you want for your space. Finding ideas and inspiration can help you clearly envision what you want for your home renovation.
You can look for ideas and inspiration in numerous places, such as design magazines, home improvement blogs, a home improvement Pinterest board, Instagram, etc.
If you need help bringing the design together, consider hiring an interior designer. Most designers are used to being involved in a project right from the beginning, as they can help you with an ideal layout, choosing the best paint colors to make your space feel bigger, etc.
Hiring an interior designer is also great if you plan to sell your home. They can help you turn the house into something very appealing to buyers.
What Is The Best Way To Find A General Contractor?
If you’ve decided to hire a professional contractor to do the entire project or at least part of it, make sure to find a reputable and reliable contractor. Start by asking for recommendations from friends or a family member who have had similar renovation projects. You can also research contractors by looking at online reviews and asking previous clients about their experiences with them. Furthermore, research relevant licensing requirements for contractors in your state or local jurisdiction to ensure the person you hire is legally licensed and insured to do the job.
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential contractors, it’s a good idea to meet with each one and get a few quotes before making your final decision. This allows you to compare prices and help ensure that you are getting the best deal for your budget.
If you hire a contractor, a home remodel checklist will be even more beneficial. It will help you stay on track and help your contractor understand your vision, stay on top of deadlines, and get everything done.
Overall, having a home remodel checklist is essential when successfully managing a home renovation project. By following this guide and creating your customized list for each room, you can be confident that your home renovation will succeed!
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