Whole Home Remodeling: What To Tackle First
There is a distinct advantage to remodeling your whole home at one time instead of using a piecemeal method. You can develop a more comprehensive and streamlined plan that takes into account how different interior and exterior living spaces interact and how you can collectively optimize them.
While it makes sense to upgrade your entire home in Northern Iowa in one go, you’re also setting yourself up for a more complex, time-intensive project. Whole home renovations are also bigger financial investments.
As you embark on a project of this magnitude, you may be feeling a mixture of excitement, impatience and nervousness. The best way to approach a whole home remodel is to plan ahead and do your due diligence. Knowing what to expect along the way can also help you feel confident and prepared for what lies ahead.
Steps to Starting Your Cedar Valley Remodel
As with any major undertaking, the most difficult aspect of a whole home remodel is knowing where to start and then taking action to set the project in motion. To help you plan ahead and give you the confidence when setting your expectations, here is a look at some of the initial steps to remodeling a house in Norther Iowa:
1. Establish a Vision and Project Priorities
Before you can determine the “how,” you have to identify the “why.” In short, why are you remodeling your home? A good place to start is by listing what you like about your home in Northern Iowa, as well as what features no longer serve your family or fit your tastes. Then, ask yourself a series of questions, such as:
Do you need to add space to accommodate a growing family or changing needs?
Are you wanting to increase the resale value of your home?
Do you have rooms that could be transformed to serve a new purpose? Are there spaces that are cramped, inconvenient or worn down?
Do you have appliances that no longer perform well?
Is your primary goal to update the design style and make your home feel fresh and clean?
Could you use more storage space?
Would your family benefit from streamlining your indoor-outdoor living spaces?
Take your time answering these and other questions to clearly identify the purpose of your whole home remodel. Then jot down all the things you would like to include in your project to help you achieve your vision. It’s helpful to list them in order of priority—from what’s essential to what’s a luxury—so you have an easier time enhancing or scaling back your scope of work if you need to.
2. Prioritize Repairs and Function
As you develop your home remodeling checklist, it’s important to focus on repairs and function before moving onto the architectural and design elements that would merely be nice to have. If there are structural issues, ventilation and air quality problems, outdated wiring or system failures that pose a safety and health risk to your family, put those high on your list of project priorities. Having a beautiful home is nice; having a safe, comfortable home is essential.
3. Set a Preliminary Budget
Once you know why you’re remodeling your home and what you wish to include, you can start thinking numbers. Ultimately, it’s impossible to calculate exactly how much you’ll spend on your home makeover until you’ve developed design plans and selected the type and quality of fixtures, appliances and materials you want to include. Even still, you need to decide upfront how much you can and want to spend on the project. This preliminary budget will help you set realistic expectations and act as a parameter during both design and construction. If your remodeling team knows your maximum project price, they can guide you toward certain options and implement cost-saving measures to help you stay on budget.
4. Investigate Zoning and Permitting
Another step to tackle during the early stages of the remodeling process is looking into what you are able to do based on local zoning and building codes. Are there any limitations to expanding your house, either up or out? Can you add outdoor elements, such as a deck or fencing? If you live in a neighborhood with a homeowners association (HOA), that entity may also impose rules and regulations you need to adhere to. This is especially relevant in historic neighborhoods or if you live in a historic home. You also should research whether you will need certain permits for your house remodel and take into account how long it takes to get them approved.
5. Decide Whether to DIY or Hire a Remodeler
Finally, you need to figure out whether you plan to renovate on your own or hire a professional contractor for assistance. If you’re handy with tools and have enough free time, you may be tempted to approach your whole home remodel as a DIY project. There are certain cosmetic upgrades—like replacing cabinetry hardware, painting, updating interior and exterior accents, and installing baseboards—that are relatively simple for handy homeowners. However, whole home remodeling is a mammoth project, especially if you’re reconfiguring layouts, removing walls and moving or adding new doors and windows.
A professional remodeler will know how to handle your project as a whole and balance your practical and aesthetic goals while navigating multiple complexities. They can advise you on how to maximize your investment and avoid delays that cost time and money. If you try biting off more than you can chew, chances are you’ll need to call in a professional at some point to take over or even fix mistakes. It’s better to get them involved upfront to ensure a seamless, efficient remodeling process.
Renovating Your Whole Home in Northern Iowa
Remodeling your home is a worthwhile investment. It can dramatically increase the value of your property and contribute toward a long-term boost in your quality of life. The project also can enable your family to remain in the home you love for longer, rather than needing to move to accommodate new members or significant lifestyle changes. No matter what your remodeling vision encapsulates, Home Indeed is prepared to help you bring it to life with our comprehensive design-build services. From architectural planning and permitting, to construction and interior design, we have you covered for any whole house renovation.
