Remodel Checklist

1. Determine the Scope of Work and Your Timeline
‍The first step in your home remodel checklist is determining what work you’d like to have done and how long it will take. Consider which rooms need updating and what kind of changes you want to make. Be realistic about your timeline – remodeling can take longer than expected, especially when it comes to hiring the right contractors, finalizing designs, or getting permits.

‍2. Get Initial Designs
‍Once you know what you want to do, it's time to start designing. This can involve working with an architect or designer, or simply sketching out your ideas on paper. The goal is to create a rough draft of what your new space will look like. If you’re moving any walls or utilities, you should definitely get professional help from an architect or designer. You’ll want to get “as-built” plans of your existing home and schematic designs of how you’ll reconfigure everything.

‍3. Interview Contractors and Get Quotes
‍When you have a solid design in place, start interviewing contractors for the job. You want to find someone you trust, understands your project, and has experience doing similar work. Get quotes from multiple contractors so that you can compare prices and choose one that fits your budget. The more specific your plans are before you talk to a contractor, the easier it is for them to give you accurate quotes—and the more likely they’ll respond to your inquiry!

‍4. Set Your Budget and Adjust Your Scope
‍After getting quotes from contractors, it's time to finalize your budget. Make sure that you're realistic about how much money you have available – remodeling can quickly become expensive if not properly planned out. At this step in the remodel checklist, you’ll probably do some “value engineering,” which means adjusting the scope or designs to build things in a more cost-effective manner. Remember: designers (or architects) aren’t experts on construction and costs, and contractors aren’t experts on designs. So you’ll need to get both sides to work together to create an amazing remodel plan that fits your needs and your budget.

‍5. Get Final Plans
‍Depending on the scope of work or permit requirements, you may need to get some additional details. With a contractor selected and budget in place, ask if you need to get additional drawings or blueprints with your designer or architect. Known as “construction designs,” these plans are more detailed than the schematic designs you did earlier. They’ll include things like where utilities will go and elevation drawings if you’re changing the exterior.

‍6. Apply for and Obtain Permits
‍Before starting any construction work, make sure that you have all necessary permits in place. This varies depending on where you live – check with your local government offices for specific requirements. You’ll likely need permits if you’re moving walls or utilities.Now you’re ready to move from the planning stage of the remodel checklist to actually getting the work done! The better job you’ve done planning, the easier the construction part will be. If you’ve hired a general contractor for the job, they’ll take care of most of the rest of these steps, but you’ll still have decisions to make with them.

‍7. Clean and Demo
‍It's time to clean out the area that will be remodeled and begin demolition if necessary. This includes packing up your personal items and removing old cabinets, appliances, and fixtures. Take some before pics so you can compare to the finished product later!

‍8. Frame Your Rooms
‍If you’re moving any walls, the next step is framing – building new walls where needed according to the finalized plans. If you’re leaving everything in the same configuration, you can skip this carpentry step.

‍9. Rough In Your Utilities
‍This step involves installing electrical wiring; plumbing pipes; heating/cooling ducts where necessary; any other utilities required based on your design plan. You’re not installing your fixtures and outlets at this point, but you need to get all the infrastructure in place.

‍10. Install Flooring
‍Now it's time for one of the most exciting parts of any remodel – choosing new flooring! From hardwoods and tiles to carpeting and vinyl planks, there are countless options available depending on your style preferences and budget. Think about how you’ll use your space. If you’ll have pets and kids in a high traffic area, you may want to go with sturdier materials. You may also need to match your new flooring to the rest of your home that’s not being remodeled.

‍11. Install Finishes and Paint
‍Next up, install fixed furniture, like cabinetry or a kitchen island. Then you’ll move to finishes such as light fixtures, door knobs and drawer pulls, and painting walls and trim. If you’re still deciding exactly which materials you want, you’ll need to make those picks and ensure they work with the finalized designs and plans created earlier in the process.

‍12. Install Utilities
‍With rough-ins complete, now is the time for installing permanent fixtures such as sinks, toilets, showers/tubs, electrical outlets, light fixtures, and major appliances. Your project will look pretty much complete!

‍13. Get Inspections Completed
‍Before you can start using everything, the last step in the remodel checklist is to make sure everything is up-to-code by obtaining final inspections from relevant authorities. Note that you may need to get inspections completed earlier on some interim steps in the remodel process as well.By following the steps in this remodel checklist carefully during each phase of your remodeling project, from planning through installation, you can ensure that everything goes smoothly from start until finish!