Essential Questions to Ask Before Starting a Remodel

A good remodel always starts with a good plan. Your contractor and his or her team will have blueprints, renderings, selections, and more ready before demolition day. But even before that, it’s important that you, the homeowner, think through some questions that will guide and direct the whole remodel. 

Your home is the place where so much of your life happens, and remodeling it to make it serve you and your family better is a big deal. By doing some reflection and self-assessment, you can help make the remodeling process and the finished product exactly what you and your home need.

Personal Goals

— What is my main objective with this remodel? 

Are you seeking more space for a growing family? Have you started entertaining more and want to improve the flow in your kitchen? Maybe you have an older family member who will be moving in with you and you need your home to be more accessible to them. Or you might want to add a bathroom or finish the basement to give your older teens more room. There are many reasons to remodel and it helps clarify your vision if you can state yours.

— What is my why?

What pain points can this remodel address and relieve? Be as specific as you can about what is and isn’t working for you in your home currently, so that you can make sure that your project solves the problems you identify. Consider what you want the atmosphere of your home to be, and what kinds of activities you want it to support. How will your upcoming remodel help with those goals?

— What are my needs and wants?

It helps to know what parts of your remodel are essential needs, and what are desired additions. Make a list of non-negotiables and another list of things you’d like but that you’d be willing to compromise on. Prioritizing your needs and wants will help you—and your contractor—make decisions throughout the duration of your project.

Budget

— What is a realistic budget for me?

Home remodels often cost more than you expect, and budgeting for a remodel can be tricky. It's better to make a realistic budget, with help from your remodeling company, than to hope your money stretches. And it’s always better to plan to have a little extra money reserved for the unexpected. Your remodeling team should be able to help you decide how much money you need to meet your goals.

— What are my budget priorities?

If it comes down to it, would you rather spend more to get exactly what you want, or would you rather save money and make a compromise on your project? Is it more important to you that your remodel is exactly what you imagined it would be, or that you spend less and still end up with a fantastic, if modest, new space? Knowing where you and your family stand on this question will help you throughout your remodel. 

Design Preferences

— What do I like?

If you’re using a design-build company, you will have in-house designers or project developers helping you plan your new space. Their expertise is invaluable and they will come up with great ideas you had probably not considered. You can make the design planning process even better if you spend some time thinking about what you like and can communicate it to the team. 

• Create boards on Pinterest or look on Houzz or in home magazines to find examples of things you like. Check out our gallery for even more ideas.
• Save a lot of pictures without thinking too much about them.
• When you have quite a few pictures you like of, say, kitchens, start looking for what they have in common. Maybe it’s huge islands, or cabinets painted a fun color, or shining wood floors that draw your eye. See if you can find trends among your photos and make some notes about what you learn. 
• Share your notes and your photos with your project development team. They will be able to help you make your dream a reality in your home!
  
  

— Do I have favorites?

Maybe you already know what your preferences are. If you love a particular color, finish, flooring type, or decor style, great! Your designers and construction team will be happy to incorporate your favorite things into your project. Again, spend some time thinking and planning before construction begins, so you can express your desires clearly.

— Am I trendy or classic?

In the home design world, trends come and go regularly. If there are on-trend styles or designs you love, make sure to let your team know! They can help you decide if the look is going to stand the test of time, or if you’ll be tired of it soon. A good mix of classic design and on-trend styles is the perfect formula for a home you’ll enjoy for years.

— What about functionality?

It’s sometimes easier to choose what we like than it is to think about what designs are the most functional for our spaces. But it’s equally important to consider the practical implications of your remodeling choices. Your designers and contractors can help you consider the function as well as the aesthetics so the result of your renovation will be a home that is as useful and functional as it is beautiful and welcoming.

Lifestyle Needs

— How does this remodel align with my long-term plans for my home?

If you know the home you’re in now is your forever home, congratulations! You love where you live and have no plans to leave. This means you can remodel a little differently. You don’t need to focus on resale value or even ROI as much. You can customize your home as much as you want. You can also splurge for more luxurious materials and finishes, knowing that you’re going to be the one to enjoy them.

On the other hand, maybe you do love your home, but you don’t plan to live in it forever. You know that eventually, you’ll move. Or you know it’s a starter home and you plan to move in the next three to five years. If this is the case, you need to think about

• what remodels will give you the best ROI?
• how can you increase curb appeal?
• what kinds of remodels do people love to see when they’re looking to buy a house?
• what materials, finishes, and colors are appealing to most people?

— How do I use my home now?

Think about the life lived within the walls of your home. Do you have toddlers who need space to play? Teenagers who would love bigger bedrooms and a little more independence? Do you work from home and want a gorgeous home office? Do you love to cook, work out, or host parties and want a space that supports your passion? 

As you think about how your home is used, consider where the bottlenecks are. Do you have specific times of day when everyone is getting in each other’s way? Or maybe at night, you and your family want to relax in the same room, but your living room doesn’t hold you all comfortably. What are the challenges to your daily life that a remodel might alleviate?

— How will I use my home later?

As more and more people choose to age in place (stay in their homes as they grow older, often changing aspects of their houses to make that possible), it’s wise to consider making your home accessible as you remodel. If accessibility isn’t an issue for you now and won’t be in the near future, you can always modify your home later when you need to. But if you’re doing a major remodel, why not think long-term and see if there are easy things you can do now? For example, a curbless shower might be a gorgeous addition to your master bathroom and also be accessible for you or a family member in the future. Home remodeling planning, with an eye toward accessibility in the future, is always a wise move.

Timeline

— Do I have something important coming up?

What is your desired timeline for your remodel? Are you trying to complete your renovation before the holidays, for example? Or before a son or daughter graduates? Are you hosting a wedding reception in your backyard? If you have specific needs or dates, discuss these with your team. If you don’t have an event coming up but want to get your job done quickly for another reason, discuss that as well. Your contractor will be able to give you a realistic timeline so you know how to plan.

— What are my expectations?

While your contractor and his team will do their best to meet your timeline goals, remember that in a remodel, sometimes things come up. Unforeseen issues might cause delays. Try to set your expectations accordingly so you’ll be able to roll with delays and you’ll enjoy the renovation experience much more.

Daily Life

— What impact will this remodel have on my daily life?

Because a home remodel happens in, well, your home, there’s no escaping the fact that it will be disruptive. You will have people coming in and out of your house. It will be noisy at times. And although your contractor and his team will prepare the site and protect your home, there will invariably be construction dust. How will you and your family handle these interruptions to your daily life? Will it be manageable for you, or a source of stress?

Think about which rooms are being remodeled. If your kitchen or bathrooms are on the list, how will you get along without these necessary spaces? Thinking through these logistics before the project gets started will save you a lot of trouble.

— Should I move out?

Everyone reacts differently to home renovations, but most people experience at least some level of stress. Think about your personality and those of your family members. If you are introverted and really need your home to be a quiet retreat from the world, you may want to consider moving out of your home and staying elsewhere until the project is completed.

Depending on the scope of your remodel, you may have to move out of your home for a time. If your project includes adding a second story, or if you’re doing a complete teardown or gutting your home down to the studs, it won’t be inhabitable for a while. 

In some situations, the choice of whether to stay or go will be yours. Many people choose to move out so they don’t have to deal with the disruption of constant construction. If you have small children or pets, their safety may be a concern. If you do plan to move out, make sure you account for the expense of living elsewhere in your remodeling budget.

On the other hand, some people prefer to stay in their homes during a remodel. It can be exciting to see what work gets completed each day. Sometimes it’s more disruptive to a family to move out than to stay with construction going on. If you and your family are out of the house most of the daytime hours, it might not bother you to live there in the evenings. Think about your specific situation and how you and your family will be most comfortable.

Choosing Your Team

There’s a lot to think about when it comes to remodeling your home. You need a team you can trust to help walk you through the process. A design-build company will give you the best remodeling experience possible, and the best possible results.

Design-build companies bring all the parts of a home renovation together: one company handles everything from planning to execution. This means fewer complications, fewer delays, better communication, and a wonderful finished project. The work gets done faster and you’re happier with the results. 

Design-build companies like McLennan Contracting emphasize the planning and development part of the process, talking with you and learning how best to meet your remodeling goals. After all, you’re putting a lot of thought and careful consideration into your home renovation—you want your contracting company to do the same.

To learn more about our process or to get started on your home remodeling project, schedule a consultation with us today. We're ready to help you make your home everything you dreamed it could be.