Essential Home Renovation Checklist

If you are planning a home renovation, stay on top of everything and ensure the project runs smoothly with a home renovation checklist. Your list serves as a home renovation planner, breaking larger renovation tasks into smaller, more manageable ones. Knowing the flow of work helps keep the project on schedule and allows you to track progress. Our checklist covers each stage of your home renovation project so you can stay organized from start to finish.

Planning Your Renovation

Decide on the areas of your home that need renovation, clearly defining your goals. Gather ideas and inspiration online, from home improvement publications or by driving around your neighborhood. You can create a vision board or digital portfolio to share with your contractors and designers. Once you have identified your priorities, start working on your budget.

Your budget will depend on the work you want contractors to do, which professionals you use, whether you need planning permission and the project’s length. You can either use savings or explore financing options for your home renovation. Banks typically offer three main finance options:

• Home equity line of credit: This type of finance works like a credit card and uses the maximum value of your home’s equity as collateral.
• Home equity loan: This loan is similar to a home equity line of credit, but does not revolve monthly. It offers lower interest rates.
• Personal loan: Another finance option is a personal loan with higher interest rates. It would be a good option if you have a shorter project that you can pay off quickly.

Hiring Professionals and Setting a Timeline

A skilled and experienced professional will complete your renovation to a high standard, reducing the likelihood of mistakes. The right contractor should also know building codes to ensure your renovation meets safety and legal requirements. To hire the team and set your timelines, you should:

• Find a trustworthy local professional: Remember to ask your contractor for references and check previous work.
• Establish a realistic renovation schedule: Set clear objectives and break the renovation up into phases.
• Plan for potential delays: With most home renovations, you should prepare for unexpected expenses and delays. Have a contingency plan in case of an emergency.

Including Essential Items on Your Checklist

While your home remodeling checklist is customizable, areas you will have to address include:

• Structural changes: Structural issues in the framework of a home can be severe, like foundation cracks, sagging floors and crumbling walls. To ensure the safety and stability of your home, address structural issues proactively, so you avoid more serious damage later on. Your checklist must also include compliance with building codes and permits for any structural changes.
• Interior design and layout: Planning room layouts and functionalities that work for your family is another important task to add to your checklist. Your home’s spaces should be comfortable and functional and suit your style and design preferences. Work independently or with a designer to choose color schemes and materials.
• Utilities and systems: Assessing plumbing, electrical and HVAC systems during renovation ensures these systems are up to code. They must be able to support your newly renovated space, or you might need to update them. Once your contractor has assessed these systems, you can leave them as is, replace or upgrade them. If they require work, you can add this to your checklist.

Wrapping up Your Renovation

Nearing the finish line means doing your final checks, cleaning up and settling any outstanding balances with contractors. Break these checklist items down into the following categories:

• Final inspection: You will need to ensure your renovation is up to code. This requires an inspection from a city official, which your contractor can handle or advise you on.
• Cleaning: Arrange proper debris disposal and clean your home. The contractor usually ensures the site is clean. However, you could arrange a thorough final cleaning at the end of the renovation.
• Settling final payments: Check all invoices and settle balances with contractors and service providers.

Turn Your Home Into Your Dream Space With Valley Home Builders

Valley Home Builders can help you plan your dream home renovation. We provide high-quality work and exceptional customer experience to clients in California’s South Bay and Santa Clara areas. Get in touch with us today to see how we can provide value and offer solutions to your biggest renovation concerns.