Find a remodeling contractor near you

The most worthwhile renovations are the ones that will make your home more appealing to potential homebuyers in your market. But you should also consider renovations that will increase your own satisfaction and make your home more enjoyable for your household.

Explore remodeling ideas for your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, attic, garage — any part of your home. If you get inspired, start researching prices and come up with a budget. Then, contact a few remodeling contractors to discuss your vision and get accurate cost estimates.

The first step is making a detailed plan for your home improvement project, which includes researching designs and appliances, and creating blueprints. Next, work out an exact budget for your home renovation, allowing extra money for unexpected expenses or emergencies.

Search for home renovation and remodeling contractors and make your decision after interviewing three to five promising candidates. Finally, make a timeline for the project, then begin packing up and preparing for the renovation to start.

It depends on the home’s condition and what you plan to do with it. For example, if you plan to live in the home for a long time, performing renovations could make the home more livable and enjoyable. If your intention is to resell it, it might be worth the time, money and effort. Old homes typically cost less than new ones, giving you a built-in budget to perform the renovations. The home’s unique character might even provide a significant boost in value once the renovations have brought the rest of it up to date.

However, you need to conduct research to fully answer this question. Figure out how much it will cost to remodel the old home and decide if the return on investment is enough for you.

Some homeowners pay as much as $25,000 to remodel a home. But you can pay more or less depending on:

• The age of the home. Older homes tend to involve more work to update. 
• The size of the home. Larger homes tend to cost more to renovate than smaller ones.
• The condition of the home. Homes requiring structural changes or architectural plans will also cost more to renovate. 

Additional cost factors include building permits, as well as the costs of the required materials, paints, and flooring materials and labor. To get a better understanding of how much your home renovation will cost, discuss your project with several remodeling contractors and ask for price estimates.

Also read, “How much does a remodel cost?”

There are a number of highly effective, budget-friendly renovations you can perform on your home. Here are some ideas to consider: 

• Pressure wash your home’s exterior
• Paint your front door
• Replace your light fixtures
• Get new door knobs 
• Remove your popcorn ceiling
• Add new wallpaper
• Paint your kitchen cabinets 

And the list goes on. Chat with a few professionals to figure out how much your desired home renovations will cost you. If the prices exceed your budget, ask if the pros can suggest alternative upgrades that are more affordable.

The cost to remodel a home is highly variable — size and scope of the project, quality of materials, and the number of subcontractors required to complete the job all affect the total cost. The average national cost of a home renovation project is $13,500. The national average per-square-foot cost of a remodel ranges from $25 to $100. Nationally, kitchen and bathroom remodels are the most popular types of projects, in part because they typically have the highest return on investment when the home is sold. The national average cost of a major kitchen remodel ranges from $25,000 to $62,000, while the average bathroom remodel tends to cost $6,000 to $18,000. In addition to materials and labor costs, many remodeling project costs include permit fees, which, average $900 or more, depending on your location.

A kitchen remodel is one of the most important investments you can make in your home, and it’s critical to get the details right; that’s where a home renovation contractor comes in. A minor remodel usually includes new cabinet faces and hardware, replacement appliances, and paint, while an extensive job may enlarge the kitchen’s square footage, install new cabinets or an island, change the layout, and lay new tile or hardwood floors. Any renovation that includes filing permits, construction, or electrical or plumbing work is best completed by an experienced contractor who knows local codes.

Hiring a general contractor is a good idea for many remodeling projects. Home renovation contractors have a broad range of skills to manage, coordinate and complete a project. They should help make sure your project comes in on time and within your budget as they hire and supervise all the necessary subcontractors, including electricians and plumbers. They also handle procuring all the materials required for your job. Some homeowners look to save money by acting as their own contractor, but an experienced home renovation contractor is worth the cost. They should know local building codes, be able to pull all necessary permits, and work with inspectors to make sure the construction meets local codes. Also, because they get professional discounts, they can typically buy materials at a better price than you can; better prices on materials and labor save you money, and make up for at least a percentage of the cost of the contractor.

A few home remodeling projects can be done by an ambitious DIY-minded homeowner or local handyman, but many are best completed by a professional home renovation contractor. You should hire a contractor when you’re planning a large project that takes time, machinery or large tools, and several workers; a kitchen remodel, new bathroom or home addition will be most successful with a licensed, expert contractor at the helm. It’s particularly important to have a professional contractor on board for construction, electrical, plumbing and HVAC projects that require inspections to meet local building codes. Of course, you can hire a contractor for smaller projects, too, if you prefer to let an expert handle things like addition or removal of a wall, small framing projects, or anything that requires a permit.  

You should hire a contractor when you’re ready to start a remodeling project and you have plans, a budget and a timeline for the work in hand, but before any remodeling work begins.