Thinking about tearing your whole home apart and starting fresh?
One of the biggest—and most thrilling (and stressful!)—projects you can do as a homeowner is a complete home renovation. Here are ideas to make your house look, feel, and function better.
But without the right planning?
Home renovation can become a money pit that empties your wallet quickly. The bright side is that it does not have to be that way. Ensuring success is not brain science. You just need to be aware of certain things prior to your first swing of the hammer.
The lowdown:
- Why Planning Matters Before You Renovate
- Don’t Overlook Your Exterior
- Setting A Realistic Renovation Budget
- Timelines & Delays To Expect
- Picking The Right Contractors
- Prioritising What Actually Matters
Why Planning Matters Before You Renovate
Home renovation spending is bigger than ever.
The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies reports Americans invested $600 billion in home renovations in 2024. That is a mind-blowing figure that demonstrates just how many homeowners opt to renovate instead of move.
But bigger spending doesn’t mean better results.
The sad truth is that homeowners actually tend to go over budget. In fact, 78% go over-budget. Even more unfortunately, about two-thirds accrue debt to complete their renovation projects.
That’s the reality of a full home renovation.
Planning is your best defense. If you know something is going to happen, you can plan for it – avoid most of the headaches that happen to other homeowners.
Don’t Overlook Your Exterior
When planning a home most homeowners spend so much time thinking about the kitchen or bathroom they forget about the exterior.
Huge mistake.
Your home’s exterior is what everyone sees when they pull up to your house. Chipped, faded, peeling paint lets visitors (and potential buyers) know that the home hasn’t been taken care of. A new coat of exterior paint? That shows value, pride and attention to detail.
That’s when quality exterior painting services come in handy. Exterior paint services do more than beautify a home – they help preserve the siding, stucco or wood underneath from the elements, UV damage and moisture throughout the years.
A well-executed exterior paint job can last between 5-10 years. It also adds significant value to any home. When you’re already tearing the rest of the house apart, it’s nice to get it done all at once.
Scaffolding is already built. Contractors are ready to go. You don’t have to deal with another project six months from now.
One thing homeowners most commonly regret after their remodel is complete is neglecting the outside. Don’t be that guy.
Setting A Realistic Renovation Budget
The biggest piece of any full home renovation is your budget. If you mess that up, nothing else matters.
The average full home renovation costs somewhere between $19,485 and $88,359, depending on:
- The size of your home
- The materials you choose
- Labour costs in your area
- The age of the property
But those numbers only tell part of the story…
Renovating an older home will always be more expensive. You often run into costly surprises such as old wiring or plumbing that needs replacing. Labor can also account for a large percentage of your overall budget.
Smart people who own homes know to pad their budget by at least 15-20%. That extra money is for when the walls come down and surprise!
Because trust the process – something always does.
Timelines & Delays To Expect
Here’s a fun fact most people don’t want to hear…
Approximately 58% of homeowners report that their remodels take longer than originally planned. If your contractor quotes you a “6 week” job, plan on 10+ weeks.
Delays usually come from:
- Permit approvals taking longer than expected
- Material backorders or supply chain issues
- Hidden problems discovered mid-project
- Contractor scheduling conflicts
- Weather (especially for exterior work)
How do you avoid this? Flexibility. Build flexibility into your plans from day one. Don’t schedule your renovation to be complete right before you move back and host a wedding at your house. Don’t plan on moving back in on the promised date.
Leave yourself some slack and things will feel less stressful. Your family will appreciate you for it later.
See also: The Digital Presence Health Check: A Playbook Every Bangkok Business Should Run Quarterly
Picking The Right Contractors
The contractor you choose can make or break your entire project.
Look for someone who:
- Has verified reviews and past projects to show
- Is properly licensed and insured
- Provides a clear written estimate
- Communicates quickly and openly
- Has real experience with your type of renovation
Obtain at least three quotes prior to making any major decisions. However, do not automatically choose the lowest bidder. Nine times out of ten the low bidder turns out to be the most expensive due to errors and delays.
Don’t forget to ask for references as well. Good contractors will gladly give them up to you. Bad contractors will find excuses galore why they won’t.
That’s a red flag worth paying attention to.
Read online reviews too. Look for trends – If there is one really bad review that stands out from the others, it’s probably okay. But if there are 10 bad reviews that say the same thing, RUN! Trust your instincts.
Prioritising What Actually Matters
Don’t get roped into a whole-house remodel becoming “let’s just do everything.” Budgets go wild that way.
Instead, break your project into two clear lists:
Must-haves:
- Structural repairs
- Safety upgrades (electrical, plumbing)
- Waterproofing and insulation
- Essential functional spaces
Nice-to-haves:
- Luxury finishes
- Custom cabinetry
- Smart home features
- Cosmetic upgrades
Do the needs before the wants. If you have funds available after that then proceed to the nice-to-haves. This will help ensure you won’t have a sparkling new kitchen with no functioning plumbing in your guest bath.
At the end of the day your home needs to work before it needs to be Instagram-worthy.
Final Thoughts
Completing a full renovation of your home is one of the largest investments that most people will make. It shouldn’t feel overwhelming though.
To quickly recap:
- Set a realistic budget with a 15-20% buffer
- Don’t skip the exterior – it matters more than you think
- Expect delays and plan for them ahead of time
- Choose your contractor carefully
- Focus on must-haves before nice-to-haves
Happy homeowners who are prepared properly are the ones who complete their project on time, on budget and (most importantly) without regrets. That can be you.
Plan ahead before the work begins and it all seems so much easier.
