Remodeling a House: Where to Start? A Comprehensive Guide

Embarking on a home renovation project can be an exhilarating endeavor—but it can quickly become overwhelming. Whether you’re considering remodeling a house entirely, focusing on specific rooms like the kitchen or family room, or seeking to enhance the overall value of your home, knowing where to start is crucial.

The last thing you want in the middle of your home renovation process is to uncover some major roadblocks. Bumping up against your budget ceiling way earlier than expected or finding some structural problems that need immediate attention can derail your entire project.

Remodeling a house is an exciting experience that requires careful planning and execution. By following the steps outlined in this comprehensive guide, you can navigate the remodeling process with confidence and turn your house into a dream home.

Whole House Remodel At a Glance

With proper planning, a skilled team, and effective communication, you can successfully remodel your house, creating a space that truly reflects your style and meets your needs.

Start by defining your goals and setting a realistic budget. Conduct thorough research to gather inspiration and hire a professional remodeling contractor like Gibin to bring your vision to life.
Collaborate closely with your contractor to plan the design and layout, obtain necessary permits and approvals, and oversee the demolition and construction phases.
Throughout the process, monitor the progress and maintain open communication with your contractor.

Let’s dive into the details of where to start when remodeling a house.

1. Define Your Goals and Prioritize

To begin your remodeling journey, it’s important to define your goals and prioritize them. Determine what you want to achieve with your home renovation—whether it’s to create more functional spaces, enhance the aesthetics, improve energy efficiency, or increase the resale value. Prioritizing your goals will help you make informed decisions throughout the process and allocate and spend your resources accordingly.

A professional remodeler can help you make these decisions if you are stuck. At Gibin Remodeling, we support our clients with expert recommendations for their homes, from improving organization with built-in cabinetry to creating a showstopping custom staircase.

Many people want to ensure they are adding value to their homes with their renovation projects and use that information to help them decide what is the most important. Here are the most valuable home improvements:

Kitchen remodel
Window replacement
Bathroom improvements
Replace HVAC
Improved accessibility
Light fixtures

Gibin Remodeling Pro Tip: Take Notes

While you are in the early stages of deciding on your home remodeling priorities, keep notes of ideas you have or problems you encounter in your home.

Want to put your coffee maker out of sight but still close at hand? A custom built-in cabinet can help. Nowhere to plug in your devices where you need them? Custom drawers with built-in outlets will save the day. Bringing specific problems to your contractor can help them develop a remodeling plan to solve them.

2. Set a Realistic Budget

Establishing a realistic budget is a critical step to ensure that your remodeling project stays on track financially. Consider the scope of work, materials, labor costs, and any additional expenses that may arise.

It’s also advisable to set aside a contingency fund to account for unexpected surprises or necessary changes during the renovation.

Gathering cost estimates can provide you with a better understanding of the financial aspects involved. Gibin Remodeling offers free no-obligation quotes for your remodeling projects. Getting this important information can help you plan your remodeling project and feel more confident in your plan.

Gibin Remodeling Pro Tip: An Efficient Contractor Can Save You Money

Experienced, knowledgeable contractors do more than produce high-quality results—they can save you money in the long-run. By using better methods, materials, and techniques, your home renovation will last longer and need less maintenance. A contractor who knows Los Angeles building codes, permitting, and laws will do it right the first time, which means you don’t have to worry about any fees or fines that pop up later.

3. Research and Gather Inspiration

Before diving into the remodeling process, it’s essential to conduct thorough research and gather inspiration.

If you aren’t sure exactly what style fits you and what you envision, take our Design Style Quiz! This is a fun and easy way to gain clarity on your home’s aesthetic, as well as the design vocabulary you can use to describe it.

Don’t know how to explain what you want? Go visual. Explore home renovation magazines, websites, and social media platforms to find design ideas, layouts, and materials that resonate with your vision. Create a digital or physical inspiration board to organize your thoughts and preferences. This research phase will help you communicate your ideas effectively to your remodeling team.

The Gibin Remodeling blog has invaluable resources about everything from transitional design style to choosing custom flooring for your home.

We also offer a seamless way to share photos of your space and your inspiration with us on our contact page.

4. Hire a Professional Home Renovation Contractor

Working with a professional home improvement contractor is crucial for a successful remodeling project. A skilled contractor brings expertise, experience, and industry connections to the table. They can guide you through the entire process—from design and planning to execution and completion.

How do you know if a contractor is a good choice for your home renovation?

Ensure that you choose a licensed, insured, and reputable contractor.
They should offer design support and value communication to understand your goals, aesthetic, and preferences.
They should offer a free project quote without any obligation to commit.
Look at a gallery of their remodeling work to see their final products.

5. Plan the Design and Layout

You should collaborate closely with an interior designer or your remodeling contractor to plan the design and layout of your remodeled spaces. A good remodeling contractor will take into account factors such as functionality, flow, storage, lighting, and aesthetics.

Make sure you are comfortable working together with your contractor and communicating how your home can support your lifestyle. Together, you can create a detailed floor plan that optimizes your available space and select materials, fixtures, and finishes that align with your budget and desired style.

6. Obtain Permits and Approvals

Depending on the scope of your remodeling project, you may need to obtain permits and approvals from local authorities. Your remodeling contractor should be well versed in the necessary permits and regulations specific to Los Angeles since failing to obtain proper permits can result in delays and additional costs.

Have questions about the permits and approvals your home renovation project might need? Contact the experts at Gibin Remodeling to answer your questions.

7. Demolition and Construction

Once your plans, permits, and materials are in order, the actual remodeling work begins. If required, the initial phase house renovation may involve demolition, where existing structures and fixtures are removed.

Some contractors may require you to communicate with the other subcontractors working on your home or keep you out of the loop about the timeline. At Gibin Remodeling, we take the lead on your project, including coordinating with subcontractors, managing the construction timeline, and overseeing the work to ensure it meets industry standards and your expectations. We believe it is crucial to maintain open communication with you throughout this phase so that you know your project is moving ahead.

Gibin Remodeling Pro Tip: Check The Basics Before Your House Renovation

To ensure a smooth home renovation process, first make sure that your house’s structure is reliable.

Foundation

Obviously, if your home’s foundation has major stability issues this should be your highest priority. You don’t want to tear up newly renovated rooms to fix this later.

Plumbing

Fixing plumbing problems can be an expensive and messy project. Make sure your kitchen and bathroom have reliable plumbing before you start remodeling.

Electrical

Your home’s electrical wiring should be updated and safe before you begin any home renovations.

8. Monitor Progress and Communicate

Regularly monitoring the progress of your remodeling project is essential. Effective collaboration and timely communication will contribute to the success of your home remodel.

Transparency, honesty, and thoughtfulness are important characteristics in a contractor during a home renovation project. If problems come up, choices need to be made, or the timeline changes, you need to know about it sooner rather than later.

Why Gibin Remodeling?

At Gibin Remodeling, we are dedicated to transforming houses into homes that reflect the unique personality and lifestyle of each homeowner. We understand that your home is where cherished memories are made, where you gather with loved ones, and where you find comfort and joy. That’s why we believe in handcrafting your house to feel like your home, with every detail inspired by how you live.

Big Projects or Smaller Projects, We Do Them All

As a comprehensive remodeling service provider, we take pride in offering a wide range of services to cater to all your remodeling needs. Whether you’re looking to tackle a large-scale whole house remodel or focusing on smaller projects like updating your kitchen cabinets or renovating your bathroom fixtures, our professional team is up for the task. From demolition to the meticulous craftsmanship of bespoke cabinets, we ensure that every step of your remodeling project is executed with precision and care.

Handcrafted Quality on Every Job

What sets us apart at Gibin Remodeling is our unmatched handcrafted quality. We bring a unique skill set to our work, drawing on our Brazilian carpentry expertise to deliver results that are truly one-of-a-kind. Our team combines traditional craftsmanship with modern design principles to create spaces that are both functional and visually stunning. We take pride in our attention to detail, ensuring that every element of your next home renovation project is meticulously crafted to perfection.

Renovation Process Support

In addition to our superior craftsmanship, we also offer design inspiration and support to help you bring your vision to life. With decades of experience in the home improvement industry, we have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and expertise. We understand that transforming your home is not just about the physical changes but also about creating a space that reflects your style and meets your unique needs. Our team is here to listen to your ideas, offer design advice, and provide inspiration to help you make informed decisions throughout the remodeling process.

Our Process

So, how do you decide before we help create your dream home? Our process is simple and streamlined:

Step 1: Call Us for a Free Quote

Getting started on your remodeling project is easy. Simply reach out to us via phone or fill out our online form to request a free quote. We believe in transparency and want you to have a clear understanding of the costs involved without any commitment on your part.

Step 2: Ask Us Anything

We understand that home remodeling can be overwhelming, and you may have questions or concerns.

Our knowledgeable team is here to address any inquiries you may have. Feel free to discuss your ideas, preferences, and any specific requirements you have in mind. We’re here to provide guidance and ensure that you have all the information you need to make informed decisions.

Step 3: Create Your Dream Home

Once we have a clear understanding of your vision and goals, our team gets to work creating your personalized renovation process plan. Whether it’s designing a modern staircase, a whole kitchen remodel, or transforming your entire home, we bring our expertise and craftsmanship to every detail.

We work diligently to ensure that the final result exceeds your expectations and truly reflects your style and personality.

Remodeling a House: Conclusion

Get started on your remodeling journey today and transform your house into the home of your dreams with Gibin Remodeling.

At Gibin Remodeling, we are passionate about delivering exceptional results and creating spaces that inspire and delight. We believe that your home should be a reflection of your lifestyle and aspirations. With our comprehensive remodeling services, unmatched handcrafted quality, and design support, we are committed to turning your house into a place you truly love and cherish.