Your Whole-Home Renovation Checklist
Take a walk around your Pittsburgh home. Do you wish you could make significant changes in nearly every room? Tackle inefficient layouts, outdated finishes, and minor annoyances all at once with a whole-home renovation. Using our unique, sophisticated approach, Marvista Design + Build can transform your home into a living space designed just for you.
Before you launch your project, you must make sure everything is in order. Follow this whole-home renovation checklist to ensure you haven’t skipped any crucial steps.
Be sure to call Marvista at (412) 652-9027 or contact us online when you’re ready to get your remodeling project started.
Plan Your Renovation Project
Six to 12 months before the renovation begins, develop a plan that clearly outlines your goals. Are you attempting to increase home value before you sell? Do you hope to accommodate your growing family? Is the renovation geared toward aging in place? No matter your goals, the plan should include:
- A list of needs and wants
- Inspiration boards (real or virtual) with photos of designs you like
- Project steps categorized as either DIY-able or best left to a professional
Investigate local zoning and permitting requirements as well. Make sure the design you want is allowed in your neighborhood. Don’t worry about applying for permits yet — the design-build team you hire will likely assume that responsibility.
Establish a Budget and Financing
Three to six months ahead of time, start considering how much you can afford to spend. You won’t have an accurate idea of costs until you hire a contractor, but now’s the time to arrange financing. You might pay with savings, take out a personal loan, open a home equity line of credit, or refinance your mortgage.
Have Your Home Inspected
Three to six months in advance, hire a home inspector to assess the foundation, roof, siding, windows, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC system to ensure they’re in good condition. You don’t want to discover an underlying problem halfway through the renovation. Consider that you’ll need to fund home repair costs separately or subtract them from the overall renovation budget.
Hire a Design-Build Firm
Two to three months out, it’s time to bring a contractor on board. For the most streamlined experience, consider hiring a design/build firm that can take your project from start to finish without the need to hire multiple companies. If you work with Marvista, you can expect:
- In-house designers
- Curated design approach
- Fully project-managed process
- Exceptional customer service
- Results you’ll love
Work Out a Timeline
Two to three months before the start date, you and the Marvista design team will determine how long the project should take to complete. Either choose a start date or work backward from your desired completion date. We’ll make sure the schedule includes time for the following:
- Material shipping and delivery
- Demolition and construction
- Cleanout and walkthrough
Prepare for the Whole-Home Renovation
About two months beforehand, determine whether you can continue living at home while the renovation is underway. If necessary, make temporary housing arrangements at a hotel or with a friend or family member. Remember to accommodate your children and pets as well. If you’ll be moving out, pack up and vacate the premises one to two weeks before the start date.
Renovate Your Whole Home in Pittsburgh, PA
Now that you understand how to plan a whole-home renovation, it’s time to get started! The design-build team at Marvista would be happy to help you complete the items on this checklist. We’re also prepared to answer any questions you have about the remodeling process itself. Check out our gallery to view some of our completed projects, or visit our local showroom in Pittsburgh, PA to see products in person.
Eager to get your whole-home renovation started? Call us today at (412) 652-9027 or contact us online to request an in-person or virtual design consultation.
