Skip to content

Top Navigation

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Gardening
  • Home Improvement Ideas
  • Cleaning and Organizing
  • Recipes and Cooking
  • Decorating
  • Holidays
  • Rooms
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Subscribe
Pin

Explore Better Homes & Gardens

Better Homes & Gardens
Better Homes & Gardens
  • Explore

    Explore

    • The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      The Only Weed Identification Guide You'll Ever Need: 33 Common Weedy Plants to Watch For

      Don't let these pesky plants crash your garden party! The first step is to know your enemy. Then you'll know the best way to deal with your weed problem. Read More
    • 6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      6 Small Steps You Can Take Today to Get Organized for Good

      A professional organizer offers advice on how to tidy up your home without feeling overwhelmed. Read More
    • 5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      5 Anti-Inflammatory Ingredients to Add to Your Smoothie for a Healthy Boost

      Anti-inflammatory smoothies do exist! Instead of blending in boatloads of sugar and artificial ingredients, try these smoothies for inflammation that are stoked with ingredients that may help lower your risk for chronic diseases including cancer, heart disease, depression, and more. Read More
  • Gardening

    Gardening

    See All Gardening
    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    4 DIY Seed-Starting Pots You Can Make With Items You Already Have

    Upcycle old newspapers, junk mail, and other waste paper to make these easy, eco-friendly containers you can use to sprout new plants for your garden.
    • Flowers
    • Houseplants
    • Plant Encyclopedia
    • Garden Pests
    • Trees, Shrubs & Vines
    • Caring for Your Yard
    • Edible Gardening
    • Garden Design
    • Gardening By Region
    • Landscaping
  • Home Improvement Ideas

    Home Improvement Ideas

    See All Home Improvement Ideas
    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    What Style Is Your House? The 10 Most Popular American House Styles

    In a world full of so many different house styles, it can be a little challenging just to narrow down your own home's architectural style, let alone edit the list down to your favorite style or understand the distinctions characteristic to each house style. We'll show you the 10 most popular American house styles, including Cape Cod, French Country, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Craftsman, Cottage, Mediterranean, ranch-style, and Contemporary.
    • Home Exteriors
    • DIY Home Electrical Tips & Guides
    • Outdoor Structures
    • Home Remodeling
    • Plumbing Installations & Repairs
    • Remodeling Advice & Planning
    • Flooring
    • Lighting
    • Decks
    • Porches
  • Cleaning and Organizing

    Cleaning and Organizing

    See All Cleaning and Organizing
    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    A Whole-House Cleaning Schedule You'll Actually Stick To

    Cleaning your home doesn't have to be a daunting, time-consuming chore. The key to managing household duties quickly and efficiently is to design an easy-to-follow routine that includes all the most important tasks. Follow these step-by-step instructions for creating a customized whole-home cleaning schedule.
    • House Cleaning
    • Laundry & Linens
    • Cleaning Tips
    • Closet Organization
    • Organization Tips
    • Kitchen Storage Organization
  • Recipes and Cooking

    Recipes and Cooking

    See All Recipes and Cooking
    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    21 Baking Essentials Every Home Cook Needs (Plus 16 Nice-to-Haves)

    Whether you're a beginning baker just starting out or a master chef looking to declutter, we'll help you set up a beginner's baking essentials kit with 21 tools. For anyone who already owns these handy baking tools, this list may finally provide the motivation you need to get rid of that soufflé dish you never use. Building your baking equipment inventory starts here.
    • How to Cook
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Fish Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes
    • Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
    • Lunch
    • Dinner Recipes & Meal Ideas
    • Ethnic Food
  • Decorating

    Decorating

    See All Decorating
    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    7 Interior Design Trends Everyone Will Be Trying in 2021, According to Experts

    Designers weigh in on the most popular decorating styles, colors, and materials you can look forward to in the coming year.
    • Choosing Color
    • Expert Decorating Advice
    • Fireplace Design Ideas
    • Do It Yourself Magazine
    • Window Treatments
    • Styles & Decor
    • Interior Painting
    • Home Makeovers
    • Small-Space Decorating
    • Traditional Home
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    International Women's Day: The Powerful Story Behind This 111-Year-Old Tradition

    What began as a small movement, has grown into a global holiday dedicated to celebrating the strong women in our communities.
    • Valentine's Day
    • Mother's Day
    • Easter
    • Father's Day
    • Fourth of July/Memorial Day
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year's
    • Juneteenth
    • Hanukkah
  • Rooms

    Rooms

    See All Rooms
    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Living Room Furniture Layout Ideas

    Get tips for arranging living room furniture in a way that creates a comfortable and welcoming environment and makes the most of your space.
    • Bedroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Bathroom Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Kitchen Decorating and Design Ideas
    • Living Room Decorating and Design
    • Dining Room
    • Home Office
    • Kid's Rooms
    • Baby Nursery
  • Shopping

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
My Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Newsletter
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • BH&G Books this link opens in a new tab
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. BHG.com
  2. Home Improvement Ideas
  3. Remodeling Advice & Planning
  4. The Best Tips for a Successful Remodeling Project

The Best Tips for a Successful Remodeling Project

Sheryl-Geerts headshot
By Sheryl Geerts Updated May 18, 2020
Skip gallery slides
Save Pin FB
gray home exterior patio with white trim and path
Credit: Edmund Barr
Any remodeling project can seem overwhelming, but it's guaranteed to go more smoothly if you know a couple of insider tricks. Here are 18 home renovation tips from remodeling professionals.
Start Slideshow

1 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Plan Ahead

Front of blue house with white accents
Credit: Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography LLC

Making product selections early can prevent delays later. Develop a plan that clearly defines the goal for your renovation. Your needs and wants for the project should be included in an outline of the work that needs to be completed. Proper planning can also help keep you on budget. "You'll end up making the same decisions, but you'll know what they're going to be and what they're going to cost ahead of time," explains Ridley Wills, founder of The Wills Company, a design-build firm in Nashville.

1 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Set a Home Renovation Budget

Mobile phone and pen on notebook by black coffee at shelf
Credit: Ann VanderWiel Wilde

Your home renovation budget should include the costs for building materials, labor, building permits, and decorative finishes. Start by determining the amount you want to spend and then finalize your financing. Remember to reserve at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs. Request cost estimates from multiple contractors. If your cost estimates exceed your budget, eliminate project elements that are a lower priority.

2 of 18

3 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Consider the Best Way to Finance Home Improvements

Two women discussing financial papers in an office
Credit: SDI Productions/Getty Images

A personal loan is one way to help fund your new renovation. First, choose a lender who will listen to your situation and do what's right for you and your family. Next, consider a fixed rate and flexible repayment terms, and set regular monthly payments to allow you to plan your finances. Discover Personal Loans make the process easy with no lengthy process or collateral required, plus they let you borrow up to $35,000 to fund a home repair or remodel project.

3 of 18

Advertisement

4 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Make a Home Renovation Timeline

organize this; to do list; planner
Credit: Peter Ardito

Begin planning by selecting a desired start date. You and your contractor will need to calculate the length of time needed for each portion of the project. Determine which part of the remodel needs to be completed first and which parts of the project can be completed concurrently. Make sure your renovation timeline allows time for shipping and delivery of materials as well as time for prepping the project area. The renovation completion date should be set with a few extra days in mind to address unexpected issues.

4 of 18

5 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Remember the Big Picture

kitchen with blue base cabinets and white shelves over sink
Credit: Dane Tashima

When taking on remodeling projects, it's important to remember the big picture. Long-term-maintenance, energy-loss, and repair expenses can add up quickly. Make sure you include them in your calculations when comparing prices. Remember to consider every element in your remodeling planning including your wall color, cabinet colors, flooring, and hardware, and how it all ties together.

5 of 18

6 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Find Good Help

white and red house with navy door
Credit: Chad R. Mellon

Hire contractors who have more than three years of experience, membership in the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), a good record with the Better Business Bureau, and positive customer references. Friends, relatives, coworkers, and neighbors who have completed similar remodeling projects are great resources, so ask them for their contractor recommendations. Contact your state's consumer protection agency, disciplinary boards, and local court records to make sure the recommended contractor doesn't have a history of disputes with clients or subcontractors. Most important, hire a remodeling contractor you trust.

6 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Visit a Job Site

gray home exterior patio with white trim and path
Credit: Edmund Barr

When evaluating a remodeling contractor, make sure you visit their current job sites. You'll gain extra insight into their professionalism. Observe how well the employees are working together and if you have a rapport with the renovation team to ensure you can personally work with the company. The best contractors maintain clean and organized work sites, take precautionary measures to ensure safety, and know how to keep a low profile in a neighborhood.

7 of 18

8 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Be a Good Boss

white home exterior with extended portico
Credit: Lauren Rubinstein

The most important thing you can do during a remodeling project, other than write checks, is to treat your remodeler well. "The perfect clients are easy to get along with, honest, and have an appreciation for what we do," says Anthony Wilder, founder of Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin John, Maryland. Make sure you're available to supervise the remodeling project. Nothing beats seeing and touching your ongoing renovation in real life or speaking to your contractor in person.

8 of 18

9 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Insist on a Detailed Contract

diy oak top desk office space
Credit: David Tsay

If you jump into a remodeling project with an ambiguous contract or no contract at all, you might as well hire an attorney and set a court date right away. "The contract needs the right address, a start date, a completion date, and a detail of what is and is not going to be done," says Rosie Romero, founder of Legacy Custom Builders in Scottsdale, Arizona and host of "Rosie on the House" radio show. You should understand the remodeling contract you'll be signing. The most common type of home remodeling contract is a fixed-price contract, which lists exactly how much a project will cost including all permits, building materials, and labor. This type of contract locks the costs into place, which prevents an unexpected increase in price at a later time.

9 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Know What You’re Getting Into

Living room with patterned rug and blue walls
Credit: Helen Norman

Sure, remodeling is exciting. But there's also a lot of frustration as you encounter unexpected snags, delays, and the inevitable inconveniences that come from living in a construction zone. You'll handle the lows better if you know they're coming. A reputable remodeler will condition your expectations before a project begins.

10 of 18

11 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Create a Temporary Kitchen

open kitchen storage
Credit: Brie Williams

Speaking of lows, it can't get much worse than living without a kitchen for weeks on end. Minimize inconvenience by setting up a temporary kitchen away from the construction area. Include a refrigerator and microwave oven, so you can continue to make light meals at home. The dining room, family room, or other adjacent area is likely the best candidate for this role.

11 of 18

12 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pack Away Your Valuables

white built-in bookshelves close-up
Credit: Helen Norman

"A remodeling project is going to affect every room in the house," says A. J. Paron-Wildes, general manager of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. "The homeowners need to take down pictures, move vases, and pack away valuables before work begins." While you're at it, take steps to protect your immovable fixtures, including built-in cabinets and chandeliers. Have flooring covered with cardboard sheets if it needs to stay in good condition.

12 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Communicate Effectively

white kitchen with dark blue and wood accents
Credit: Stacy Zarin Goldberg Photography LLC

Remodelers can do some amazing things, but they can't read minds. "Let the company supervisor or project lead person know if anything is unsatisfactory so they can deal with the issue," says Jeff Hurst, a Certified Remodeler (CR) and president of Hurst Total Home, Inc., in Kettering, Ohio. "The contractor may not be aware that something is not OK with the owner." Before you start a project, you and your contractor should exchange phone numbers for calling or texting as well as email addresses. Keep in mind that you're probably not the contractor's only client, so calls and emails might not be returned within minutes.

13 of 18

14 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Keep Resale in Mind

renovated neutral-colored living room with pink and blue accent pieces
Credit: Lisa Romerein

When it comes to remodeling, there's no shortage of great design advice. Kathie Maughan Francis, principal and founder of Maughan Design, Inc. in Portland, Oregon, says it's important to design with resale in mind if you're planning to stay in your home five years or fewer. "And if you're planning to stay more than seven years, design your room for yourself because the look will be considered dated by the time you put the home on the market," she says.

14 of 18

15 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pamper Yourself

corner shower with glass doors and blue accent tile
Credit: Emily Followill

Unless you're a fan of luxuriating in a bath on a regular basis, skip the whirlpool tub. A vertical spa can achieve close to a full-body massage with its vertically aligned water jets along your shower wall. If you have no time for a bath, think about updating your bathroom with something you'll use and notice every day, such as a luxury shower with dual heads. For cleanliness, convenience, and efficient water usage, choose an electronic faucet to make the most of its practical benefits.

15 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Trade a Built-In Desk for Cabinetry

woman at desk with computer
Credit: Edmund Barr

Often tucked into nooks in the kitchen, a planning desk functions as a message center for a busy family. It's a handy spot for handling messages, mail, and bills. "In a kitchen, people insist on putting planning desks in, but no one ever sits there and plans anything," says Michael Cordonnier of Remodeling Designs in Dayton, Ohio. Consider whether you'd benefit more from additional cabinets or a pantry before you put in a desk.

16 of 18

17 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Connect Spaces

open dining room
Credit: Edmund Barr Photography

Looking for a home renovation project with a big impact? Opening up walls and hallways is one way to get the most from your remodel and create more livable spaces. To make open floor plans work, each area of your home should carry one or more style elements over into the next room. Paint all adjoining walls and architectural details the same color so as not to disrupt the visual flow.

17 of 18

18 of 18

Save Pin FB
Tweet Email Send Text Message

Don't Share the Mudroom

white and tan mudroom with wooden crates and black boxes
Credit: Nathan Schroder Photography

Everyone wants a main-floor laundry room. For smaller homes, an organized laundry room-mudroom combo can be ideal. If it's squeezed into a tiny area near the garage, though, homeowners often are unhappy in the long run, says Bob Near of Lake Country Builders in Excelsior, Minnesota. He advises owners to create separate mudroom and laundry room areas, even if that means moving the laundry room to the basement.

18 of 18

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Sheryl Geerts

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 18 Plan Ahead
    2 of 18 Set a Home Renovation Budget
    3 of 18 Consider the Best Way to Finance Home Improvements
    4 of 18 Make a Home Renovation Timeline
    5 of 18 Remember the Big Picture
    6 of 18 Find Good Help
    7 of 18 Visit a Job Site
    8 of 18 Be a Good Boss
    9 of 18 Insist on a Detailed Contract
    10 of 18 Know What You’re Getting Into
    11 of 18 Create a Temporary Kitchen
    12 of 18 Pack Away Your Valuables
    13 of 18 Communicate Effectively
    14 of 18 Keep Resale in Mind
    15 of 18 Pamper Yourself
    16 of 18 Trade a Built-In Desk for Cabinetry
    17 of 18 Connect Spaces
    18 of 18 Don't Share the Mudroom

    Share & More

    Tweet Email Send Text Message
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Logo Products at Walmart
    • Better Homes & Gardens BHG Real Estate Real Estate Services
    Better Homes & Gardens

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Books from Better Homes & Gardens
    • Help
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithBH&G is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2022 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Better Homes & Gardens. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.bhg.com

    Sign in

    View image

    The Best Tips for a Successful Remodeling Project
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.