Home Renovation Process
Remodeling your existing home is a lot of work. There are many decisions to make, many factors to consider. Here is a fairly high-level view of what is involved.
There are at least four participants in the home renovation process:
- Owner—That's you!
- Architect—The person or firm designing your home and producing the required drawings and documents. Typically the architect would arrange for any needed engineering or speciality design services.
- Builder—The person or firm acting as general contractor for your home. Your builder manages the many tradespeople and craftsmen who construct your home.
- Municipality—The city, township, village, or county government with jurisdiction over building codes and the zoning ordinance for your home site.
The Process Steps table below summarizes the key steps in the home renovation process and shows how each participant is involved. One participant is the leader for each step and others may participate. It is important that all the participants agree up front on who is involved and how. Everyone needs to know who the leader is each step of the way and participants have to stay involved or schedule or quality could slip.
Participants | |
---|---|
Own | Owner |
Arch | Architect |
Bldr | Builder |
Mun | Municipality |
Code | Involvement |
---|---|
L | Leads the process step |
P | Participates in the process step |
Legend:
Process Steps | Participants | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Own | Arch | Bldr | Mun | |
Own | Arch | Bldr | Mun | |
Process Steps | Participants | |||
CONCEIVE—Create the vision |
||||
Take the Leap Move from dreaming about renovating your home to getting started |
L | |||
FOCUS—Refine the vision |
||||
Seek Help Hire an architect (and here's why) |
L | |||
Take a Look Around Evaluate the existing layout and structure of your home |
L | L | ||
Capture the Dream What is important to keep and what is important to change in your home? |
P | L | ||
Check the Books Verify that your ideas comply with the zoning ordinance and building codes |
L | P | ||
Set Some Limits Examine the budget and schedule for your home renovation |
P | L | ||
Write it Down Document the existing conditions |
L | |||
DESIGN—Give shape to the vision |
||||
Design Process | ||||
Make a Plan Create the new floorplan and exterior views of your home |
P | L | ||
Get the Whole Picture Create the modified site plan for your home and yard |
P | L | ||
Notice the Details Move from the big picture of your home to basic elements and detail |
P | L | ||
Construction Documents | ||||
Draw it Out Make a complete set of drawings and specifications for your home renovation |
L | |||
Meet the Team Multiple disciplines round out your home renovation project |
L | |||
BUILD—Realize the vision |
||||
Bidding/Pricing | ||||
Price Check Bid your home project to builders and contactors |
P | L | P | |
Award the Job Award your home project and sign the contract |
P | L | P | |
Construction | ||||
Get Permission Obtain permits for your home renovation project |
P | P | L | P |
Build It Your renovation is real now |
P | P | L | P |
Make House Calls Monitor your home renovation project |
L | P | P | |
OCCUPY—Live the vision |
||||
Time to Move Moving in your newly remodeled home |
L | |||
Check the Warranty Follow up on your home warranty |
P | L | P |