There are a lot of reasons families opt for whole house remodeling projects in Northern Virginia. Many people update and modernize their home to fit a new lifestyle and personal vision for how a home should look and feel. Other whole house remodeling projects begin because people simply need more space for a changing family or the current layout of the house doesn’t fit their needs. While some of these projects start as small renovations, such as a kitchen remodel, they often spill into other parts of the house and eventually become a whole-house remodeling project.
Remodeling a whole house in Northern Virginia is going to take time, but if properly planned and designed, the return can be a dream home you’ll enjoy for years to come.
Here are five tips for getting the most out of your whole house remodeling project:
1. Have a Vision
When planning your whole house remodeling project, you needn’t look far for inspiration. Design ideas can be found everywhere from inside your neighbor’s home to the internet (see our Blog for more). You may also want to browse through magazines or visit model homes and open houses. Take pictures, create mood boards and develop a list of 5-10 must-haves that should be integrated into your home remodeling plan. Your architect will want to review these materials with you to ensure your expectations are inline with your budget and timeline.
2. Size of Project
While the size of a home remodeling project can change, it’s beneficial to plan ahead and understand the impact it may have on your day-to-day. Knowing how much of the house will be redone allows your construction team to determine ways of minimizing disruption, like tackling a portion of the house at a time. If an addition is necessary, time will be needed to gather permits and comply with neighborhood covenants.
3. Layout, Style and Design
Design styles are very subjective and many people tend to get caught up in the trends. It’s important to involve everyone who cares about design in the planning process. Avoid picking a style that’s so trendy you’ll need to update again in three years. Fixtures and furniture should be chosen for aesthetic appeal as well as their ability to stand the test of time. There are endless styles to choose, from rustic and industrial to retro, contemporary and minimalist, to name a few. Exterior modifications and additions needs to be in harmony with an existing house style. In Northern Virginia, the most common houses tend to be colonial, craftsman, shingle style, ranch, bungalow, cape cod, modern and open plan. Your architect and interior consultant can guide you towards materials and finishes that reflect your preferred design direction.
4. Budget
This is undoubtedly the most important decision when it comes to a whole-house remodeling project. From the size and scale of the home, to the amount of demolition and rebuilding, to the customization and luxuries you may want to add–-all of these factors influence your bottom line. The decision to make during your planning process is how much are you willing to spend. If you set a budget and learn your intentions might be bigger than anticipated, you may want to put off part of the project until another time. A good practice for any project is planning a contingency of 10-20% of your budget to cover any unforeseen situations that may occur during the process.
5. Invest in Your Future
It can be difficult looking ahead to the future but to maximize your investment in a whole house remodeling project, it’s important to consider how you will utilize your home as you grow older. Will you need a first floor bedroom or an in-law/au pair suite; will you actually spend a lot of time in a game room; how may your home entertaining change over time. These are considerations that can help guide decision making during the design process with your architect.
Whatever your budget and whole house remodeling wish list may be, make sure decisions are made to last through the next 20-30 years and not just fit your family’s current needs.
Call us today at 703-255-9861 to discuss your whole house remodeling project!
