A whole house remodel can be an exciting project. It can increase your home’s value and, most importantly, improve its function, style, and comfort to match your current lifestyle. Diving into one, though, can cause some anxiety, especially about how much money you’ll need to invest. The scope and features of your remodel will determine the skills, labor, materials, and equipment needed for the job.

Remodeling an entire house is much different than remodeling a kitchen or bathroom alone. The cost to remodel various rooms depends greatly on their size, original condition, and what you want to accomplish with the remodel. The cost vs. value report put out each year by Remodeling Magazine is a great resource for learning what the average midrange and upscale costs are for different home improvement projects. Keep in mind, though, that there are good reasons to do the whole house at once, particularly when you consider labor costs.

The Cost of a Whole House Remodel in Fairfax County

There are so many variables that go in to a whole house remodel that it’s impossible to estimate exactly what it will cost. Each portion of the remodel comes with its own particulars: will you also be adding on? Will you need to remove the roof? The greater the amount of detail involved, the bigger your budget will be. Remember, too, that there might also be re-working of the plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems in the remodeled areas.

One of our favorite whole house renovation projects included a garage conversion, building a 2-story addition that included a luxury master suite, remodeling all the interior bathrooms,  transforming the master suite into a child’s bedroom, raising the roof, adding dormers, and re-designing the front entry!

How to Budget for a Whole House Remodel

Our step-by-step guide to the remodeling process covers all the bases for a whole house remodel: budget, scope, analysis, and design. The top factor in planning any remodeling budget, large or small, is knowing upfront how much you have to invest overall, as well as in each individual aspect of the project. We help you prioritize your current needs so that you don’t waste valuable time or resources on features you don’t really need, or want.

When you take the time to figure out what your remodeling priorities are, you can keep your choices within the budget you have in mind. Writing out a plan to help you through the process is a good place to start.

The Earlier the Better for Planning

Establishing a remodeling budget takes time – the sooner you begin, the better. So you don’t waste time getting your heart and mind set on something that won’t work financially, it helps to speak to a design build firm like Foley to get a good idea of what you can achieve for the budget you have in mind.

Scope of Work

It’s important to consider the nature of your remodel as it pertains to the costs involved. Will your remodel involve structural changes? They usually come at a higher cost. Look at the bigger picture when evaluating your own project’s cost. Yes, a more extensive remodel involves more total square footage, but a price per square foot model rarely gives an accurate estimate of a whole house remodel’s true costs.

Understanding what a whole house remodel will cost requires thinking about each aspect of the job: hard costs such as labor, materials, and fixtures, plus soft costs like fees and appliances, all affect your total cost.

Don’t Sacrifice Quality for Savings

The old saying of “You get what you pay for” is as true in remodeling as it is everywhere else. A total figure for a whole house remodel may initially come as a shock, but don’t react by choosing cheaper fixtures, materials, or finishes. The same goes for who you hire to do the work. Nothing is saved in the long-term if it means lower-quality work and craftmanship. Working with an experienced design build firm is always worth the investment if you wind up with the beautiful, built-to-last-a-lifetime home you’ve dreamed of.

This is where your early planning will pay off. The more homework you do before the design starts, the better you’ll be able to keep the costs of your remodel in line with your budget.

Learn More

At Foley, we know that budgeting for your Fairfax County whole house remodel can be overwhelming, but we’re here to guide you through the process. To learn more about how we can help you financially plan for the whole house remodel you have in mind, schedule a conversation with us today. We look forward to meeting you!