Whole home remodels can make your home safer, more functional, more aesthetically pleasing and better suited to your lifestyle. Necessary improvements like updating electrical and plumbing and purely aesthetic improvements like replacing countertops or tiling are both common in whole home remodels. However, most improvements made during a whole home remodel involve a bit of both. For example, replacing the flooring in your living room can improve the appearance of that space while boosting its energy efficiency. But are whole home remodels worth it from a financial perspective? The short answer is yes. From major kitchen remodels to home office conversions, whole home remodels typically feature some of the highest ROI projects. These include everything from finishing a basement or creating an attic bedroom to replacing windows or updating appliances. Interestingly, the home improvements with the best return on investment also happen to be those with the highest homeowner “Joy Scores.” Brenda Richardson explains in her article “Home Remodeling Projects That Pay Back The Most In Happiness” for Forbes. Home improvements with the highest homeowner satisfaction or “Joy Scores” are complete kitchen renovations, window replacements and whole home interior paint jobs. Because sweat equity can increase satisfaction with home improvement projects, homeowners might be tempted to DIY their whole home remodel. However, whole home remodels usually involve complex procedures like updating electrical wiring, replacing plumbing or integrating smart home technologies. As such, savvy homeowners should seek the help of a local design-build firm that specializes in whole home remodels. Follow below to learn more about what happens in a whole home remodel. We will also explain why working with a design build firm offers the best value.
As can be seen in many of our whole home remodeling projects, today’s homeowners tend to prefer hardwood and tile over carpeting. This is especially true in high traffic areas like the living room, entryways, kitchens and mudrooms. It is less common in private spaces like the guest and master bedrooms where carpeting might be preferred. For example, we replaced the outdated living room flooring in our client's 1965 Marysville, WA rambler with Cortec’s Manila Oak luxury vinyl plank (LVP) . These floors can be found throughout the entire house. Of course, flooring undergoes a lot of wear and tear. During a whole home remodel, many homeowners choose to update flooring throughout the house. They do so when the existing flooring is damaged, outdated or inappropriate for their lifestyle. In our recent post, we noted that swapping out carpet for hardwood can also help seniors age in place. This is because LVP and hardwoods are better for wheelchair and walker users. As a Certified Aging-In-Place Specialist (CAPS), our co-owner Jennifer helps seniors make the best design choices during their whole home remodels.
Not only does replacing flooring improve homeowner satisfaction with their spaces, but it also has a high ROI compared to other remodeling projects. Homeowners who switch to hardwood can expect as much as 80% of their investment back if they ever sell. In fact, a majority of prospective home buyers reported willingness to pay extra for homes with hardwood floors, according to a 2019 NAR survey.
Interior designer Susanne Burns has worked with VanderBeken Remodel on many of our whole home remodels. When asked about her favorite part of being an interior designer, Burns points to the joy of guiding homeowners through the process. According to Burns, being an interior designer means “interpreting [homeowners’] reactions and translating that into a space that will fit [their] needs.” Burns helps homeowners make dozens of design choices, from the color of their walls to the style of their furniture.
Homeowners who work with a design-build firm on their whole home remodel need not hire these tradesmen on their own. Rather, the design-build firm’s project manager will assign a carefully vetted electrician and/or plumber. At VanderBeken Remodel, our project manager Jason has been in the construction industry for over two decades. As a twenty-year Marine Corps Veteran, service is in Jason’s blood. Every project Jason manages centers around clear communication so that the design and the production result in an excellent customer experience. This is just an example of our core values in action. At VanderBeken Remodel our Core Values motivate us to Thrive Together – We work towards a common goal, enthusiastically, encouragingly, patiently. We collaborate and celebrate the challenges and the victories. Discover What Delights – We push ourselves to be our best, we focus on solutions, and we arrive every day ready to work hard and discover what delights. Be Accountable – We do what we say we are going to do. If something happens to prevent that, we determine the new course and communicate quickly. Create Positive Customer Experiences – We are proactive, enthusiastic and creative problem-solvers. We specialize in building beautiful spaces for fantastic people!
Those desiring to age in place – or homeowners in multigenerational households – might also choose to alter their house’s layout. This could involve widening hallways, eliminating sunken spaces and levelling steps. A licensed structural engineer may be needed for these stages of a whole home remodel Another benefit of working with the design-build at VanderBeken Remodel: we have licensed structural engineers on our team as well! Learn more about the costs and considerations on our Aging in Place Remodeling Services page.
As such, whole home remodels often include room conversions. Under guidance of a design-build firm, homeowners might choose to convert their dining room into a home office. They might consider adding a bedroom to their attic or transforming the awkward space off their kitchen into a breakfast nook. Design-build firms can help homeowners determine which space is best suited to which function.
We might also transform an unfinished basement into a fully functional bedroom or overhaul the bathroom attached to your primary bedroom. Because renovating major spaces requires both incredible vision and exceptional project management, hiring a design-build firm is often the easiest way to go.
Homeowners often choose to alter the exterior of an older house during their whole home remodel to create cohesion. Working with a design-build firm throughout the whole home remodel process ensures a unified design scheme that expresses each homeowner's unique style.
Homeowners often have a vision of what their home could be. However, few know where to start and even fewer know the ins and outs of architectural and interior design. With a talented team of architects, designers and project managers, VanderBeken Remodel guides homeowners through every stage of their whole home remodel. From consultation to completion, our team’s expertise ensures your project stays on track while achieving every single one of your goals. Learn more about our remodel process for whole home remodels.
Due to the unique requirements of your home remodel, costs can vary dramatically. Rest assured our remodeling process includes engineering and design, after which, you will be provided with a fixed investment price for your custom home addition.
Download our free Snohomish County Home Remodeling Cost Guide to learn more about the costs and considerations of remodeling a:
We get it, you are busy, and honestly we are too. Schedule a time for an introductory call and one of our team members will give you a call at a time that works best for your schedule. Typically the call will last 15-20 minutes. During this call we will try and answer your questions as well as gather information about your unique project, such as the location of your home, the length of time in your home and the aspects of your space(s) that are not working for you.