{"id":21175,"date":"2021-01-29T12:15:10","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T20:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=21175"},"modified":"2026-03-30T08:07:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T15:07:28","slug":"planning-your-perfect-home-renovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/planning-your-perfect-home-renovation\/","title":{"rendered":"Ready, Set, Remodel: 8 Tips for Planning Your Perfect Home Renovation"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maybe you want a spanking new kitchen<\/a>, complete with an island and a walk-in pantry. Or perhaps you\u2019re dreaming of retreating to a spa-like bathroom<\/a> every night.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning your perfect home renovation, you\u2019re not alone. According to a LightStream survey, 77% of homeowners plan to renovate their homes in 2020<\/a>. And their budgets are at a record high: On average, homeowners spent $11,473 on renovations, up 27% from 2019.<\/p>\n

With top contractors and materials in high demand, you\u2019ll need to plan your home renovation well in advance to finish your project on time and within budget. We\u2019ll help you stay organized with these nine key steps for planning the perfect remodel.<\/p>\n

For added expertise, our list includes expert tips from top real estate agent Martin Bouma<\/a>, who sells properties 69% faster than the average agent in Ann Arbor, MI. Bouma shares advice from his 36 years of helping sellers prepare their homes for the market. He filled us in on how to plan your renovation, so it adds value<\/a> and marketability to your home at resale. Ready, set, renovate!<\/p>\n

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<\/a> Source: (Jeanne Rouillard \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Time your renovation wisely to save money<\/h2>\n

Timing your renovation is everything \u2014 at least when it comes to getting the best deal. In HomeLight\u2019s recent Top Agent Insights Report, 91% of top real estate agents agree that contractors\u2019 peak seasons are the spring and summer<\/a>. With this in mind, two-thirds of agents say that materials and labor for home renovation projects are the least expensive from October through March. If you can hold off planning your renovation for these months, you could save hundreds to thousands of dollars.<\/p>\n

2. Research average project costs and create a budget<\/h2>\n

Before you get carried away planning fixtures and finishes, you need to know the going rate for your renovation project so you can budget accordingly. Hint: It\u2019s almost always more than you think.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of people think carpeting is only going to be $1,000 or $2,000, but it ends up being $7,000 to $9,000, depending on the size of the house,\u201d Bouma comments.<\/p>\n

Research average project costs on websites like HomeAdvisor<\/a>, Angie\u2019s List<\/a>, and Thumbtack<\/a>. Once you have a rough idea of how far your budget will stretch, reach out to local contractors for a more realistic estimate. Take note of the project area\u2019s dimensions before calling to get the most accurate estimate possible.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the average cost of common home renovations:<\/p>\n