A Room-by-Room Guide for a Calmer Renovation
If you’re planning a renovation, a house remodel checklist can be the difference between a focused, predictable project and a stressful, chaotic one.
You might be searching for:
- “Renovating a house checklist”
- “Home renovation checklist”
- “Complete home remodel checklist”
- “Whole house remodel checklist”
This guide gives you a practical, step-by-step home remodel checklist you can actually use—room by room, phase by phase.
Start With a Whole-House Renovation Checklist
Before you think about individual rooms, you need a big-picture plan.
Use this high-level home renovation checklist to get oriented before any work starts:
- Define your goals (function, style, resale, aging in place)
- Set a realistic total budget and contingency (usually 10–20%)
- Decide whether you’ll live in the home during the remodel
- List all spaces you want to touch (kitchen, baths, bedrooms, exterior, etc.)
- Rank each space as “must-have now” or “can be phased later”
- Gather inspiration (photos, notes, must-haves and non-negotiables)
- Identify any known issues (leaks, electrical problems, structural concerns)
- Talk to a builder early to sanity-check scope and budget
This becomes your whole house renovation checklist—the master document you’ll refine as you go.
Pre-Construction: Planning & Design Checklist
Before construction begins, there’s a planning phase that sets the tone.
Follow this step-by-step home renovation checklist during planning and design:
- Measure and document each room’s current layout
- Create a rough floor plan (or have a designer/architect do it)
- Decide which walls move and which stay
- Confirm how many bathrooms, bedrooms, and “bonus” spaces you want long term
- Choose an overall design direction (modern, classic, transitional, etc.)
- Shortlist materials for floors, cabinets, counters, and tile
- Confirm appliance sizes and locations if you’re updating the kitchen
- Review local zoning and permitting requirements
- Get preliminary estimates for different scope options
- Adjust scope to align with your real budget
This phase shapes your house renovation checklist template—what’s in, what’s out, and what can wait.
Contractor & Bidding Checklist
Choosing the right team is as important as choosing your tile.
Use this remodeling checklist for contractors before you sign anything:
- Ask for recommendations from people you trust
- Verify license, insurance, and any required certifications
- Review past projects similar to your scope (not just highlight reels)
- Request references and actually call them
- Ask how they handle change orders and surprises
- Clarify who your day-to-day point of contact will be
- Confirm whether they provide a written schedule and update cadence
- Review a detailed scope of work (not just a one-line estimate)
- Check allowances for finishes (tile, fixtures, lighting, cabinets)
- Make sure payment terms are tied to milestones, not just dates
Once you’ve chosen a builder, integrate their process into your home remodeling checklist template so everyone’s expectations match.
Room-by-Room Home Renovation Checklist
After the big-picture planning, it’s time to think room by room.
Use this home renovation checklist room by room to be sure nothing falls through the cracks:
Kitchen Remodel Checklist
The kitchen is usually the most complex part of any home remodel list.
Review this renovation checklist for a typical kitchen project:
- Confirm layout changes (island, peninsulas, open/closed concept)
- Plan appliance locations and electrical requirements
- Decide on cabinet style, color, and storage features
- Choose countertops (material, edge profile, backsplash height)
- Select sink style and faucet type
- Plan task, ambient, and accent lighting
- Decide on flooring type and transition to adjacent rooms
- Choose backsplash tile and grout color
- Plan ventilation (hood type, ducting route)
- Confirm outlets, switches, and under-cabinet lighting locations
This becomes your mini home renovation checklist template specifically for the kitchen.
Bathroom Remodel Checklist
Bathrooms are small but detail-heavy, so you need a tight checklist.
Use this home renovation checklist for each bathroom you remodel:
- Decide tub vs. shower, or tub/shower combo
- Confirm shower size and layout (niche locations, bench, door style)
- Choose tile for floor, walls, and shower pan (if applicable)
- Select plumbing fixtures (shower system, sink faucet, tub filler)
- Decide on vanity size, style, and storage needs
- Choose countertop and sink configuration
- Plan lighting (vanity lights, recessed, possible night lighting)
- Confirm ventilation fan type and location
- Decide on heated floors (if desired)
- Plan towel bars, hooks, and storage niches
Repeat this renovation checklist for each bath so specs stay clear and consistent.
Living & Dining Areas Checklist
Common spaces need both function and flow.
Use this home remodel checklist to plan living and dining areas:
- Decide which walls, if any, should be opened or removed
- Plan traffic flow between seating, dining, and kitchen zones
- Confirm window locations and any new openings or enlargements
- Choose flooring type and any rugs or transitions
- Plan lighting (ceiling fixtures, cans, wall sconces)
- Decide where TVs and built-ins will go
- Plan outlet locations for lamps, media, and future needs
- Choose trim style and door profiles
- Decide on a wall color plan (accent walls vs. a single palette)
- Consider acoustic needs (especially for open floor plans)
Documenting this creates a clear home renovation list template for your social spaces.
Bedrooms & Storage Checklist
Bedrooms are simpler but still deserve intentional planning.
Go through this home renovation checklist for each bedroom and closet:
- Confirm closet type (reach-in, walk-in, custom systems)
- Decide on door style (swing, slider, barn, pocket)
- Choose flooring and baseboard style
- Plan lighting (overhead, bedside, dimmers)
- Confirm outlet locations and charging spots
- Consider sound insulation on walls shared with noisy areas
- Decide if you need built-ins (desks, shelving, window seats)
- Choose a paint palette and overall aesthetic
Apply the same structure to hallways, mudrooms, and utility spaces so your complete home renovation checklist truly covers the whole house.
Whole House Remodel Checklist: Systems & Structure
Beyond rooms, you need to think about the bones of the house.
Use this whole house remodel checklist to review systems and structure:
- Inspect foundation for cracks or movement
- Assess framing for past damage or questionable alterations
- Evaluate roof age and condition
- Check existing windows and exterior doors
- Review electrical panel capacity and wiring condition
- Assess plumbing supply and drain lines
- Evaluate HVAC system age, efficiency, and ductwork
- Consider insulation upgrades (walls, attic, floors)
- Plan any necessary structural beams or posts for layout changes
- Confirm local code requirements for all system upgrades
This part of your complete home renovation checklist protects you from hidden issues that could derail the project later.
Home Renovation Checklist: Permits, Logistics & Living Arrangements
Practical planning matters just as much as design.
Walk through this renovation checklist template for logistics:
- Confirm which parts of the project require permits
- Plan temporary kitchen or bath setups if you’re staying on site
- Decide which belongings need to be stored off-site
- Clarify project hours and noise expectations with your builder
- Inform neighbors about major construction dates
- Plan pet and child safety during construction
- Confirm dumpster placement and material delivery zones
- Discuss parking and access routes for trades
- Set up a weekly check-in rhythm with your contractor
- Keep a shared document or app for decisions and changes
Adding these items to your home remodel checklist keeps stress and surprises to a minimum.
Final Walkthrough & Close-Out Checklist
The last part of your complete home remodel checklist is about quality control.
Use this step-by-step list before making final payments and moving fully back in:
- Walk each room slowly and test every light, outlet, and switch
- Run all plumbing fixtures and check for leaks
- Open and close every door, cabinet, and drawer
- Inspect tile, paint, and trim for chips, cracks, or missed spots
- Confirm that all agreed-upon items from scope are completed
- Review appliance manuals and warranties
- Get documentation for permits, inspections, and final approvals
- Collect paint codes, grout types, and finish schedules for future touch-ups
- Verify that final cleaning has been completed
- Keep a folder (physical or digital) with all project documents
This final step makes your house remodel checklist genuinely complete—from first idea to finished home.
Turn Your Checklist Into a Real Plan
A house remodel checklist is more than a to-do list—it’s a tool to align vision, budget, and reality.
At Lungu Construction Group, we treat every project as a structured home renovation checklist in motion:
- We start with goals and budget
- Build a clear, phased renovation checklist
- Coordinate design, permits, and construction around that plan
- Communicate along the way so you always know what’s next
If you’re planning a whole house renovation checklist or just want a solid home remodel list for a few key spaces, we can help you turn bullet points into a buildable, calm project.
Thinking about remodeling your home?
Reach out to Lungu Construction Group, share your checklist and priorities, and we’ll help you turn your plan into a well-executed renovation.
