Remodel Project Scope

The first step in any good project planning is to define the scope of the work.  The scope of work in general will give you some idea  of the order of magnitude your remodeling ambitions have earmarked.  Understanding the order of magnitude and scope of the work is your barometer for everything else that matters to you as a homeowner - time and cost of your remodel.

When it comes to measuring scope for remodeling your home, here are a couple of key considerations to get you started:

1. what are the drivers behind why you want to remodel?
   • thinking of starting a family? (or adding onto your existing one?)
   • outdated interior finishes and fixtures? (green shag carpet, popcorn ceiling?)
   • existing problems with the infrastructure? (water pressure in the shower and other fixtures slowing to a trickle?)

   Clearly define what your objectives are.  To achieve these objectives there may be more than a couple of ways (some more cost effective than others) to obtain your goals.

2. how long do you plan on staying in your current home?

Like any other investment decision, you need to have some idea of how long you’ll be able to utilize and enjoy what you’ll be putting in.  If your intention is to sell your  house rather than live in it for the next 5-10 years, you might opt for more solutions that provide the most value and not necessarily be your personal ideal.

3. are you planning on remodeling a portion or your entire house?

In general, the larger the area you touch, the larger in scope your project becomes.  Cost estimations done a the high level are usually done with square footage in mind with a rough dollar per sq ft. multiplier.

These can’t possibly be all the things that need to be considered in defining scope right? RIGHT!

So why start with these questions?  The reason why this list is so short is because it basically comes down to whether or not you cross what I call “The Big Line”.  Knowing whether or not you’ve crossed the big line will generally determine if your project is a major or minor remodel.  For discussion sake, my point of reference here in the SF Bay Area is $50K+ for a major remodel and anything under that a minor remodel.

The Big Line

The Big Line to be crossed in home remodeling is whether or not you’ll perform structural modifications to your home.  What are structural modifications?  Any time you remove, move or add walls or floors in your existing home you’re basically performing structural modifications.  Why are we interested in whether or not we’re performing structural modification?  It’s simple - structural modifications require much higher costs.

It’s JUST a wall isn’t it?  To you it’s a wall, to your home it’s part of its skeleton.  The wall you’re eyeing in complete disregard may be a load bearing wall.  Removing or even partially removing a load bearing wall could mean the roof falling over your head.  Expensive structural engineers make sure that your remodeling plans don’t let that happen.  Even adding walls are expensive.  Adding a new wall minimally means you have to integrate the wall into the existing skeleton of your home - the framing, with that comes all the other goodies that are hidden from sight behind your walls - plumbing, electrical, drywall, trim work, and wall covering or painting.  Not to mention that there are also non-tangible considerations that cost time and money imposed by local bureaucracy when messing around with walls - the building department and building codes.

If the scope of your project crosses the Big Line, there is a much higher chance your remodel would be considered major.  Why?  The reason being is because there is a high sunk cost that structural modifications would eat up of your budget before you devote the rest of your money to all the goodies in what you’d like to do in the finishes.