Project planning

3 tips to create an effective home renovation project plan for builders

Construction worker scrolling through iphone.

Are you taking on more home renovation projects? These renovations – no matter the size – can quickly escalate to overwhelming if you don’t have a complete and well-organized house renovation project plan.

Even the most seasoned builders might come to a house remodeling project and wonder where to start. It’s especially important to keep these projects organized because your clients might be living in the home you’re renovating.

You want to manage the project smoothly, your client wants an easy renovation and everyone needs a solid plan to get the job done. Following these tips can help you design an effective plan to keep the job on track and communicate best with your clients.

The importance of effective home renovation plans

Effective home renovation plans are essential for achieving a successful and satisfying outcome. They provide a structured approach, help manage resources and ensure that the project aligns with your vision and practical needs. Whether it’s a small home remodeling project or a major whole home makeover, investing time and effort in planning is a wise decision.

3 tips to create an effective home renovation project plan for builders

1. Set expectations with the homeowner

The first step in creating any buttoned-up house renovation project plan is to get clear expectations from your client upfront. In return, you’ll need to communicate your scope of work for completing the job.

Let’s say the remodeling job is a basic kitchen remodel or basement finish. Is your client interested in a sleek chef’s kitchen with ultramodern countertops, appliances and plenty of open space, or are they hankering for a farmhouse-style cooking space? Do they want a “man cave” with a bar, theater seating and floor-to-ceiling sports memorabilia, or more of a family-friendly space?

Nail down the look and feel they’re going for before starting any work. This will give you design ideas and dictate all decisions you make to move the project forward in a focused manner.

Be sure to take plenty of measurements of the entire space and carefully sketch out – or take photographs of – the structural changes you plan to make. With Buildertrend, you can take advantage of paper-free blueprints and speedy estimates with our Takeoff tool.

You can also save all of your photos and other documentation in the File Storage section of the program and link it back to the project. That way, everything to the job is saved in one, easy-to-access place.

From there, it’ll be even simpler to communicate with your clients right from the platform, or by using our home renovation project management app.

2. Create and communicate the scope of work to your clients and subs

You can keep your clients up to date in Buildertrend with the Customer Portal and deliver the best customer service on the market. Give them their own unique login, which allows them to track progress on the renovation and send messages directly through Buildertrend. Your clients will have clear expectations about their renovation project plan, and you’ll build trust with them for an experience that beats out the competition.

Once you and your clients feel ready to dive into the home renovation, it’s time to bring on the subs. Within Buildertrend, you can create proposals for each of your subcontractors and get them access to the project details they need.

You can even invite your subs to use Buildertrend for one seamless experience. Organize the work and optimize your own project plan, all while giving your subs the tools they need to succeed.

3. Use home renovation project management software

When it comes to renovation projects, no matter the size, there’s no such thing as too much communication.

The scope of work for completing the job significantly decreases when all that back-and-forth comes together in one system. That’s where Buildertrend comes in. High-level communications and project details can be organized in this singular construction software platform. It will ensure that you’re always on top of communication and help you avoid any scheduling loopholes.

Say goodbye to costly work errors, timely manual blueprints and disappointing miscommunications –  and say hello to better delivered home renovation projects!

Ready to get started with Buildertrend?

Are you ready to start using the top home renovation project management platform in the industry, trusted by nearly 1 million home builders and remodelers across the globe? Schedule a demo today to get started. 

Home renovation plan FAQs

Get answers to the most common questions about home renovation plans.

A renovation plan should include the home improvement project objectives, renovation cost estimates, timeline, design details, material selections, permits and regulatory considerations, general contractor information and any special instructions or requirements.

Unforeseen issues are common in the renovation process even with years of experience. With proper planning, however, house remodel challenges can be mitigated efficiently. Using templates and software can help you to mitigate these risks and create your client’s dream home. It’s also important to have a contingency plan in place for unexpected costs and timeline adjustments.

Yes, you can use a home remodel plan template as a starting point for renovating different types of rooms within a house. The basic principles of planning a renovation project, such as interior design, project scope and renovation budgets, apply across various rooms. Here are some specific types of rooms commonly considered for renovation:

  1. Kitchen
  2. Bathroom
  3. Bedroom
  4. Living room
  5. Dining room
  6. Basement
  7. Outdoor space

About The Author

Kamrin Baker

Kamrin Baker Kamrin Baker is a freelance copywriter for Buildertrend.

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