Understanding Home Updates
Be Well Informed for the Decisions that Matter
Remodel, rebuild, and renovate – these three terms are often used somewhat interchangeably but have very distinct differences. Understanding the basics of these three home update categories with definitive clarity will give you confidence as you begin conversations with designers, architects, and contractors. As one of Seattle’s top residential contractors, Model Remodel offers all three of these services – though of course, our specialty is in remodeling.
Remodeling
Get to Know the MRM Way
If you’re planning to remodel an existing house, this typically means that you’ll be taking on a more in depth project. Remodeling often encompasses redesigning and rebuilding the interior or exterior of your home with a refreshed aesthetic, but with more limited changes to the structure of the home. Design in a remodel can often take cues from the rest of the home or the original design to create a more cohesive experience.
Renovations
A Less Invasive Touch-Up
Renovating is often considered the least intrusive approach to home upgrades. If you’re renovating an existing house, the project scale may span from a singular room to the entire house, but it’s generally focused on restoring parts of the home as opposed to creating a new look or experience. Often the updates are minimal, and don’t change the functionality or aesthetic of the home. Homeowners opt for this approach as an effort to maintain the original design while making key upgrades that might improve the efficiency or function of the home.
Rebuilding or Building a New Home
A Clean Slate
When it comes to more extensive changes, you’re likely looking at a full tear down and rebuilding a new home in place or acquiring a plot of land and building new from scratch. Many clients opt to do this when there isn’t an economical way to achieve the home experience they desire via a home renovation or remodel.
What to Consider When You’re Ready for an Upgrade
Know Your Home and What it Needs
Whether you opt to renovate, remodel, or rebuild, there are a some key factors to consider when deciding on what approach to take. Taking the time to thoughtfully evaluate these aspects will go a long way in helping you identify the scope of the project and make the best decision for your unique situation. Model Remodel has a fine-tuned process for our projects that helps homeowners get the most out of a remodel.
Identifying Wants In Your Home vs Needs
It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of home improvement projects and if you aren’t careful, budgets and efforts can quickly get away from you! This is where a seasoned professional comes in to play to help keep your project in alignment with your expectations, budget, and schedule.
Before bringing on a professional, it is important to evaluate your wants versus your needs as an individual and/or family. Be thoughtful to consider how those needs will change in the years to come.
Perhaps you need more rooms or spaces for work or hobbies. Or, maybe you’re considering having children and want to integrate a space dedicated to creative play. Likewise, if you want a place for aging parents to live with you when the time comes, integrating an ADU might be of importance to you.
Then, of course, there are your wants – your wish list of things to bring your perfect home to life . Do you dream of having a wine bar in the basement or an oversized soaking tub in the master bath? They may be part of the dream home scenario, or there may be opportunity to incorporate some of these ideas into your current project scope.
Having a list of wants and needs for your designer or contractor will help keep a clear line of communication and expectation for the outcome of the project, no matter the size.
Evaluate the Condition of Your Existing Home
Taking the time to look at your current home and evaluating the condition of the landscape, structure, finishes, and aesthetics is a critical first step.
Is the home in really great condition, but needs a few small tweaks to make it more efficient for your lifestyle? Or perhaps your home is older, out of date, and requires extensive upgrades to the flow and functionality of the home.
Further, understanding the age of your home may help in reducing unforeseen surprises by identifying common building practices of that time that could impact the work. Toxic building materials, for example, were common practice for a long time. Homes built before the 1980s have the potential of lead paint, while homes from the 1960s may have asbestos in any existing floors or ceiling materials. Model Remodel always tests for and removes these materials before starting a project.
Taking this first step to evaluate your home will help you determine how extensive the changes you need to make are and identify potential ‘surprises’ along the way. Hiring an inspector might also be an option if you need a thorough and detailed investigation into the condition of your home.
Consider the Value of Your Home
Your home is an investment and should be thought of as such when making these decisions. If this is your forever home, investing in a larger remodeling project may not feel as daunting knowing the positive impact it will have on your daily life while the financial investment will be spread out over a multitude of years.
If your house is a shorter-term investment, consider speaking with a contractor or real estate expert to get insight on what types of renovations or home remodeling will add value so you can recoup your investment when it’s time to sell.
Renovate, Remodel, Rebuild: Pros, Cons, and How To Decide
Weighing Your Options as an Informed Homeowner
Now that we have the basics sorted, let’s dive deep into the pros and cons of each approach. When you’re working with an existing structure, whether you’re buying an existing home or doing work to your own house, the considerations are much different than if you are going into new home construction – but we’ve got you covered!
Pros and Cons of Renovating a Home
Does Your Layout Already Work?
Renovating a home is often the most cost-effective and time-efficient option compared to remodeling or building new. It typically involves minimal to moderate changes to your existing space, but does not impact the structural elements (think walls being replaced vs. removed).
Pros of Renovating
As the least invasive approach to upgrading your home, a renovation can still offer big benefits.
- Customizing the space to meet your family’s needs
- Improving the functionality of rooms
- Creating an improved and more cohesive aesthetic throughout your home
- Adding modern comforts and design elements
The biggest advantage of a renovation is the ability to retain the character of your home while tailoring the home to your needs and lifestyle and adding value to the property. For example, a historic kitchen may be lovely, but functionally doesn’t support your cooking or hosting workflow.
A skilled contractor can retain the details, intent and aesthetic character of a space while providing an upgraded layout that works more efficiently or increases storage space. The end result is all based on your personal goals.
Cons of Renovating
With so many benefits, it can be an easy choice, but understanding the risks
- Unexpected conditions can add unexpected costs
- Living in a construction zone isn’t for everyone
- Existing conditions and code compliance
With all the benefits it can offer, a renovation project does also come with some risk, and there is always potential for surprises. Be it unexpected mold behind a backsplash or wiring that needs to be redone – these types of things can add cost and time to a project, but ultimately, rectifying those issues makes your home safer and healthier at the end of the project, an invaluable investment.
When planning a project, working with a professional to ensure your scope and renovation costs are properly mapped out is key. Doing a thorough inspection of existing conditions prior to work may reduce the number of unexpected surprises, particularly when renovating an old home, to help you determine the best approach for your project.
Pros and Cons of Remodeling a Home
Do You Have a New Vision for Your Current Home?
Remodeling the interior or exterior of a home is the next tier of work. It is more invasive than a renovation, and generally includes impacts to the structure and/or layout of the home. This encompasses projects like removing and rearranging walls to create an open concept, or adding extra square footage to the home through an addition.
Pros of Remodeling
By taking on a more extensive scope, the impact of the changes is often more striking and the benefits of remodeling don’t stop there.
- Home Value: Well-executed remodels have potential to increase property value
- Functionality: Completely reconfiguring space means improved functionality tailored to your needs
- Energy Efficiency: More opportunity to integrate energy-saving measures to reduce utility costs
- Hidden Surprises: Remodels are already digging deep, so you have the opportunity to correct any underlying issues with your homes systems or structure
Often, homeowners opting for a remodel are looking to create a new home feeling in a place that they already love. A skilled design professional can transform an existing or older home into the exact house the homeowners would be looking at buying new on the market – but with the perk of customizing the home and maintaining those invaluable memories.
Cons of Remodeling
Like renovating, remodeling comes with its challenges from cost to schedule, it’s important to be aware of what you’re getting into.
- Costs: Because the work is more extensive, the costs of remodeling are often higher
- Schedule: With more work, comes more time and holding to a schedule is important
- Lifestyle: Depending on the extent of changes, it may be more difficult living in the home during construction
- Coordination: More extensive changes requires higher levels of coordination from your designer, builder, and each individual trade
If you ultimately decide to do a remodel, working with a professional specializing in a design-build process can help minimize the downsides of the project. Teams who do design-build are not just skilled at designing the most efficient and impactful upgrades to your home, they have seasoned professionals experienced in home building that can build intricate designs while anticipating any potential issues.
What’s more, is these teams often have a network of trade consultants and contractors that they can lean on to support in the determination of scope, approach, costs, and construction to ensure the entire project is handled appropriately. It becomes a collaborative process where they keep tabs on the detail and you have more information on budget and schedule early on in the process.
Pros and Cons of Rebuilding a Home and New Builds
Do You Dream of a Brand New Home?
If you are looking to completely reconfigure your home or perhaps have damage to your foundation or structure, while an extreme remodel can do the trick, it might often be wise to rebuild. Most times, if a client opts to build new, it’s because there isn’t an economical or efficient way to achieve the desired outcome in their existing home, or aging/damage is too extensive.
Pros of a Rebuild or New Build
Building a new home offers many benefits to homeowners, making it a desirable option.
- Customization: New home means new everything and every detail can be designed to the owners specifications
- Energy Efficiency: The latest technologies and systems can be integrated making your home more energy and cost efficient
- Modern Amenities: The latest in features and finishes can be integrated without existing building constraints
- No Existing Issues: No existing structure and systems, means you know what to expect for these costs
Many homeowners dream of building new and creating their dream home, idealizing a modern, energy-efficient home. While it can be a wonderful outcome, it is a process, and it’s important not to get caught up in the fantasy, as some new builds go through a variety of challenges.
Cons of a Rebuild or New Build
Complete customization might seem ideal, but new construction also comes with its own challenges.
- Unexpected Surprises: Yes, even new builds can have unexpected surprises, from permitting to supply difficulties and more
- Cost: Building new means more materials, and market cost fluctuations can have a bigger impact to your budget
- Schedule: New construction can take months and even years to complete
- Sequencing: More work means more trades, making the construction sequencing more complicated
- Scope: It’s not just about the home – it’s about the landscaping, paving, and outdoor systems like sprinklers as well
Not to say these challenges are insurmountable, but the larger the project, the more impactful each individual challenge can be. Working with a skilled contractor who has experience with every trade – from civil and landscaping through structural, electrical and even fire protection is key to ensure nothing is overlooked.
New Construction, Remodeling, or Renovation – Deciding What Is Right for You
Which Option Works Best for You?
We know, it’s a lot of information to absorb and analyze, and the simple truth is, every project comes with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities – that’s why bringing in an experienced professional is key. Once you’ve determined your goals, a budget, and preferred schedule – it’s time to get a professional involved. A design-builder will bring professional expertise on both the design and construction sides of a project to ensure you’re choosing the best approach for your unique project. Whatever you choose, Model Remodel is the place to start! Our expert team has experience with all of these topics, and call help talk through your goals and build a plan toward your dream home.
Home Improvement and Remodeling in the Seattle Area
Got a wish-list of home improvement projects? From water damage repair to a completely new kitchen, Model Remodel’s design-build approach can transform your vision into reality. With over 20 years in the business, we’ll guide you through every step, from eco-friendly material choices to choosing the perfect tub that adds a pop of personality. Be sure to take a look at our portfolio for more remodeling inspiration.
Our design-build services let our expert designers and skilled builders breathe life into your home, opening up spaces, embracing natural light, and creating a better connection to your home. Let’s build something great – contact Model Remodel today and unlock the full potential of your Seattle home!
Remodeling vs. Rebuilding FAQs
What is the difference between remodeling, rebuilding, and renovating?
Renovating usually involves updating or restoring existing elements of your home (like repainting walls or replacing lighting fixtures), while remodeling changes the layout or structure (such as knocking down walls or expanding a kitchen), and rebuilding means tearing down and constructing a new structure from the ground up.
When should I renovate instead of remodel?
Renovation is best if you want to refresh the look of your home without major structural changes. If your home is in good condition but visually outdated, simple updates like new flooring, fresh paint, and modern fixtures can enhance its appeal without the cost of a full remodel.
Is remodeling more expensive than renovating?
Yes, remodeling is usually more expensive than renovating because it often involves altering the structure, which may require new plumbing, electrical work, or permits, whereas renovation focuses on surface-level improvements.
How do I decide between remodeling and rebuilding?
If your home has significant structural damage, outdated systems, or layout inefficiencies that would require extensive remodeling, rebuilding might be a cleaner process (as opposed to delicately remodeling specific parts). However, if the foundation and structure are in good shape, a remodel can still transform your space without the need for complete reconstruction.
Does remodeling increase home value more than renovating?
Remodeling often increases home value more than simple renovations because it modernizes the layout and function of the space. However, the return on investment depends on the project—kitchen, bathroom, garage, and basement remodels typically offer the highest resale value.
