What should be remodeled first in a whole house project?

Anything that protects the building: roof, drainage, structure, then the systems inside the walls. Finishes come after the house is dry, safe and correctly wired and plumbed.

How much contingency should a remodel carry?

Enough that a genuine surprise does not stop the job. Older homes and projects that open walls carry more risk than surface level work, so the reserve should scale with how much is unknown.

Do I need an architect or designer?

If walls, structure or the footprint are changing, a design professional usually saves money by catching problems on paper. For finish level work, an experienced contractor and a clear selection list are often enough.

Project Guides

How to remodel a house

A whole home remodel in order: recognizing when the house needs work, setting scope and budget, sequencing trades and keeping the project from drifting.

By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated September 8, 2026

Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.

Renovation plans, paint chips, tile samples and a tape measure spread across a dining table

Remodel in order of consequence. Structure, roof, drainage, electrical and plumbing come before anything cosmetic, because finishes installed over unresolved problems get torn out again. Set the scope and the contingency before demolition, choose a contractor on process rather than price alone, and lock finish selections before the trades arrive.

Key points

Six signs it is time: failing systems, water intrusion, unsafe wiring, unusable layout, ongoing repair spending and finishes past their life.
Sequence dictates cost. Cosmetic work done first is cosmetic work done twice.
Decide the finishes early. Change orders mid project are where budgets break.

Signs a house is ready for real work

Systems at the end of their service life, such as an aging furnace, panel or water heater
Water showing up where it should not: ceilings, basements, window frames
Wiring that trips, warms or cannot support how the house is used
A layout that fights daily life, not just one you have grown tired of
Repair spending that keeps recurring on the same components
Surfaces that are worn through rather than merely dated

Set scope and budget before demolition

Write down what must change, what should change and what would be nice. The must list defines the project, the nice list is the first thing to cut if the walls hold a surprise.

Hold a contingency for the unknown. Older homes in particular hide conditions that only appear once the walls are open, and a project without contingency turns those discoveries into stalls.

The order the work should happen in

Structural repairs, roof and exterior envelope, drainage and grading
Rough plumbing, electrical and HVAC, plus any layout changes
Insulation, drywall and windows
Cabinetry, tile, trim and interior doors
Flooring, paint and fixtures
Landscaping and exterior finish work last, once heavy traffic is done

Choose the contractor on process

The bid matters, but the way a contractor runs a job matters more over a multi month project. Ask how they schedule, who is on site daily, how change orders are priced and how they handle discoveries behind walls.

Get everything in writing: scope, allowances, payment schedule tied to milestones, and a clear statement of who pulls permits.

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Living through it

Decide early whether you are staying in the house. Kitchens and single bathrooms are the two rooms that most often push families out temporarily.

Agree on working hours, dust control, site access and where materials will be stored before the first day, not during the first week.

Common questions

What should be remodeled first in a whole house project?: Anything that protects the building: roof, drainage, structure, then the systems inside the walls. Finishes come after the house is dry, safe and correctly wired and plumbed.
How much contingency should a remodel carry?: Enough that a genuine surprise does not stop the job. Older homes and projects that open walls carry more risk than surface level work, so the reserve should scale with how much is unknown.
Do I need an architect or designer?: If walls, structure or the footprint are changing, a design professional usually saves money by catching problems on paper. For finish level work, an experienced contractor and a clear selection list are often enough.