How to Strategically Pace Out Your Home Renovations
Taking on a home renovation can feel overwhelming, but a full-bore, whole-house overhaul isn't always the right—or even best—approach.
A phased remodel, where projects are spaced out over time, offers a strategic and manageable way to transform your home. While we’ve done many whole-home and phased renovation projects over the years, we have a slight inclination to the phased approach. There are many reasons for this which we’ll get into in this blog, along with several case studies of phased renovations from our portfolio.
Why Not Do a Whole-Home Reno?
Spacing out home renovation projects isn’t just about delaying the inevitable; it can be a smart, deliberate choice that often leads to better-designed, more manageable, and more financially sound outcomes.
Budget Control: Smaller projects are inherently easier to scope and budget for, helping to prevent the "scope creep" that can balloon the total project cost.
Needs Evolve: Families grow, lifestyles change, and living in a house for a while gives you invaluable insight into what truly works and what needs to be changed. Many of our best projects have come after homeowners have spent years getting to know their space, and getting a feel for what will matter most to them.
Minimal Disruption: A phased approach often allows you to remain in your home, avoiding the significant cost and stress of finding alternative living arrangements or covering two mortgages at once.
Neighborhood Value: Spacing out work can help keep your home's value "on-par" with neighborhood real estate values. While most of our clients are renovating for the long-term, with no immediate plans to sell, it can still be a good idea to keep your investments in line with what you could get back out of your home on the market, in case circumstances change.
Is There a "Right Order" for Home Improvements?
Generally, there is no set-in-stone order. We typically recommend prioritizing the work that will most significantly improve your daily life and happiness. However, a few essential items should always top the list, and these are things we will evaluate and address in any renovation project. The first is the structural integrity of the house. We will address any necessary structural repairs, such as shoring up and leveling sagging front porches or basement beams. We will also evaluate the efficiency of the building enclosure, to ensure the home is protected from the elements. This means prioritizing roof leaks, water intrusion, siding or insulation issues. Without addressing these issues first, renovations can be ruined quickly, and investment dollars can go down the drain.
Things to Keep In Mind for Phased Projects
Timeframe: A general timeframe between major projects is at least 2–3 years. This gives you time to recover financially (and mentally!), and to gain insight on your living situation before starting the next phase.
Boots on the Ground: Living in the home before, and even during, the construction process gives you first-hand insight into what goes into a home renovation. It also allows you to experience the transformation first hand, and appreciate the craftsmanship that it requires. You may also be able to work with the project manager more efficiently should issues arise or decisions need to be made in the moment.
The Downside: The main drawback is the obvious disruption to your daily life, as construction noise and mess can linger over a longer period. We do our absolute best to minimize disruption to main living areas by using dust barriers, air scrubbers and frankly, good manners.
"Future Proofing" is Tough: While we all want to plan ahead, truly "future proofing" a home renovation is difficult. Needs change, technology improves, and attempts to future-proof often lead to unintended scope creep. The best strategy is to keep the focus on the current work—the future project will get solved when it comes up!
RIC Case Studies in Phased Remodeling
Our project history is filled with examples of successful phased renovations. Here are several that show how homeowners have thoughtfully built their dream homes over time.
University of Richmond Porch and Addition
This project started with a porch addition. After living in their home for a year, the homeowners realized they had no outdoor space to enjoy their yard with some shade. The modern-style roof and natural wood columns of their new porch were built on the existing brick patio.
A few years later, as their family grew and more space was needed, we were called back to build a seamless addition to the same side of the house that would but up against the porch without disturbing it. It also meant enclosing it while keeping it functional, and incorporating it into the interior design of the new kids room. Waiting for the need to arise meant their addition was tailored to their actual needs, and not just pie-in-the-sky design dreams.
Near West End Addition and Porch
For this project, we collaborated once again with the talented team at Johannas Design Group, and undertook a project that unfolded in two key phases. The journey began in mid-2020 when the clients acquired the property with a vision for modernizing and expanding the house. The following year was dedicated to design, expertly handled by Johannas Design Group. By late 2021, we began construction on a significant two-story addition, a project that continued through 2022.
This major undertaking was then followed by the creation of a more welcoming new front porch, completed between April and June of 2024. This gave the family some breathing room in between projects while they lived in their new space. This time was what they needed to identify their next highest priority.
Henrico West End Greenhouse and Renovation
After living in this beautiful, rambling house for about seven years, the homeowners contacted us about converting their basement into a family room as well as constructing an attached greenhouse to the back of the house. Without expanding the overall footprint of the house (the greenhouse was built on top of an existing patio), we were able to give them significantly more usable square footage.
About three years later the family contacted us again, this time to renovate the main floor of the house including updating the primary suite and bathrooms, as well as constructing a cantilevered balcony accessible from the renovated primary suite which will overlook the natural meadow the homeowners have been cultivating on their property. This work is still in progress, but the renderings show some of the updates we can look forward to.
Jackson Ward Carriage House
Back in 2020 we were brought in to convert a carriage house/garage into a two story home gym that also still allowed space for parking a car if needed. This space was a sanity saver for our clients as we all weathered the COVID crisis, and spent more time at home.
Recently they brought us back to work on a kitchen renovation project which will begin construction in 2026!
Forest Hill Three-Part Renovation
The projects for this client have taken lots of twists and turns, but it shows how taking your time with a renovation project can create a more strategic design. Initially we were brought in to build a detached garage/library/man cave in the backyard, but as we talked more with the client and got to know the property a little better, an attached addition that allowed the couple to age in place made a lot more sense.
A few years later, we returned to provide a kitchen renovation that included new cabinets, countertops and appliances. A prep sink and beverage cooler replaced an unused desk space.
Then finally (or maybe not?), we came back for a quick bathroom renovation - new tile, vanity and fixtures.
Westover Hills
The first phase of this renovation tackled much-needed repairs to remediate long-term water intrusion around some second floor windows, as well as the rotting siding the leak caused.
Once this necessary-but-not-so-fun renovation was completed, we returned a few years later to do a significantly more entertaining update - finishing off a garage and converting it into a game room on the first floor and new primary suite on the second floor.
Having a house that was structurally sound had to be higher on the priority list, but once that was put to rest, the family could fully focus on how they could most enjoy their home.
University Heights
This modern farmhouse got a major exterior facelift back in 2016 with an expanded and updated porch, custom steel railings, raised pollinator garden beds, front door, and siding color.
Then in 2022 the family turned their attention inside and brought us in to convert an unfinished attic space into a new bedroom and bathroom. We also updated the main staircase with new railings that match the front porch railings!