Podcast for Homeowners Preparing to Renovate
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02: Remodeling: Where Do I Begin When Home Design Feels Confusing and Overwhelming
Where to Start When You’re Thinking About a Home Remodel…
If you’re thinking about remodeling, I want to stop you right here—because the first step is not calling a contractor, and it’s not jumping straight into Pinterest.
That might feel counterintuitive. Most homeowners start by Googling “contractors near me” or pinning dream kitchens and bathrooms, hoping clarity will come later.
But starting there is exactly why so many people feel overwhelmed, confused, and discouraged before their remodel even begins.
In this episode of Preparing for Your Home Remodel, I want to help you understand where you actually begin—so you can
PLAN SMART
UNDERSTAND COSTS AND
AVOID EXPENSIVE MISTAKES!!!
Why Remodeling Feels So Overwhelming at the Start…
If your house feels outdated, but you don’t even know what it would cost to renovate, you’re not alone.
Design, budgeting, contractors, timelines, permits—it’s a lot. And when you don’t know what you don’t know, it’s easy to feel paralyzed before you’ve even started.
What I see all the time is homeowners bringing contractors in during the brainstorming phase. They’re throwing out ideas like:
“We could replace the cabinets… or maybe paint them.”
“I want to remove this wall, but only if it’s not too expensive.”
“I like the layout, but maybe we move the range.”
“Do we need permits? I’m not sure.”
That’s not a plan—it’s a list of hypotheticals.
And when contractors are asked to price hypotheticals, what you get back is confusion.
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Why Contractor Estimates Are All Over the Place
This is one of the biggest pain points I hear from homeowners.
You bring in three contractors and get three wildly different numbers—$10,000, $20,000, $50,000—for what you thought was the same project. Naturally, you wonder:
Why is one so expensive?
Why is one so cheap?
Who can I trust?
The issue usually isn’t the contractors—it’s the lack of a clear scope of work.
When you don’t clearly define what you want done, each contractor fills in the gaps differently. One might be pricing a full gut renovation. Another might be pricing a cosmetic update. They’re not bidding the same project, so the numbers can’t be compared apples to apples.
This is how homeowners end up overwhelmed, discouraged, and sometimes abandoning the remodel altogether.
I don’t want that for you.
The Real First Step: Get Clear on Your Budget
Before we design anything, before we dream, before we Pinterest—we have to talk about the budget.
I know. It’s not fun. But your budget is the framework for every decision that follows.
You need to sit down—alone or with your partner—and ask:
How much do we realistically want to invest?
Where is the money coming from?
How long do we plan to live in this home?
You don’t need to predict the future, but you do need to consider resale. Renovating a home far beyond what makes sense for your neighborhood or timeline can lead to disappointment later.
Starting with the budget protects you from dreaming up a renovation you can’t actually build.
Step Two: Get Clear on Why You’re Remodeling
Once you know your budget, the next step is understanding why you’re renovating.
What isn’t working?
What drives you crazy every day?
What is the one thing you would change if you could only change one thing?
Your “why” becomes your priority—and priorities are what keep budgets under control.
For example, if functionality is your top priority, you might decide to invest more in cabinetry that works better for your lifestyle, while choosing more budget-conscious options for flooring or appliances.
When you’re clear on your priorities, it becomes much easier to let go of things that are expensive but not essential—and still feel good about your decisions.
Turning Ideas Into a Clear Scope of Work
Once you’re clear on your budget and your why, it’s time to make a list.
This list is your scope of work—and it’s one of the most important documents in your remodel.
I recommend standing in the space and doing a full brain dump. Look at everything:
Floors, trim, walls, ceilings
Cabinets, hardware, countertops
Backsplash, grout, paint
Windows, vent covers, toe kicks
Even the small things matter. Contractors price labor by the minute, and if something isn’t listed, it isn’t included. That’s how change orders and surprise costs show up later.
If it’s not on the scope of work, you should assume it won’t be touched.
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Prioritizing Before You Design
Once everything is listed, prioritize it based on:
Your budget
Your why
This step is incredibly empowering. It helps you make decisions faster and removes the emotional tug-of-war when choices get hard.
Your top priorities get the biggest share of the budget. The nice-to-haves move down the list.
When It Is Time to Call Contractors
Only after you’ve done this groundwork is it time to bring contractors in—and even then, it’s not to hire yet.
At this stage, you’re looking for ballpark numbers, not final bids. You’re asking:
Is this even feasible?
What might it cost to move this wall?
Is this scope realistic within my budget?
This information helps you decide what’s worth pursuing before you fully design the space.
Planning First Changes Everything
Remodeling doesn’t have to be overwhelming—but it does require preparation.
When you start with clarity around your budget, your priorities, and your scope of work, everything that follows becomes easier:
Design decisions feel confident
Contractor conversations make sense
Costs feel intentional instead of surprising
This is exactly what Preparing for Your Home Remodel is about—helping you plan smart so your renovation runs smoother and with less stress.
If you’re already mid-remodel and feeling behind, it’s not too late to get organized and pull things together. And if you’re still in the dreaming phase, starting this way will save you time, money, and regret.
🎧 Listen to this episode to learn how to start your remodel the right way—before Pinterest and before contractors.
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