The payoff can be substantial, though.

Remodeling the whole house may be a necessary precursor to selling the house for a profit.

Or it might be done to make the house more livable for its current occupants.

Contractor working on house at construction site

Ariel Skelley / Getty Images

Cost to Remodel a House

The average cost of a whole-home remodel is $48,600.

This average is based on costs that start at about $17,700 and range up to $79,400.

But in all likelihood, your whole-house remodel will cycle back to another set of buyers.

Some remodel projects carry the potential of more resale value than others.

Full Resale Value

Some home remodel projects return their full cost or nearly so.

Remodeling for sell is vastly different from remodeling for yourself for the long term.

Remodeling for yourself means adapting the design plan to fit your needs.

You may have children on the way.

You may need two home offices.

You may prioritize cooking and eating areas over entertainment or common areas.

Determine Your Funding

You will need money to pay for the remodel.

Likely, cash won’t be your only funding option.

Even a skilled DIYer will likely call in a professional for projects like plumbing and electrical.

Or you’re free to search for contractors online and read their reviews.

The contractor is there to work for you.

So, it’s best to step out of the way and let the contractor do their job.

When the contractor has a question, get back to them immediately.

Tip

Ensure you have everything in writing.

Permits and Zoning

Building permitscan take a long time to get approved.

Electrical permits and permits for demolition or fences may not take more than a few days.

One benefit of a contractor is that they will handle all the permitting for you.

Permit costs are included as a line item in the final cost of the home remodel.

Safety

Asbestos and lead-based paint are the most commonly found dangerous materials when remodeling a house.

It is usually cheaper torenovate a housethan to build one from scratch.

When building a new home from scratch, all materials are new.

With a home renovation, most materials remain in place and some can even be reused.

The scale of a new home build will nearly always be greater than that of a home renovation.

The first thing to do with whole-house remodeling is to develop a plan with a contractor.

The most expensive part of a whole-home remodel is usually remodeling the kitchen and the bathrooms.

Remodeling canboost the value of a houseand the return on your investment.

Department of Housing and Urban Development

Protect Your Family From Sources of Lead.United States Environmental Protection Agency