Home Remodeling Steps: How to Plan Your House Renovation

Perhaps your taste in home aesthetics has changed and you want to try Japandi interiors.^[1] Maybe you’re expecting baby #3 and you want to add a room or two to your home. Or maybe you’re planning to sell your property and want to increase its resale value.

Such plans and goals require a home renovation. Mind you, it isn’t exactly a pretty process. It’s messy and expensive—and you may end up wasting a lot of money if you don’t have a thorough idea of the steps involved in home remodeling.

If you want to tackle such a big project with confidence, check out this detailed guide.

Home Remodeling Steps in the Philippines: A Detailed Guide

Granted that a home renovation is a big undertaking, you need to be organized from the get-go to ensure your plans will come to life as envisioned.

Generally, a home renovation project is divided into three phases: planning, actual home remodeling, and post-renovation. Follow this structured and methodical approach to avoid wasting resources:

📌 Phase 1: Planning and Preparation

Start strong by figuring out what you want and putting it on paper. In this phase, you’ll also need to recruit the right people to get the job done.

Step 1: Picture Your Goal

So what’s your goal? Do you want to add another floor to your home or renovate just the façade? Maybe you want to give your old kitchen a makeover?

Be definite with your project scope, as the size of the project will dictate the size of your budget, and vice versa. Figure out what you really, really want so you can get accurate project quotes. This will make your contractor's job easier.

Step 2: Consult a Trustworthy Professional

Don't attempt to DIY everything. First of all, you may end up with a substandard output that puts your family's safety at risk. Second, your lack of expertise may harm you while you’re carrying out the task.

You'll end up spending more money than planned. Save money and time by consulting the following professionals:

Architect - If you’re renovating the façade of the house, an architect will help you create an outstanding look based on your aesthetic tastes.
Engineer - If you’re building an additional floor or an extension, you need to work with a civil engineer to make sure the plan will have structural integrity.
Interior designer - Interior designers don’t only beautify your home―they also make sure no space goes to waste. Moreover, they make sure the general contractor adheres to the house renovation design plan.
Building contractor - As the muscle of this project, your building contractor will execute the plan and oversee the remodeling project from start to finish. In some cases, the contracting company is also responsible for applying for the building permit.

Step 3. Plan Your Budget

Now that your plan has been validated by professionals, start working on the budget. Here are some important areas you need to cover:

Labor - You'll need to pay home remodeling contractors, who will work on the following: demolition, carpentry, masonry, and electrical work, among others. Don’t forget the professional fees of your collaborators, too, from the interior designer to the engineer.
Materials - Never, ever settle for anything cheap and of poor quality. Source your materials from trusted and reputable brands. Ask your contractor for more information.
Permits - Work without any legal complications by applying for your building permit. The cost of the permit mainly depends on the size of the project (per square meter).
Miscellaneous - Include deliveries of materials, food, and refreshments for the workers; your commute; and apartment rental (if you can’t live in the house for a while) in your budget computation.

The source of the funds will also matter. Here are some options to consider:

Cash - Cash is ideal for homeowners who are not in a hurry to start the project and can save up a large amount of money.
Credit cards - This financing method is perfect for small-scale remodeling projects. However, keep in mind that not all contractors accept credit card payments.
Loans - You can go for housing or home remodeling loans from banks, but you can also use personal loans. For a big loan amount, consider the UnionBank Personal Loan—you can borrow up to ₱2 million without collateral, get approved in as fast as five minutes, and enjoy flexible payment terms of up to five years. If you need a smaller amount, look into the UNOnow Loan, with which you can get up to ₱200,000 with terms of up to 36 months.
Refinancing - If you replace your existing housing loan with a new mortgage that has a new interest rate, outstanding balance, and monthly installments, you may incur some surplus cash that can be used for the renovation.

Apply for a UnionBank Personal Loan via Moneymax today

Step 4: Invest Time in Prep Work

Prep work is one of the most important home remodeling steps. For a smooth building process, come up with a practical schedule and remove all possible roadblocks.

Schedule pre-construction meetings with your architect, interior designer, and contractor to make adjustments in the budget, if any, and agree on the target dates.

Come up with a timeline - The longer the renovation, the more expensive. To ensure efficiency and manage distractions, create a schedule not just for the workers but also for you and your family. Factor in variables that may affect the schedule, such as the weather and the workers' pace. Don’t worry, as your contractor will help you plan this.
Take measurements - You don’t want to bring in a new piece of furniture only to discover that it will take up too much space in your room. Before breaking down the walls or placing new fixtures, make it a point to take measurements accurately.
Remove old paint - Don’t underestimate the amount of time needed for removing old paint. It may take you a day or two (or more) depending on the size of the room or house.
Audit house items - Before you let the contractor begin their work, pack all your items, especially the valuable ones. Keep them in a separate room or a rented storage facility. Tidy your house in the process—you may even find things you can sell or donate.
Plan where to live - If your rooms won’t be usable for the time being, you can rent an apartment. If a relative comes up to you and says they can accommodate your family, consider their offer.

🏡 Give Your Home a Makeover With #UNOnow Loan!

UNOBank_Loan_-_Home_Improvement_(Apr_2024)_1200x350

Need extra funds for your home improvement? You don't have to delay it if you're short on cash. Simply get a cash loan from UNO Digital Bank via Moneymax. Enjoy a fast application and approval process, plus instant loan disbursement!

Whether it's a simple appliance upgrade or a home remodeling project, UNOBank got you covered with its loan amount ranging from ₱10,000 up to ₱500,000. Apply for an #UNOnow Loan today!

📌 Phase 2: Actual Home Remodeling

This phase is the messiest of all home remodeling steps. But if done right, you’ll be rewarded with your vision come to life! Here's the step-by-step house construction process in the Philippines:

Step 1: Manage the Demolition

Before the demolition even starts, you need to figure out where the disassembled house parts and rubble will go. Your contractor may take care of it, but you can choose to give these away to those who need panambak.

The entire process of tearing down the walls or pulling apart the roofing is dangerous. Observe safety precautions that will keep your laborers, family, and neighbors safe.

Step 2: Install Wiring and Plumbing

Once the demolition work is done and the primary wall frames are set up, start rewiring your home. Repair or replace faulty electrical parts and plot new outlets. If you’re remodeling a bathroom, you can repair the plumbing or reroute the pipes based on the plan.

Step 3: Start Putting Up the Walls

After addressing all the wiring and plumbing concerns, it’s time to build the additional frames and put up the walls. Add support beams and repair the surfaces of window and door openings along with this step.

In preparation for the next step, make sure to sand the wall and ceiling panels properly. This is usually necessary before installation.

Step 4: Start the Paint Job

The smooth walls are now ready for painting. Yes, you may do this yourself. But for a flawless job, just leave it to the professionals.

If you still choose to do it yourself, remember this: be patient. To avoid cracking or peeling, let the paint dry completely between coats.^[2]

More importantly, use the type of paint that can deal with humidity. Humid conditions usually cause paint to crack and peel.

Step 5: Install the Fixtures

At this point, your home is halfway through the project. At this point, you’ll put things together based on your interior designer’s plan.

Install the lights, showers, sinks, cabinetry, and other fixtures such as doors and windows. This may be a back-breaking activity, but you’ll definitely enjoy this when you see your space start to come alive at last!

Nonetheless, hold off on bringing in the new furniture pieces until the next step is done.

Step 6. Do the Flooring Work and Add the Finishing Touches

home remodeling steps - add finishing touches

A lot of home remodeling contractors don’t recommend carrying out flooring work in the early stages of the project. If you install your new floor first, it may sustain damages such as scrapes and even hard-to-remove paint stains. As such, it makes sense to get this done at the latter part of the renovation.

Once done with the flooring, proceed with the finishing touches, such as placing your furniture and appliances, hanging curtains, installing outdoor ceilings, and childproofing every room.

Read more:

📌 Phase 3: Post-Renovation

Congratulations! Your remodeled home looks amazing. But your work isn’t done yet.

A few last steps will ensure that your home is ready for occupancy and that you’ve settled all your obligations.

Step 1: Clean Thoroughly

Unless the contract specifically states that the home remodeling contractor will take care of the clean-up, this is usually the homeowner's responsibility.

Typically, the clean-up happens before furniture pieces are brought in. But sometimes, dust just keeps coming in.

Vacuum and mop the floor thoroughly. If your space still gets dusty, clean the outdoor space as it’s usually the source of the dust and dirt.

Remember you don’t have to go at it alone. You can always use the services of a residential cleaning company.

Step 2. Check the Work Quality

While marveling at your beautiful home, check the quality of the work of your contractor. See if there are any issues, such as cracks, faulty lights, holes in the roof, and leaky faucets, among others.

Sometimes, these problems are overlooked during the renovation. Other times, the project is already completed before these issues manifest.

If the problem is minor, appeal to your contractor’s sense of duty by calling or emailing them. You can send them a picture or a video of the problem.

But if the issue appears to be serious and quite expensive, invoke the contract’s clause that empowers you to ask for free post-renovation repairs.

Step 3: Finalize Invoices and Make Sure Everyone Has Been Paid

You don’t want to be a bad client, so make sure to duly settle all your bills with the suppliers and partners―from your architect to the general contractors. Keep the receipts and invoices in a folder so you can refer to them if a dispute arises. Better yet, keep digital copies of these documents just in case you lose the original ones.

If you’re fully satisfied with the services of your suppliers, show your gratitude by sending them gifts, writing a great review, or giving them a referral. Of course, this isn't required, but a gesture of goodwill won’t hurt.

Final Thoughts

The home remodeling steps above prove that a renovation is no easy feat. You have to plan everything down to a T to avoid costly mistakes and make sure your dream home will come to life.

Meanwhile, if you’re still raising funds for your renovation, consider applying for a personal loan. Compare options from reputable lenders in the Philippines and apply via Moneymax:

Provider	Loan Amount	Monthly Add-on Rate	Loan Term	Minimum Annual Income	Approval Time
UnionBank Personal Loan	Up to ₱2 million	26.9% per annum	12 to 60 months	₱250,000	As fast as 5 minutes
UNO Digital Bank Personal Loan	₱10,000 to ₱500,000	1.79% per month (corresponds to annual contractual rates or annual percentage rates ranging from 35.78% to 37.54%)	Six to 36 months	₱240,000	Five to seven banking days
Metrobank Personal Loan	₱20,000 to ₱2 million	1.25% to 1.75%	36 months	₱350,000	Seven banking days
BPI Personal Loan	₱20,000 to ₱3 million	Maximum annual contractual rate of 28.67%	12 to 36 months	Inquire with BPI	Five to seven banking days
Tonik Credit Builder	₱5,000 to ₱20,000	4.84%	Six to 12 months	Inquire with Tonik	Two banking days
Tala	₱1,000 to ₱25,000	0.43% daily	Up to 61 days	None	Five minutes to 24 hours
HSBC Personal Loan	₱30,000 to ₱500,000	0.65%	Six to 36 months	₱168,000	Five to seven banking days
CIMB Personal Loan	₱30,000 to ₱1 million	As low as 0.83%	12 to 60 months	₱180,000	One to two banking days
Maybank Personal Loan	Up to ₱1 million	1.3%	Up to 36 months	₱300,000	Inquire with Maybank
RCBC Bank Personal Loan	₱50,000 to ₱1 million	1.3%	Six to 36 months	₱360,000	5 to 7 banking days
PSBank Personal Loan	₱20,000 to ₱250,000	42.88% Effective Interest Rate per annum for a 24-month term (term loan) 41.29% Effective Interest Rate per annum for a 36-month term (Term Loan) 34.49% Effective Interest Rate per annum for 12 months (Revolving Loan	24 or 36 months	₱180,000	Five to nine banking days