How do you plan a home remodel in Sacramento?

The stepsWhat order does a remodel happen in?

Most of the work happens before anyone swings a hammer. You see the design first, you approve a written estimate, and the permits come before demo. Here's the order we follow on every kitchen, bathroom, addition and whole-home job in the Sacramento area:

1. A first call about your project and your questions.
2. A visit to your home to measure, look and listen.
3. A design, so you can see the project and change it on paper first.
4. A written estimate after the design, which you approve before anything starts.
5. Permits and inspections, set up with the city or county.
6. Floors protected and dust sealed off, then demo.
7. The build, to the drawings you approved, with updates in plain English.
8. A walk-through of the finished job, with anything on the list fixed.
9. Clean-up and pack-out.

If opening a wall changes the plan, California law says the change goes in a written change order, signed by you and the contractor before the work is done (CSLB).

Step oneHow do you pick the right contractor?

Start with the license. California requires a CSLB license for any job that needs a building permit, uses hired help, or costs $1,000 or more in labor and materials (CSLB). You can look up any license for free at cslb.ca.gov. Then check the insurance dates, call two past customers, and ask who runs your site every day.

How do I choose a general contractor?Read the full answer→ What should you check before hiring a builder?Read the full answer→ What red flags mean I should walk away from a contractor?Read the full answer→ Do you need a licensed contractor or a handyman?Read the full answer→

The law is on your sideWhat rules protect you during a remodel?

Sacramento County requires a permit when a remodel installs, alters or replaces electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing systems, and it names kitchen and bath remodels on its permit list (Sacramento County). A deposit can't be more than $1,000 or 10% of the contract price, whichever is less, and special-order materials don't change that. Any home improvement job over $500 needs a written contract (CSLB).

Do I need a permit to remodel a bathroom in Sacramento County?Read the full answer→ How much can a contractor legally ask for as a deposit in California?Read the full answer→

TimingHow long will a remodel take, and when should you start?

The timeline depends on what the job touches. A cosmetic refresh with nothing moved skips the permit, while moving plumbing or electrical adds a permit, inspections and more site work. For most Sacramento homeowners, fall is a smart time to start: October averages a high near 79°F and under an inch of rain (NOAA), and big appliance sales land around Black Friday (Consumer Reports).

How long does a bathroom remodel take?Read the full answer→ Is fall a smart time to remodel your kitchen?Read the full answer→

The bigger questionShould you remodel your home or move?

Remodel if an addition or a new layout can create the space you're missing on the lot you own. Move if what you want can't exist on that lot. A remodel can change the layout, the finishes and the square footage. It can't change the lot, the street or the school boundary.

Remodel or move? The Sacramento versionRead the full answer→

Getting startedWhat happens on the first call with a contractor?

With us, you call or check what you want done on our project checklist. We talk through your project and answer your questions, so you'll know fast if we're a good fit. Next we visit, measure and listen, then design it so you can see it before we build it. Design is included, and you get a written estimate after the design, before any work starts.

How our remodel process works, from the first call to clean-upSee every step→