How to create a DIY home renovation plan

Want to renovate your home but not sure where to start? Here’s how to create a DIY home renovation plan to keep you on schedule and under budget!

It can be a dream to renovate a room in your home to be exactly your style and function well for your family. And we want to help you make that dream a reality!

We all know that renovations can be expensive and take a long time, especially if you are DIYers.

That’s why it’s so important to have a well structured home renovation plan.

Creating a task list, timeline, and budget will help to make your renovation a success. It can save you time and money, minimize stress, and help to ensure that you are happy with the end result of the project!

Let’s take a look at how we create plans for our DIY home renovations.

How to create a DIY home renovation plan

When you’ve decided to renovate a space in your home, the planning can be the most important part of the whole project! Creating a detailed plan, timeline, and budget is an essential part of having a successful renovation.

You can do this by hand or use our pre-made Home Renovation Planner to make it as easy as possible!

Creating Your Project Plan

First, make a list of all of the tasks that you want to do as a part of your renovation. Now, get detailed! Break each aspect of the renovation down into the exact tasks that will make it up.

Look at these steps and try to put them in chronological order that they will need to happen in. For example, you can’t install a vanity until you’ve finished the flooring. You can’t add countertops until the cabinets are in place.

As you move your project into chronological order, you will find some projects with no contingencies. Make a separate list of all of these “any time” projects so that you can use them as filler projects if there is a delay elsewhere.

Create a project timeline

Assign each task the amount of time that you think it will take. Do this in days, not hours. If a task takes 4 hours, but you only have 2 hours a day to work on it, this is a 2 day project.

Remember to give yourself buffer time – I suggest 10% on everything and even more if you are unsure about how that particular step will go.

Now, you can set either a start or end date and using your above task list, create a full timeline.

Remember to schedule in breaks and days off!

Click here to grab our Home Renovation Planner and FINALLY get your next big DIY project organized!

Create a project budget

Now, you are going to use your above task list to create a budget. List out everything you will need to purchase and you will have to hire.

Do actual research into the costs – don’t guess! Find the products you like online, get quotes, and create an accurate budget.

Making cuts from the plan

Now, take your budget and timeline that you created and compare it to reality. Do you have enough money saved up? Do you have the time to complete it?

If not, you will need to make cuts?

To determine what to cut, go back and label every item on your task list as a NEED or a WANT. For example, you NEED to replace ratty old flooring, you WANT to replace a perfectly fine chandelier.

Consider if there are any “wants” that you can cut to save time and/or money.

Another option is to downgrade some finishes. For example, downgrade the dream chandelier to something half the cost but with a similar effect.

Finally, you might need to break your project up into phases. For example, paint your cabinets and replace the countertops now, but change out the appliances next year when you’ve had time to save up again.

Monitoring and Adjusting

The truth about the renovation is that nothing is going to go 100% according to plan. Things will be delayed and invoices will come in for higher than you budgeted.

That’s why it’s important to have this detailed task list written out with everything clearly itemized.

If you start going over budget or long on your timeline, you have to look for upcoming tasks that can be cut or reduced.

Constantly monitoring and being willing to adjust is the best way to keep your renovation on track.

Completing a DIY home renovation is a big undertaking. By creating a really robust plan, you can set yourself up for success from the start!