Step-by-Step Home Renovation Checklist

I recently wrote a blog post about the pros and cons of hiring a general contractor, and whether you really even need one. In that post, I explained why we decided not to hire a general contractor and how we ultimately managed the entire project ourselves. In this post, I want to take you through a step-by-step home renovation checklist that really helped me when we started. Think of it as a template you can use before even thinking about starting any remodel, big or small.

It’s the kind of list that helps you avoid feeling overwhelmed because it clearly outlines what comes first, what to focus on next, and how to navigate each stage without missing essential details. Along the way, I’ll also share the companies we trusted in Scottsdale and Phoenix for different parts of our renovation, so you can see how everything came together in real life.

Step-by-Step Home Renovation Checklist

Create Vision Boards

Before considering a demo, take the time to create vision boards for each space. Save inspiration photos, colors, finishes, and layouts that spark your creativity. Organize them into folders (digital or physical) by room so you always have a clear direction. This is essentially the first step in a home renovation checklist that will help you stay focused as decisions begin to accumulate during the renovation process.

Set a Budget

Once your vision is in place, it’s time to figure out the numbers. Start by setting an overall budget you’re comfortable with, then break it down by room or project type. Always build in a buffer for “surprise costs”, because in any renovation project, there will always be surprises (and trust me, when I say surprises, I mean lots and lots of them, haha!!). A clear budget is what keeps the entire house remodel on track.

Hire an Architect (If Needed)

For major remodels or structural changes, an architect is essential. They provide layouts, floor plans, and exact measurements so every company has a clear strategy to work from. This step in the home remodel checklist can help prevent costly mistakes later in the renovation process. We hired one at the very beginning because our project involved changing many structures in the house, as well as plumbing, electrical, and numerous other moving parts. Honestly, by the end, I wasn’t even sure if we truly “needed” an architectural plan, since each company handling their part of the project still did their own measurements and calculations.

Work with a Designer (If Needed)

A designer can help turn your ideas into detailed layouts and finish selections. Even if you don’t hire one full-time, short-term guidance can be worth it. They’ll also help with measurements, flow, and pulling all the elements together for your interior design and home remodeling project.

Decide on Project Management

Every renovation needs a point person. Decide whether you will manage it yourself or hire a contractor. If you choose to do it yourself, prepare to be very hands-on. If you opt for a GC, ensure you remain involved in the remodeling project plan.

If Hiring a GC

Don’t assume everything is handled just because you have a general contractor. Always double-check subcontractors’ work, ask questions, and visit the job site often. A GC can make things easier, but your own due diligence is still key in any home renovation project.

Order Materials Early

One of the biggest mistakes on a renovation checklist is waiting to order. Appliances, cabinets, slabs, lighting, and tile can all be backordered for months. Order everything before you move out or start demo, so there are no delays down the line in your house renovation.

Schedule demo

Now it’s time to tear down. The demo includes removing walls, cabinets, bathrooms, flooring, and any other items being replaced. This clears the site so crews can start fresh with no obstacles in the way, a critical early step in any home remodel.

Electrical + Plumbing

Before walls or floors get finished, complete all rough electrical and plumbing work. This includes rerouting wires, moving outlets, and adjusting plumbing lines. It’s messy work, but it has to be done before you can move forward with the renovation process.

Structural Changes

If you’re removing walls, adding arches, or making other room additions, this comes next. These significant layout changes must be completed before cabinetry, flooring, or drywall can be finalized in the home remodeling project.

Level Floors

Don’t underestimate leveling. Uneven floors will affect everything, from baseboards to cabinet alignment. Proper leveling now ensures your finished floors look seamless later. It’s one of those hidden steps in the remodel checklist that makes or breaks the final design.

Install Windows + Doors

If you’re replacing or upgrading windows and doors, do it before flooring and trim. This keeps the process clean and avoids damage to newly finished areas in your house renovation.

Drywall

Once rough plumbing and electrical are complete, patch or replace drywall. This creates smooth, even walls that are ready for paint, tile, or wallpaper. It’s an essential stage in any home renovation project plan.

Bathrooms

Bathroom remodels follow a strict order: demo → plumbing and electrical → flooring → wall finishes (paint, tile, or wallpaper) → vanities and cabinets → countertops → fixtures → mirrors and hardware. Each step builds on the one before it in your bathroom remodel checklist.

Kitchen

Kitchens are another precise order: plumbing and electrical first → cabinets installed → countertops measured and installed → appliances placed → final cabinet trim and fillers added. Skipping steps here will cause delays in the kitchen renovation process.

Laundry Room

This space is often overlooked, but it’s worth planning carefully. Install cabinetry, sinks, and storage to maximize both function and style. Even small room additions, such as a utility sink, make everyday life easier.

Fireplace

If you’re adding or updating a fireplace, install it before flooring and trim. Fireplaces anchor the room and can impact electrical and wall work around them, making them an essential step in a home remodel project plan.

Flooring

Flooring usually comes later in the process. Install it after cabinets and vanities to prevent scratches or damage from heavy construction. This timing ensures the floors look perfect throughout your whole-house renovation.

Baseboards + Trim

Once the flooring is in, it’s time to add baseboards, crown molding, and trim. These finishing touches frame the space and make everything feel polished, a must on any ultimate home renovation checklist.

Interior Doors

Replace or install interior doors and hardware now. Doing this after trim and flooring ensures clean lines and a seamless fit in your house remodel.

Lighting

Install chandeliers, pendants, sconces, and recessed lighting at this stage. Proper lighting not only brightens the space but also highlights your interior design choices — it’s the jewelry of any home renovation.

Plumbing fixtures

Bring function back to your spaces by installing sinks, faucets, tubs, showers, and toilets. This step makes kitchens and bathrooms usable again and completes a huge part of the renovation process.

Mirrors + Built-Ins

Add mirrors, floating shelves, or custom built-ins. These small yet impactful additions bring personality and functionality to your home renovation project.

Paint + wallpaper

Once trim and wall repairs are complete, apply final coats of paint or wallpaper. This step freshens everything and adds the final layer of home design.

Closets

Install organizers, shelving systems, or custom wardrobes. Proper storage keeps your home functional and tailored to your needs, a finishing step in any remodeling project.

Garage Upgrades

Consider storage systems, cabinets, or epoxy flooring for the garage. It’s often the last place finished, but it makes a huge difference in house remodeling and organization.

Outdoor Spaces

Tackle landscaping, hardscaping, patios, or outdoor kitchens last. Doing it now avoids damage from heavy construction traffic and completes your whole house renovation.

Hardware + Accessories

Add the small details, such as cabinet pulls, knobs, towel bars, and hooks. These pieces might seem small, but they finish the design like jewelry on an outfit, a classic step in the home remodel checklist.

Furniture + Décor

Now comes the fun part: bring in rugs, furniture, curtains, and décor. This is where all your vision boards finally come to life, and the renovation project plan feels complete.

Final Walkthrough

Make sure to do a complete walkthrough of your home, create a punch list of any minor fixes, and confirm that everything has been addressed. This final step ensures your home renovation project is truly complete.

From Checklist to Real Life: How It Played Out for Us

Now that you’ve seen the step-by-step home renovation checklist, I’d like to share how all of this actually came together in our own home remodeling project. This is where planning met reality! The lessons we learned, why we chose to manage the renovation process ourselves, and the companies we trusted along the way.

How We Chose Where to Order Materials

From our past mini remodels, we had already learned a lot about where to order materials. During this renovation, while working with our architect on the plans, I asked for his recommendations, as he had experience with numerous local companies.

He was the one who recommended the flooring company we ultimately used (I’ll discuss them further in the next section). He also strongly recommended Ferguson Home for most of our materials. We had already used Ferguson in past remodels for several plumbing parts and even some appliances, and we loved them. So, going back to Ferguson Home this time felt like the easiest decision.

For appliances, we have always been fans of Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove. In our previous kitchen, we had a Sub-Zero refrigerator and a Wolf cooktop from Ferguson, and we loved both. So this time, we didn’t even shop around; we knew exactly what we wanted and placed all our appliance orders with Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove through Ferguson Home. As for all the plumbing pieces, sinks, faucets, and everything else, our architect pointed us back to Ferguson Home, and it turned out to be a great choice once again.

How We Chose Our Demo Company

The demo was one of the first stages we had to complete, and honestly, it was one of the easiest parts of our renovation. The bathroom company we worked with referred us to their demo and drywall crew, and they were fantastic.

They demoed the wall between our kitchen and living room (where the fireplace was), capped off the gas lines since we were switching to an electric fireplace, and removed all the old kitchen cabinets. They also demoed the bathrooms and removed everything.

The whole job was finished in just a few days (less than a week), and we were pleased with their work. If you live in the Scottsdale or Phoenix area and need a demo crew, feel free to leave a comment here or DM me on Instagram. I’ll be happy to share their contact info with you directly.

How We Chose Our Flooring Company

This part of the renovation was one of my biggest worries (and honestly, one of Matt’s too). Years ago, we had used a flooring company during a remodel, and they did not do a good job leveling the floor.

Maybe the problem is that Matt and I are two detail-obsessed perfectionists who notice everything from miles away, and it really bothers us! Hahaha. Every time we looked at that floor, it was a constant reminder of how much we hated it. One of the biggest reasons for this renovation was finally getting rid of it. I knew for sure this time that the floor had to be done right. Leveling is everything because if it’s off, the edges don’t look straight, and the baseboards never sit flush – little things that drive us nuts.

I literally interviewed and met with numerous flooring companies before we were referred by our architect to Arizona Hardwood Floor Supply Inc. in Scottsdale. What convinced us was when our architect, who is also extremely picky, took us to his own home to show the floors Arizona Hardwood Floor Supply had installed years earlier. They were flawless. After that visit, we were done with our search! Haha! We knew this was the company for us, and they delivered exactly what we wanted.

The leveling wasn’t easy, but their installers did a fantastic job, and the finished floors are beautiful. I’m beyond happy that we went with them. If you’re looking for a flawless floor, I can’t recommend them enough!

How We Chose Our Bathroom Remodel Company

The bathroom remodel was another critical aspect of our renovation. In the past, we had used a company for a kids’ bathroom project and were not satisfied with their work, so this time we wanted to find a company we could truly trust.

I contacted and interviewed several bathroom remodel companies throughout the Valley, just like I did with flooring. One of the larger companies I spoke with turned out to be a restoration company (the kind that rebuilds homes after fire or water damage). They were great, but their schedule was completely booked, and their timeline didn’t match ours since we needed to start in October.

They ended up recommending a smaller bathroom remodel company they often partnered with, one known for working on beautiful custom homes. The owner was extremely nice, creative, and very detail-oriented, which is exactly what we were looking for. He had a crew of about 5-6 people, and they did a fantastic job on our bathrooms.

I feel fortunate that we were able to utilize his services for our project, as he was a true perfectionist. Of course, like any renovation, there were a few minor mistakes here and there, but they were always corrected promptly. In the end, the bathrooms turned out beautifully, and Matt and I were both pleased with his work.

Unfortunately, the owner later had to close his business and move out of Arizona, so I can’t share his contact information here. But I’ll always be grateful we had the chance to work with him when we did.

How We Chose Our Kitchen Cabinet Company

I want to start by saying this… I will NOT be sharing the name of the kitchen cabinet company we used on my blog or social media. I don’t believe in speaking negatively about businesses online. I only share and recommend companies with which we were genuinely happy, and this was not one of them.

When it came to cabinets, I was very picky. The kitchen is the heart of the home, and everything, from the quality of the cabinets to the final installation, must be perfect. I interviewed almost every cabinet company in Scottsdale and Phoenix (haha), before we finally chose a pretty well-established company in the industry. They had done work for a few of our neighbors and were associated with other reputable names, which gave us confidence in their abilities.

Initially, they were excellent. They followed up consistently, made several calls, gained our trust, came out for measurements multiple times, and walked us through their showroom to finalize colors and designs. Up until we paid the initial deposit, everything felt organized and professional.

Unfortunately, from that point on, things changed. Communication dropped dramatically, delays continued to accumulate, and there were several serious measurement issues with appliances and cabinetry. While problems were eventually corrected, it took countless emails, phone calls, and frustrating back-and-forths to get there.

Out of all the companies we worked with during this renovation, the kitchen cabinet company was by far the most unpredictable and stressful to deal with. While the final product now looks beautiful, the process of getting there was extremely exhausting.

Looking back, this experience taught me an important lesson: always go beyond the showroom promises and pretty design boards. Ask more challenging questions, and ensure that timelines are clearly outlined in your contract. We had a written timeline, but we never deducted money from the balance when deadlines weren’t met, and honestly, I wish we had.

That’s one thing I highly recommend: when you sign a contract with a cabinet company, ensure there’s a clause stating that if they fail to deliver on time, you can deduct a set percentage from the balance. This is a very important lesson I learned, and one I wish I had considered before we signed with them.

How We Chose Our Fireplace Company

Thanks again to our architect for referring us to Arizona Fireplaces. He spoke highly of their product quality, customer service, and the owner, Keith, as well as the rest of their team. He also mentioned that Arizona Fireplaces covers almost the entire Valley, from massive custom fireplaces to medium and small ones, and everything in between. I’m so thankful he pointed us in their direction because we honestly didn’t even look anywhere else. Once we started with them, we stuck with them all the way through.

The entire process was smooth and stress-free from start to finish. From the moment we finalized our design and measurements, everything else fell into place easily. We chose the same fireplace in two different sizes, one for our living room and a slightly smaller one for our wine room.

From selecting the fireplaces at their showroom to coordinating the pickup with our contractor for installation, everything went smoothly. The Arizona Fireplaces team was kind, quick to respond, and always easy to communicate with. Their collection is massive, from electric to gas, to outdoor fireplaces and even outdoor kitchens, so there’s truly something for everyone.

We loved our experience so much that if we ever undertake another project involving fireplaces, indoors or outdoors, we’d go back to Arizona Fireplaces in a heartbeat.

How We Chose Our Black Patio/Backyard Doors

In the design stage of our renovation, when we were collecting ideas of what to do and what not to do with the house, one of the ideas was to convert the large windows facing our backyard and patio into doors. The goal was to create an indoor–outdoor space. To be honest, at first I wasn’t totally supportive of this idea(haha)! I thought since the new doors would be nearly the same shape as the windows, it might not make a huge difference. But I’m so glad we did it, because these doors ended up being one of my absolute favorite parts of the renovation, and one of Matt’s favorites too.

Finding the right doors was NOT easy!! In Arizona, most companies I contacted would happily do front entry doors of any size, but for some reason, they didn’t handle window-to-door conversions for patios. I called numerous places, had contractors come out to inspect, asked around for referrals, and kept hitting walls. Either the companies didn’t handle that type of project, the sizing didn’t work, or they just wouldn’t take it on.

Since I was determined to make it happen, I started looking beyond Arizona. I researched and contacted companies nationwide, but many only operated locally within their own states and wouldn’t ship. Others would ship but didn’t provide installers, which was another obstacle. Finally, I found a company based in California that not only shipped statewide, but was also extremely helpful over the phone with measurements and details. They reassured me that they had worked with a few trusted contractors in Arizona before and recommended some for the installation.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know if you’re planning a major home renovation, a medium-sized remodel, a smaller project, a DIY project, or even building a house from scratch. However, I hope this checklist helps you identify the steps you really need to consider. Every detail matters, and every little corner counts when it comes to making your project come together.

I hope this checklist helps you stay organized, stay on top of things, and realize that, yes, you can manage it yourself without hiring a general contractor, as long as you have a great system, follow the steps, and keep everything in order.

If you’re in Arizona, I hope the companies we’ve used and loved will help you in the same way they’ve helped us. And if you’re not local, you can always count on trusted national brands like Ferguson Home and Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove. They are available no matter where you live in the U.S. At the end of the day, enjoy the process, stay excited, and have fun with your renovation!

Love,

Sherry