Check out our home renovation timeline mapped out step-by-step! Take a peek and see how we completed our home reno… do you think we were able to stick to the timeline?

If you’re anything like me on the eve of our renovation, my biggest questions dealt with how long this process would realistically take. I was also really curious (and anxious) about our decision not to move out our family of five plus a dog while renovating (and, as I recall those months, it makes me break into hives, so I’ll have to save that topic for a later post).

Jerry told us it could not happen in under 3 months and that 4 months was more realistic. He explained that 3 months would be a stretch and could only happen if we stuck to our timeline, didn’t make any big changes halfway through, and didn’t run into any huge surprises. 

And that brings me to Step #2 in our renovation process. (Yes, I skipped step #1. That’s because I skipped it in real life, too. I already knew I wanted WJM Custom Builders (Jerry’s company) for the job. I came up with the design myself, but Shasta (my friend who also happens to be an incredibly talented interior designer AND also happens to be the person from whom we bought our house) came over for an initial meeting with Jerry to go over ideas and helped me with tons of decisions along the way.

After that meeting I put pencil to graph paper and started sketching what I wanted. Jerry and his guys expertly took my incredibly non-expert drawings and turned them into reality. Another disclaimer—other contractors/builders could have easily made really costly mistakes by relying on my drawings alone to complete the renovation. As I reminded them daily, Jerry’s guys knew the drawings were just that, drawings, not professional plans. They took liberties where they needed to and accounted for things I didn’t, which was exactly what I relied on them to do. 

Below I have listed the steps according to how OUR renovation process went. I am not a contractor, nor am I a designer, and if you are, I am fully aware that you will likely take issue with the placement of at least one element on this list. I know I do! ::adds “The Mistakes I Made Along the Way” to list of later blog entries:: 

1. Interview designers and/or contractors
2. Come up with a design AND a plan – end of July
3. Get quotes from subs (i.e. plumber, carpenter, electrician, framer, etc.) – early August
4. Make selections in showroom – August 18 (didn’t order or pay for any yet, but sent to Jerry to finish out bid)
5. The B word – go over budget and bid with builder – August 19
6. Begin packing/moving out of renovation zone – September 1-4
7. Demolition – September 5-11
8. Framing – September 11- 13
9. Plumbing – September 14-15
10. Order appliances – September 15
11. Electrical – September 15
12. Insulation – September 20-21
13. First Draw (payment) – September 22
14. Sheetrock & Wall Prep – September 25-28
15. Cabinetry—all custom made on-site – October 7-November 3
16. Counters – ordered October 18 – installed November 6-7
17. Prep for Paint – November 9-12
18. Priming and sanding – November 13-15
19. Paint – November 17-21
20. Staining – November 21 
21. Flooring and tile work – November 29-30
22. Glass inserts in cabinetry installed – November 29
23. Light Fixture and Outlet Installation – December 2-3
24. Plaster Application to Arched Vent Hood – December 4
25. Appliance Install – December 4
26. Cabinet Hardware Install – December 6-7
27. Plumbing Fixture Install – December 9
28. Clean up Crew – December 10
29. Moving Back In! – December 11-21
30. Wallpaper Install – December 23
31. Installation of Panels for Panel-Ready Appliances – December 30
32. Second Draw – January 9
33. Custom Doors delivered – January 10
34. Reframing Doorways for custom doors – January 15
35. Sheetrock and Trim Work for new doorways – January 16-18
36. Staining Doors and Painting new doorways – January 24-25
37. Adding Brass Rails to Hutch – January 31
38. Last Draw – February 6

One HUGE thing I should point out is that most logical and fiscally responsible people should move Step #5 up to #1 or #2. I will be the first to admit that budgeting for this project was my least favorite part. I knew what I wanted and I kind of let that dictate my budget, much to my saint of a husband’s dismay.

If you’re going to be taking out a loan to complete your home renovation project, then budget is obviously going to be extremely important for you to determine ahead of time and to adhere to. And even if you’re paying cash, it is smart to determine your budget ahead of time… smart, but not fun.

I have so much information to share about each of the steps in this process, and I plan on it! But it’s too much for one blog post.

All said and done, the number of days from moving out of our kitchen to moving back in was 101 days- which was in between 3 and 4 months—exactly what Jerry prepared us for. 

It was a blur, a messy, dusty, paint fumes-infused blur, but I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I learned SO MUCH and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learned with you along the way. 

Cheers!

Lizzie