A whole-home renovation updates many rooms at once, usually in older or newly purchased houses. Assess the home's systems first: electrical, plumbing, crawlspace, and insulation. Plan for lead paint in pre-1978 homes and test suspected asbestos before demolition. Use a detailed contract, a contingency for hidden conditions, and payments tied to completed work and inspections.
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A whole-home renovation updates several rooms, or the entire house, at once. It's common with older intown homes and with houses bought specifically to renovate. Doing the work together can be more efficient than room by room, but it requires more planning, a larger budget cushion, and a contractor who can manage many trades on one schedule.
Start with an assessment
Before deciding on finishes, find out what condition the house is really in. On older Metro Atlanta homes, common issues include:
- Aging electrical systems, undersized panels, or ungrounded wiring.
- Galvanized or older supply and drain piping.
- Crawlspace moisture, sagging floor framing, or termite damage. Subterranean termites are common in Georgia.
- Original windows, little insulation, and leaky ductwork.
- Lead-based paint in homes built before 1978, and possible asbestos in older flooring, ceilings, or pipe insulation.
Fixing the house's systems first protects the money you spend on finishes. A home inspection, and sometimes a structural engineer, can help set priorities.
Plan the sequence
- Design and scope. Decide what's changing in each room and which walls, if any, are moving.
- Permits and approvals. Building permits, plus historic district or HOA review where they apply.
- Demolition and abatement. Hazardous materials are handled by qualified, appropriately certified crews.
- Structure and rough-ins. Framing, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC, followed by inspections before walls close.
- Insulation, drywall, and finishes. Cabinets, flooring, tile, trim, paint, and fixtures.
- Final inspections and punch list.
Lead and asbestos
For homes built before 1978, the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting rule generally requires firms that disturb painted surfaces to be certified and use lead-safe practices. Suspected asbestos should be tested before demolition, and removal has its own rules. Ask how your contractor handles both.
Budgeting and contracts
Whole-home projects almost always uncover something unexpected. Many homeowners set aside a contingency for hidden conditions on top of the contract price. Your contract should define the scope room by room, list allowances, set out how unforeseen conditions are priced, and include a draw schedule tied to completed work and passed inspections, not a large payment upfront.
Licensing and oversight
Georgia generally requires a state residential contractor license for residential jobs above a dollar threshold (currently $2,500 under state law), and a whole-home renovation will be well above it. Confirm the license on the Georgia Secretary of State's verification site, get certificates of insurance, and ask who will supervise the site day to day. Collect lien waivers with each draw so subcontractor or supplier disputes don't end up as liens on your home.
Living through it
- Decide early whether you'll live in the house or move out during the heaviest phases.
- Ask how dust will be contained and how the site will be secured each day.
- Agree on a regular update meeting and a single point of contact.
Planning a larger renovation? Request a remodeling contractor and tell us about the house.
Frequently asked questions
Should I renovate all at once or room by room?
All at once can be more efficient and less disruptive overall, but needs more budget upfront. Room by room spreads cost out but repeats setup and disruption. Fixing core systems first is wise either way.
How much contingency should I plan for?
Many homeowners keep a contingency reserve beyond the contract price for hidden conditions, especially in older homes. Ask your contractor what they typically find in houses like yours.
Can I live in the house during a whole-home renovation?
Sometimes, depending on scope and whether a kitchen and bathroom stay usable. Many families move out during demolition and the heaviest phases. Discuss dust control and phasing with your contractor.