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All home remodel and renovations need a plan to avoid mistakes and budget blowouts. Here are 7 questions to ask to create your home remodeling project plan.

7 Questions That Will Help You Plan a Renovation Project or Remodel

As the saying goes, “measure twice, cut once”. It doesn’t matter if you’re after a small remodel or a major home addition, rushing into any construction project on your home can be a costly mistake. Creating a plan before you get started will keep your home renovation both on track and on budget. But where do you start? Hint: It’s not picking out the dream tile.

Before doing anything, here are 7 questions to ask to create your home remodeling project plan.

1. What is the main purpose of the home renovation or remodeling project?

Defining what you want out of a renovation is the best way to begin planning your home construction project.

It could be that you are looking to increase the value of your home, make the home more energy-efficient, or appeal to a broader range of residents before putting the home on the rental market. It could even be as simple as wanting a fresh look for your home. Whatever your reasons, defining them upfront will help when it comes to making decisions and staying on track.

If you want to increase the value of your home for example, you can plan upgrades that will get the highest return on investment. If you’re looking for sustainable, energy efficient solutions, you may be eligible for new tax credits and rebates. Defining the primary purpose of the remodel will help you focus your research, planning, and budget to stick to what is most important. It will also be helpful when it comes time to meet with contractors who can help make suggestions and bring this vision to life.

Discover Belong PRO: the best alternative to Property Management in Seattle, Redmond, Oakland, and many more cities across California, Florida and Washington State.

2. What budget can I afford to remodel my home?

This is an important one. Start crunching numbers early so you can have discussions with contractors around the cost of the project and materials. With a good plan in place, you should be able to work with your builder to develop a sensible budget. It’s easy for construction costs to blow out, especially in the current climate with global stock shortages and cost fluctuations.

Add 5% - 10% of your budget as a buffer for contingencies. This should cover the cost of inflation or potential issues that could arise to bring the property up to code.

3. Who will I need to hire to renovate my home?

Putting together a team for your home renovation is an essential part of your plan. A good contractor will help guide you through many of the questions you may have around budget, materials, timelines and permits. You will also need help with the design to ensure it is structurally sound and up to code.

If you're on the Belong PRO residential network, we can connect you to an extensive vendor network of over 10,000 professionals to help you get quotes fast. 

4. Do I need permits to start construction on my home?

Most cities need permits and building inspections by a local department before you can begin construction. This process can cause huge delays and frustration if you’re not prepared, so don’t leave anything to chance.

Some minor renovations won’t need a permit, such as painting, installing new flooring and countertops, or changing faucets. Any changes that alter the footprint of your home will. This may include decking, fences and even some plumbing and electrical work, so don’t leave it to chance and assume that you don’t need a building permit. If you’re installing a pool, you will likely need several permits, based on where your home is.

Take a trip to the nearest permit office to find out what your local municipality requires and the type of documentation you will need. If you’re unprepared, you could add significant delays to when you can start renovating your home.

5. Will the home need to be vacant during construction?

If you’re making modifications to your residential home, such as adding a new bathroom or sprucing up the exterior, you might be able to live with a bit of dust and inconvenience. But if you're taking on a major remodel or renovating a rental home, you will need to create a plan for the property to be vacant. This could include budgeting for a period without rental income — or even needing a rental home yourself for you and your family.

If you are staying in the home, make sure you have a plan for curious kids and pets who are at risk during a home renovation.

Like the residents of your home, you also need to consider the contents of your home and what you’ll do with them during the renovation. If you are remodeling a bathroom, you may simply need a temporary place for your toothbrush and daily skincare routine. If you’re ripping up floorboards, you are going to have to move furniture out and may need to budget for off-site storage. 

6. How will debris and rubbish be contained during construction?

Another thing to plan for is the inevitable cleanup when renovating your home. Protect nearby areas and soft furnishings with sheets or plastic covers to cut cleanup time.

You will also need to consider disposal of construction debris such as plasterboards, bricks, tiles, broken glass and pipes. In most cases, home construction and renovation projects will use a roll-off dumpster. Some municipalities require a permit to have the dumpster on-site, especially if there’s not enough room to accommodate it on your property.

If you are getting rid of aging appliances or salvageable materials such as doors and windows, look online to communities such as Buy Nothing or Nextdoor to see if anyone wants to use them for a more sustainable alternative to landfill.

7. How will the renovation or remodel be funded?

With your budget, permits, timeline and vacancy planned you will need to consider how you will be paying for the home renovation project. Options include:

Personal savings: If you have a small project or enough set aside, you could fund some or all of the project from a savings account.


Home equity: If you have enough equity in your home, you could redraw or borrow against this amount to invest back into the remodel of your home.


Mortgage refinancing: If you refinance your home, you could add more to put toward home improvements while also negotiating a better rate or terms for your mortgage.


Split It: Belong homeowners are pre-approved for financing to assist with renovations and repairs on their home. If your home is being rented on the Belong network, you could even pay off the cost of improvements by spreading out payments to be deducted from your rental income over the period of the lease — leaving you with positive cash flow, while also increasing the value of your home. 


Green incentives: If you’re making the home more energy-efficient, you could qualify for incentives to help fund your renovation project. The Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency can help you find incentives and green loan policies by State or you may qualify for tax credits for certain upgrades.

Learn More: Is It Better To Finance a Renovation or Home Remodel or Pay in Cash?

Get the best price for your renovated rental home

If you've invested in getting a home up to scratch for the rental market, you'll want the best possible price to maximize your ROI. We've got you covered. Belong is simplifying the rental experience across the US and helping more homeowners reach their financial goals with the most hassle-free property management service; Belong PRO. 

See why thousands of US homeowners are ditching outdated Property Management in San Francisco,San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Jacksonville, Concord, Berkeley, Orlando and more.

Find out what to look for in a home renovation contractor plus discover 5 of the best home renovation contractors to consider for your next home remodel quote

5 Renovation Companies Every Homeowner Should Consider

There are 524,387 remodeling businesses in the US as of 2022. Of course, not all will provide the same level of service or have trusted contractors available that suit your home renovation. So how do you choose who to get a bid from? To help, we’ve narrowed down a selection of general contractors and builders that offer nationwide renovation and remodeling services.

What to look for in a home renovation contractor

We’ve all heard the horror stories, not all contractors are equal. Choosing the wrong general contractor to renovate your home could be a costly mistake that leaves you paying twice as much to repair poor workmanship or without your home essentials for months on end. 

There’s no way of knowing for sure until the job has started if you’ve made the right choice — but we have compiled a list of essentials you should be looking for. It’s also a good idea to get 2-3 quotes completed for your project to compare costs and services available for peace of mind. Before signing any contracts, make sure your renovation company and/or contractors are:

Don’t take risks with an unlicensed tradesperson. Only ever work with professionals who are fully trained, licensed, bonded and insured. It’s important to note that bonded and insured are not the same thing. A contractor’s bond is a financial guarantee that the terms of a contract will be fulfilled. This protects all parties from financial loss if the contractor doesn’t follow through with the terms of the original agreement. It’s also not simple to obtain, so successfully having a bond is a good indication that there is high confidence in the business or tradesperson being able to execute on the contract. Insurance on the other hand is a paid-premium that covers claims and incidents if something goes wrong — such as worker’s compensation if an accident occurs on site. 

Does the business have good references and before/after photos that you can see from other local customers? Are their online reviews positive or negative? Before getting a quote from any contractor, check out their website and see what people are saying about them to get a feel for their reputation. If you have friends or neighbors who have renovated their home, ask if they have any recommendations. 

Hiring someone you trust will go a long way in protecting your home and finances. Contractors and businesses should be honest and upfront about timelines, costs, and what is workable. If they can’t provide this or you can’t find information on their licenses and work history, this is a red flag. 

When choosing a nationwide contractor, you will be relying on the services of a local representative or franchise owner. Do your due-diligence and ensure that the people working in your hometown have the same reputation as their parent company.

Most (but not all) nationwide renovation companies will have financing options available. Be sure to check you want to spread out payments over time and read the fine print before signing up with any associated financing company. 

Offer good-value warranties and guarantees

Most renovation companies will provide a warranty on workmanship and installation for one year. Be sure to find out the details and terms of any warranties or guarantees before assuming that work will be redone at no cost to you. If there is a dispute or it’s not deemed faulty, you may need to pay again for work to be fixed.

Note what the communication is like when you approach anyone for a quote. Are you greeted with professionalism and in a timely manner? Do they show up when they say they will? Make sure you deal with a company who handles communication well and interacts with integrity.  

5 of the best national home renovation companies

If you’re looking for the best national companies for remodels and home renovations, here is a list of 5 nationwide builders and contractors to consider. 

Please note: The following list features information taken from company websites and is accurate as at 21 September 2022. Please contact individual contractors to confirm details as they are subject to change. 

Who: Belong, the world's first residential network

Areas serviced: Currently serving major cities in California, Florida and Washington including Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Miami and many more.

Why you should consider them for your home renovation: If your home is on the rental market, you need to make sure you optimize your spend for maximum return on investment. With a focus on features renters love, Belong can connect you with our extensive vendor network of over 10,000 professionals. We make sure contractors are licensed, bonded and insured. They have a wealth of experience in all areas of home renovation and are available for projects of any size. 

Financing available: Yes — and Belong homeowners on the residential network are pre-approved for Split It, which provides the option to divide and deduct the contractor costs over the term of your rental lease agreement. 

Warranties: In addition to a one-year warranty on workmanship, if you're not completely delighted with the quality of our partner’s work, they will do it again at no cost. 

Who: Window World is a large national franchisee for exterior renovations

Areas serviced: National, with over 200 locations across the country

Why: Window World specializes in home exterior remodeling, installing energy-efficient replacement windows, exterior doors, siding, and more to increase the curb appeal of homes while reducing their carbon footprint. According to Qualified Remodeler rankings, this franchised remodeler is the largest in the nation, completing over 200,000 remodeling projects in 2020. 

Warranties: All replacement windows and patio doors come with a manufacturer’s lifetime limited warranty, good for as long as you own your home.

Who: Re-Bath, the nation's largest complete bathroom remodeling franchise (owned by Home Brands Group Holdings Inc). 

Areas serviced: National, with over 95 franchises across 41 states

Why: Established in 1978, Re-Bath is a bathroom remodeling and renovation company. By sticking to this single-focus speciality, they are faster than the industry average when it comes to turning around a beautiful new bathroom for homes. Some installations can be completed within 5 days — but be prepared to stick to Re-Bath’s manufactured products to get this kind of speedy service and certain warranties. 

Warranties: One-year warranty coverage on workmanship and installation of your bathroom remodeling project, plus additional coverage for manufactured products. 

Who: Mr Handyman is a home service Neighborly™ company

Areas serviced: Nationwide with 189 locations across the US and Canada

Why: Mr. Handyman is best known for home improvement and repairs and is said to have served almost 1million customers in homes across North America. As a franchised business, not every location offers full remodeling services, but most can take care of home upgrades and some will offer full service basement, bathroom, and kitchen remodeling. The company’s remodeling professionals have an average of 10 years’ experience and they guarantee their work for six months.   

Warranties: Mr Handyman’s parent company, Neighborly, offers the ‘Done Right Promise’, which states that if you believe the job wasn’t ‘done right’, you can contact the local franchise owner within 6 months and they will fix it at no additional cost. You can find the exclusions and terms here. 

Enjoy A Wide Network of Trusted Pros

Should you flip a fixer upper or renovate to rent? If the idea of taking on the workload of renovating and managing a home puts you off, we have the solution.

Renovate to Rent: How to Flip a Fixer Upper Into Passive Income

Aging fixer-uppers, home foreclosures and neglected run-down homes have long been the domain for house flippers (and HGTV series). Problem homes are snapped up for a bargain and sold immediately after renovation (or ‘flipped) in hope of a quick profit. But what about those playing the long game? Passive income could be more beneficial for your financial situation in the long term and less risky than a quick-flip. 

In this article, we’ll show you how to turn a fixer upper into passive income without taking on a huge amount of extra work and responsibility — by letting Belong manage the entire project end-to-end. 

Homes that need extra love sell for below-market rates, because more money is needed to bring them up to a livable standard. Once ready, if you don’t plan to live in the home, it can be sold immediately (flipped) or held on to for the rental market. 

Flipping is not technically an investment strategy. This is considered active income and you will need to work hard for this income as you prepare the house for immediate sale. This can provide a faster return, but the costs and capital gains taxes can be high. There are also high risks involved as costs can mount quickly and the market may dip while you’re under construction. 

Renovating to rent on the other hand, is an investment strategy as you will be holding on to the home long-term for the purpose of generating passive income. Investing in renovation and holding on to a property for the rental market can pay off in many ways:

A recently-renovated home can attract a higher rental price and your pick of quality residents to care for the home

You will enjoy tax benefits while you hold an investment property, if it’s rented by long-term residents (not family or used as a short-term vacation rental)



A well-managed home can generate passive income for years to come

The home should increase in value over time and you can benefit from appreciation, because renting allows you to hold on until the right time to sell, further adding to your return on investment

How to earn passive income from buying a fixer upper to rent

Before you get too excited about a bargain property, there are two essentials you’ll need to cover off if you want to enjoy passive income and turn a fixer upper into a solid real estate investment: 

1. You need expert advice from at least one qualified and experienced contractor about the costs of a renovation to bring the home up to code and attract a strong rental price for the location. 

2. The home will need to be well-managed so that you don’t have long vacancies and won’t need to lift a finger to generate rental income. From marketing to placing the right tenants and collecting rent, there’s a lot of work behind the scenes that needs to happen to achieve truly passive income. 

This is where Belong can help in a way no other builder or property management company can. Before we market a home, we conduct a thorough home inspection to assess for the structural integrity and safety of the home, as well as the functionality that will attract long-term renters. And because we specialize in homes for the rental market, we know exactly what your property needs to attract an optimized price for your home’s location. 

Learn More: Discover Belong PRO, the best alternative to Property Management in Seattle, Redmond, Oakland, and many more cities across California, Florida and Washington State.

Learn more about passive income and peace of mind with Belong

If you’re considering a ‘renovate to rent’ strategy, Belong can help. From expert advice to placing long-term residents, and keeping your home well-maintained — we handle it all.

Why? Because Belong wants to bring real estate investment back into the hands of individual investors, helping homeowners to achieve financial freedom. See why thousands of US homeowners are ditching outdated Property Management in San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Tampa, Jacksonville, Concord, Berkeley, Orlando and more.

Miami is one of the fastest growing rental and real estate markets in the country. Learn more about investing in and managing a rental property in Miami, Florida.

The Local Investors’ Guide to Miami Real Estate

Smart people have long seen the enchanting possibilities of Miami — that’s even how it got its beloved moniker of Magic City. The tropical climate, vibrant neighborhoods and culture has made it one of the fastest growing rental and real estate markets in the country. 

If you own a single-family home or condo in Miami, or are considering a rental investment in the city, this guide will direct you to tips on everything from school districts to property taxes and rental management for Miami. 

Why Miami is a great place for rental investors with single-family homes

Demand for single-family rental homes is soaring across the country, with Americans of all generations wanting larger homes with outdoor spaces. While rents have grown significantly for single-family homes in all markets, CNBC reported that Miami homeowners have been the biggest winners, with single-family rents soaring over 36% (up from 2% the previous year). 

Housing affordability can be an issue when breaking into the Miami housing market as an investor. RealtyHop’s affordability index ranks Miami as the least affordable housing market in April 2023, beating out LA and New York. Affordability is calculated by the average earnings of Miami residents, estimating that potential buyers need to spend 80.46% of their monthly income on the cost of homeownership. 

It's great news for people who own a rental home in Miami or have recently inherited a house in Miami. Because even as one of the least affordable rental markets, long-term renting is a better option than trying to break into the buyer’s market for many residents. This is keeping demand buoyant for rentals and should for some time. 

Best school districts in Miami to own rental property

Single-family homes attract parents. If you’re interested in investing in Miami real estate, you’ll want to understand the role school districts play in how potential residents will evaluate your rental property.

Miami is home to the fourth largest school district in the country: Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The school district your home is located in can have a real impact on how potential residents value your property, impacting your pricing and return on investment. 

If you’re researching neighborhoods, check out our list of the best school districts in Miami, or check out sites like Niche and GreatSchools to do your homework on cities such as Orlando and Tampa. 

Read More: Best Miami School Districts To Own Rental Property

We’ve already established that the Miami rental market is red-hot, but how much rent is too much to ask? How do you price a Miami rental and optimize long-term rental income when the market has gone a bit mad? With realistic, real-time rent valuations. 

The simple fact is that the rental market in Miami isn’t the same market of years past. Property values have changed too much, we’re all playing a different game now. Yet, it seems this is news to the property management industry, who are still using a handful of comps to price Miami homes in this complex rental market.

Belong addresses these rapid changes by taking a modern approach to pricing homes on the rental market. In fact, Belong has ditched the property management model to offer a completely new approach to the rental market.

When helping homeowners in Miami, Belong uses technology to blend live market data with an all-important metric: real demand for each home. We determine the right price for your home that will maximize rental income and keep vacancies low, long-term. And because we extend our services to renters as part of our community, we attract the best of the best to place in your rental property. Learn more about real-time rental valuations for Miami in this article. 

Read More: The Realistic Way To Price a Miami Rental Home When The Market is Mad 

How much property tax will I pay in Florida?

Property taxes in Miami are collected by the Tax Collector's Public Service Office for Miami-Dade County. While the tax will vary per property, the average property tax rate for Florida is 0.89% (accurate as of August 2022). Compared to other states, this places Florida around the middle-range, ranked 23 out of 50 for the lowest property tax rate.

Who are the best property management companies in Miami?

The best way to ensure your investment home is well-kept and profitable is to find the best company to help you manage it. But when comparing the best property management companies across Florida, you’ll be looking at a handful of differences between them all. Things like how much they charge in management fees and how often you are going to get slogged for more (if they even tell you!). 

With Belong, there’s no comparison. Because Belong isn’t a property management company, it’s a completely unique experience that is humanizing the rental market. 

Belong does things differently in Miami, by offering owners of rental homes:

Guaranteed Rent: Receive your rent on time, every month, regardless of when it’s paid by residents. 

24/7 Concierge Support: Both homeowners and residents have access to real-time support, going beyond emergency maintenance requests.

Transparent fees: No hidden costs like setup fees or lease renewal charges.

Modern-day marketing: Virtual tours and video marketing is included in listings.

User-friendly app: Belong's app provides convenient access to documentation, cash flow insights, and financial and insurance solutions. 

Long-term residents: Belong takes a personalized approach to match the right people, so they stay longer and feel at home.

Innovative financial solutions: Homeowners can manage cash flow effectively, even splitting the cost of maintenance and placement fees.

Eviction protection: Owners are shielded from legal costs if we ever place the wrong people

Extensive vendor network: Belong connects homeowners with a vetted network of over 10,000 professionals for repairs and renovations.

Comprehensive insurance solutions: Belong offers insurance options that protect homeowners, their properties, and residents.

Market-driven insights: Belong utilizes market data and real-time interest to maximize the value of your home.

Even though Belong topped the list (you can see the rankings here) when we compared Miami’s top-ranked property managers, it became clear we were comparing apples with oranges. 

Read More: Why Florida's Top-Rated Property Managers Are More 80s Than Miami Vice

As a land of sunshine, high demand and low taxes, Florida is an attractive state to own a rental home. If you own a home in Miami, now is the time to find out if you’re eligible to join the Belong residential network. We specialize in single-family homes and condos, helping individual homeowners to achieve their financial goals in the rental market. 

Here is a snapshot of what Florida homeowners are saying about Belong…

Great personal experience with Belong. They treat you like people versus other agencies that are focused on numbers. I recommend Belong 110%” - SBF

Wonderful experience with Belong Property management. They are taking wonderful care of my tenants. The level of professionalism they have shown is impressive, I will continue working with them as long as I have properties.” - Thalina V

I contracted with Belong to do construction and paint work at Curaleaf. Their price, quality, and timing was on point. Great people to work with!” - Danielle G

Think your Florida home belongs with us? Check out one of our local homeowner pages below to see if you qualify:

To speak to someone about listing your rental home, you can also call 786-628-0600 (English) or 786-786-1073 (Español).  

Melanie Kershaw

Mel Kershaw is a Content Lead at Belong. With an extensive background working with technology companies including Eventbrite and Yelp, she’s always looking for ways to create educational and informative articles that simplifies tech and solves problems for her audience.

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