What to Expect During a Major Home Remodeling Project
Taking on a major home remodel is one of the most rewarding investments you can make — but it’s also one of the most complex. Unlike smaller home improvements, a full-scale remodel moves through a carefully ordered sequence of phases, each one laying the groundwork for the next. When homeowners understand what’s coming at each stage, they feel more confident, more in control, and better prepared to make the decisions that keep a project on track.
At Affluent Contractors, we manage the entire process on your behalf — from coordinating the right design and architectural professionals at the start, through every phase of construction, to the final walk-through when the job is done. You don’t need to figure out who to call or how to sequence it all. That’s what we’re here for.
Phase 1: Discovery & Feasibility
Every successful remodel starts long before anyone picks up a hammer — it starts with a clear vision and an honest assessment of what’s possible on your specific property.
Before our first meeting, it helps to gather inspiration. Browse home design sites, save photos that resonate with your style, and create two lists: your non-negotiables and your nice-to-haves. Those lists help your entire project team focus the budget where it matters most and identify where there’s room for flexibility.
During the discovery phase, we’ll meet with you to fully understand your goals, tour your property, and assess the scope of what you’re considering. For projects that involve adding square footage or significant structural changes, this phase also includes a formal feasibility study conducted by one of our licensed architectural partners — a critical step that establishes exactly what your property and local regulations will allow before any design dollars are spent.
The feasibility process examines:
- Your property’s zoning classification, development codes, and any applicable deed restrictions or neighborhood association requirements
- Setback requirements, lot coverage limits, impervious cover restrictions, and Floor Area Ratio (FAR) — all of which determine how much you can actually build
- Any Historic District, landmark, or neighborhood overlay designations that may affect your design options
- Site conditions and any known constraints that will influence the design approach
At the conclusion of this phase, you’ll have a clear picture of what’s achievable on your property, a written summary of relevant findings, and a pre-estimate for your review before any further investment is made.
Already working with an architect or interior designer? No problem. If you have an existing design relationship you want to preserve, we welcome the opportunity to step in as your construction partner and execute the project to the standard your design deserves. We’re experienced working alongside outside architects and designers and will coordinate seamlessly with your existing team from pre-construction through final walk-through.
Phase 2: Schematic Design
With feasibility confirmed and your goals clearly defined, your project moves into schematic design — managed by one of our architectural partners with full coordination from our project team.
This is where ideas first take shape on paper. Your architect will develop a minimum of two schematic design options showing proposed floor plan layouts and site configurations, giving you the ability to compare different approaches before committing to a direction. Our team participates in design reviews to ensure that what’s being designed is also buildable within your budget and timeline.
Key activities during this phase include:
- Development and comparison of multiple design schemes
- Preliminary building coverage, impervious coverage, and FAR calculations to confirm code compliance
- Coordination with structural engineering consultants if required by the scope
- Owner review meetings and design revisions until the schematic design is approved
We stay closely involved throughout this phase to make sure the design direction and the construction budget stay aligned — so there are no surprises when it’s time to build.
Phase 3: Design Development
With your schematic design approved, the project advances into design development — where the approved floor plan is fully resolved into a complete architectural design with exterior elevations, roof plans, window and door placements, and all the detail needed to understand exactly what your finished home will look and feel like.
If an interior designer is part of your project team, this is typically when their scope becomes most active — working in close collaboration with the architect to align interior selections, finishes, and space planning with the overall design intent.
During design development, your project team will:
- Prepare full exterior elevations showing proposed roof lines, door and window styles, and all exterior design elements
- Develop the corresponding roof plan
- Verify ongoing compliance with building coverage, impervious cover, and FAR requirements as the design evolves
- Coordinate interior elevations for kitchens, bathrooms, and other key spaces
- Address any applicable local ordinance requirements
- Annotate final drawings with notes and dimensions sufficient for preliminary cost estimating and structural design
This phase also typically involves engaging structural engineering services. For projects of significant scope, structural engineering fees generally run $5,000–$7,000, and geotechnical soils testing — which may be required before foundation design can begin — typically runs $4,000–$5,000. We coordinate all of these consultants on your behalf so you always have one point of contact managing the full process.
Phase 4: Permit & Construction Documents
With design development complete and approved, the project advances to full construction documentation — the detailed, permit-ready drawing set that governs everything that gets built.
Your architectural partner prepares two coordinated sets of drawings: the permit set required by the local building department and the construction set used by our crews and subcontractors in the field. These documents include:
For Permitting:
- Existing and proposed plot plans
- Tree protection plan where applicable
- Setback compliance and ordinance exhibits as required
- Demolition floor plans
- Proposed floor plans and exterior elevations with all permit-required notes and dimensions
- Any exhibits required for approval by utilities, transportation, or other municipal departments
For Construction:
- Electrical plans showing lighting, power, switching, and ventilation layouts
- Interior elevations for kitchens, bathrooms, tile work, stairs, and key design features
- Building sections and structural coordination drawings
- Material and systems specifications
Our team reviews all construction documents thoroughly before permit submission to make sure everything is coordinated, complete, and buildable as drawn — because the time to catch a discrepancy is before the permit is filed, not after the walls are framed.
Phase 5: Permitting
Obtaining a building permit — particularly in municipalities like Austin — requires experience, patience, and meticulous attention to detail. Your architectural partner manages the permit submission process, and our team supports every step, including:
- Submission of all required permit application forms and supporting documents
- Coordination with municipal utilities, fire department, and transportation departments for required approvals
- Demolition permit applications where applicable
- Resolution of any expired permits associated with the property
- Correspondence with city plan reviewers and preparation of any required revisions until the building permit is issued
Permitting timelines vary by municipality and project complexity. In most Texas markets, homeowners should plan for four to eight weeks from submission to permit issuance. We build that window into your project schedule from the start so construction can begin without delays the moment the permit is in hand.
Phase 6: Pre-Construction
With permits secured and construction documents finalized, the project moves into pre-construction — the coordination stage that sets your build up for success before a single wall comes down. This is where Affluent Contractors’ full project management capabilities come into focus.
Your dedicated project manager will:
- Build out a detailed project timeline and digital production schedule
- Guide you through any remaining material and product selections in coordination with your interior designer
- Place all material orders and track lead times — which can range from two to sixteen weeks depending on the product
- Sequence and schedule all subcontractors in the correct trade order
- Conduct a pre-construction walk-through with you to confirm scope, site access, and logistics before work begins
This is one of the many reasons we use JobTread, our professional project management platform, to keep every client, architect, and interior designer connected and informed throughout the process. Through your personal online project portal, you’ll have 24/7 access to:
- Daily work logs with photos and comments from the job site
- The full production schedule and active project milestones
- Product selections — every material, finish, and product choice is documented in your portal so you can review, approve, and track selections in one place, with full visibility for everyone involved in your project including your architect, interior designer, and project manager
- A direct line to your project manager — no guesswork, no chasing anyone for an update
No more scattered email threads, missing samples, or confusion about what was decided and when. Every selection, every approval, and every update lives in one place that everyone on your project team can see.
Phase 7: Construction
Once permits are issued and materials are staged, construction begins. Here’s how a typical major remodel or addition unfolds:
Demolition & Site Prep — The existing space is carefully cleared. This might mean removing cabinets, pulling up flooring, or opening walls to expose the structure underneath.
Excavation (for additions adding square footage) — The ground is prepared for a new foundation. Underground utilities are located, protected, or rerouted as needed.
Foundation Work — Block laying or concrete pouring establishes the structural base. After inspection, the surrounding earth is backfilled and graded properly.
Framing — Walls are framed and, for exterior additions, covered with structural sheathing.
Roofing (for additions) — Roof trusses go up, followed by decking and finished roofing materials.
Windows & Doors — Once the roof is weathertight, openings are sealed with windows and exterior doors.
Exterior Finishes (for additions) — Siding, soffit, fascia, and gutters complete the weather envelope.
Mechanical Rough-In — Plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians run all the systems that live inside the walls — supply and drain lines, wiring, ductwork, and gas lines where applicable. Each trade requires its own inspection before work proceeds.
Insulation — Walls and ceilings are insulated to code with options to consider like fiberglass, cellulose, mineral wool, spray foam, and others.
Once the bones are in place, the finish work begins:
Drywall & Trim — Walls are closed up, crown molding is installed, and doors and windows get their casings.
Flooring — Finish flooring goes in, followed by baseboards and transitions.
Cabinetry — Kitchens and bathrooms get their cabinets and built-ins.
Finish Plumbing, Electrical & HVAC — Plumbers install fixtures, faucets, and appliances. Electricians hang lighting, connect switches, and tie in smart home devices. HVAC systems are tested and commissioned.
Paint & Wall Finishes — Color and texture bring the space to life.
Appliances — All appliances are installed and integrated.
Landscaping — Once the crew has cleared out, any disturbed exterior areas are restored and new plantings go in.
The Final Walk-Through
When construction wraps up, you and your project manager will walk through every area of your home together. You’ll verify the quality of the work, learn how to operate any new systems or features, and receive full documentation on warranties and manufacturer guidelines.
For projects that involved architectural oversight during construction, a final review is conducted to confirm that all work was completed in accordance with the approved drawings and specifications — giving you an additional layer of professional accountability and peace of mind before the project is officially closed out.
A well-run remodel doesn’t just transform your home — it should be a process you can trust from the first conversation to the final handshake.
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