The Ultimate Guide to Whole-Home Remodeling in Atlanta

What can you expect in this guide? We'll tell you! Click to jump to the section you're most curious about or read the whole guide to be best prepared for your project.

Step 1: Goals and Priorities
Step 2: Budget and Financing
Step 3: What Impacts Cost
Step 4: All About the Remodeling Process
Step 5: Assembling Your Team

STEP 1: DEFINE YOUR GOALS AND PRIORITIES

Before a single hammer swings, you need a plan.

Start by thinking about how your home is currently falling short and how you want it to support your lifestyle moving forward. The clearer you are about your goals, the easier it’ll be for your Atlanta home remodeling team to bring them to life.

What Do You Want to Improve?

Here are a few prompts to help you define your renovation wish list:

• Are there rooms that just don’t function the way you need them to?

• Is your home missing spaces for work, hobbies, or entertaining?

• Are you constantly wishing for more storage?

• Is your layout outdated or overly segmented?

• Is storage overflowing and causing clutter?

Home Remodeling Ideas to Spark Inspiration:

A whole home remodel doesn’t mean changing everything—but it’s your chance to rethink how your home supports the way you live.

• Convert a formal dining room into a cozy library or home office

• Add a mudroom with custom built-ins for everyday organization

• Open up the main floor by removing walls for a better flow

• Finish the basement and turn it into a guest suite, gym, or rec room

• Reclaim an unused bedroom as a media room or art studio

• Expand the kitchen with a back kitchen or walk-in pantry

• Create a primary suite addition with spa-style amenities

STEP 2: KNOW YOUR BUDGET AND FINANCING OPTIONS

It’s easy to dream big, but getting a handle on your budget is what turns those dreams into reality.

If you’re mapping out a full gut-job or refreshing every room with high-end finishes, understanding your numbers is key to keeping your remodel on track.

What Is the 30% Rule for Renovations?

If you’re looking for a general rule of thumb, the 30% Rule is a solid place to start. This means that you can typically invest up to 30% of your home’s current value in a total home renovation and still maintain a good return if or when you sell.

For example, if your home is worth $900,000, a high-end home remodel with a budget around $270,000 is usually considered a smart investment.

Of course, there are exceptions—and your neighborhood, market trends, and scope of work all come into play. A good whole home remodeler will help you balance vision and value so you get the best of both.

How to Finance a Whole Home Renovation?

Not everyone has a few hundred grand sitting in a checking account—and that’s okay. There are several smart ways to finance a whole house renovation, including:

• Home Equity Loans – Fixed-rate loans with predictable monthly payments

• Home Equity Lines of Credit (HELOCs) – Revolving credit you can draw from as needed

• Cash-Out Refinancing – A mortgage refi that lets you borrow more than you owe

• Renovation Loans – Specialty loans tied to the future value of your renovated home

• Personal Loans – Best for smaller scopes or bridging gaps in a larger plan

Tip: Talk to a lender before you finalize your scope—knowing your options upfront helps avoid delays and major design changes later in the process.

What Renovations Add the Most Value?

If you’re thinking long-term ROI, these updates consistently deliver when it comes time to sell (or just enjoy living in your home more right now):

• Kitchen Remodels: A major kitchen remodel in Atlanta can offer high returns, especially when it includes upgraded appliances, all-wood cabinetry, opening the layout, adding an island, and stone countertops

• Bathroom Remodels: Sleek, updated bathrooms with smart features and luxury finishes are always a win, especially when you add a primary bath or powder room

• Finished Basements: A well-designed basement remodel opens up all kinds of livable square footage for guests, hobbies, or entertainment

• Outdoor Living Spaces: A covered porch, outdoor kitchen, or a cozy backyard with built-in seating adds real lifestyle value 

STEP 3: UNDERSTAND WHAT IMPACTS COST

Now that you've explored financing and budget ranges, it’s time to talk about the factors that influence how far your investment will go. No two whole house remodels are the same, and understanding what drives cost can help you prioritize what matters most.

Square Footage

The size of your home plays a huge role in determining your renovation budget. More square footage means more materials, more labor, and often more complexity—especially in full home remodeling projects where you’re updating multiple rooms or adding on.

Structural Changes

Removing walls, adding rooms, reworking layouts—these all fall under structural changes, and they tend to come with a higher price tag. Engineering, permits, and inspections add layers of cost (and time), but they’re worth it when your new layout fits your life like a glove.

Level of Finish

There’s a big difference between builder-grade and bespoke.

Choosing premium materials like solid hardwoods, custom cabinetry, natural stone, and designer lighting will elevate the look and feel of your remodel but also raise the budget. In luxury remodels, the finish level is where personality and style really come through.

Room Types

Some rooms cost more to renovate than others. Kitchens, bathrooms, and basements come with plumbing, electrical, and sometimes HVAC considerations, making them more expensive than bedrooms or living areas.

If you’re planning a kitchen remodel in Atlanta or a basement renovation, know these spaces usually eat up more of the budget (but often add the most value, too).

Material & Labor Availability

The Atlanta home improvement market is active, which means lead times and material costs can fluctuate. Working with a builder who’s tapped into local pricing trends helps you plan ahead and minimize surprises.

STEP 4: STEP-BY-STEP Home Renovation PROCESS

A successful whole house renovation isn’t just about great design—it’s about knowing what comes next and how to keep things moving.

Here’s how Elevation Building Company walks alongside your architect and designer to bring your vision to life, one expertly managed step at a time.

Design and Planning

This phase is all about translating ideas into a workable plan. We partner with your design professionals from day one, helping align goals with budget and feasibility.

We collaborate on layout, finishes, and timelines to make sure everyone is on the same page before the first wall comes down. This early coordination sets the tone for a well-executed renovation.

Demolition

Once the plans are finalized and permits secured, it’s time to make space for something better. Our team carefully removes existing finishes, fixtures, and structures, taking every precaution to protect your home. 

Structural Repairs and Framing

If your remodel involves layout changes or additions, this is when it all starts taking shape. We reinforce framing, make any necessary repairs, and reconfigure the structure according to your updated plans. This phase is where your new layout starts becoming real.

Mechanical Systems

Next comes the behind-the-walls work—plumbing, electrical, and HVAC updates that set your home up for comfort and performance.

Our trusted trade partners handle everything from rerouting pipes to installing upgraded systems. It’s all done to code, with efficiency and longevity in mind.

Interior Finishes

Now for the part where your home starts looking like your home. We install flooring, cabinetry, lighting, tile, and everything in between.

We work closely with your design team to ensure each detail is executed with care, because in a high-end home remodel, it’s the finishes that make all the difference.

Final Touches

The final stretch is all about dialing it in. Paint touch-ups, fixture checks, final inspections, and walkthroughs wrap up your whole home remodeling project.

We handle every last detail to make sure your home is clean, complete, and ready for move-in. Then we walk through everything with you to ensure it meets the highest standards.

STEP 5: ASSEMBLE YOUR TEAM EARLY

When you’re planning a whole home remodel, the earlier you bring everyone to the table, the smoother your project will go.

At Elevation Building Company, we collaborate with your architect and designer from the start to ensure feasibility, smart budgeting, and a plan that actually works, for your vision and your wallet.

Find a Custom Home Remodeler You Trust

Start with a builder who specializes in high-end home remodels and knows how to manage big-picture renovations with lots of moving parts.

A great contractor won’t just execute the plan—they’ll help you refine it, avoid pitfalls, and keep things moving. Elevation acts as your guide and advocate throughout the process, keeping communication clear and construction on track.

Bring in an Architect and Designers Early

Your architect and designer are essential to shaping the space, but their ideas need to be aligned with real-world budgets and timelines.

We collaborate closely with your design professionals early on to flag feasibility concerns, recommend cost-saving alternatives to keep your budget balanced, and keep your vision grounded in reality. It’s about creating a plan that’s inspiring and buildable.

Your Whole Home Remodel Starts Here!

A whole home remodel can deliver the kind of life you want to live.

At Elevation Building Company, we partner with discerning homeowners across Atlanta, Alpharetta, Roswell, Cumming, Marietta, and beyond to turn outdated houses into bold, beautiful homes built for the life you’re living now (and the one you’re dreaming about next).

From early home improvement planning to the final walkthrough, we make the process collaborative, efficient, and even exciting! If you’re ready to reimagine your space, we’d love to help you take the first step.

Reach out to Elevation Building Company today for a conversation about what’s possible.