How to Remodel a Small Ranch House

Start with well-defined goals. List those goals by importance. For example, spend your budget to gain a larger kitchen or bedroom first. Create various drawings to envision many options for remodeling. Change the position of walls or rework the floor plan to see how many possibilities you have. Work around a tight budget by postponing projects you can't afford.

Give the ranch house a new curbside appearance in your drawings. Consider painting red brick white or beige to give the house a new look. Include new landscaping in the front area of the home to update the look. Sketch the house with a new porch or garage.

Use graph paper to reconfigure floor space. Let one square of graph paper represent six inches of real space. Pencil in door and window openings. Use websites with tools for designing floor plans to create good sketches you can share with builders and subcontractors. Apply for a building permit when you decide on a go-forward plan with a builder.

Allow funds to upgrade kitchen and bath areas in almost any remodeling. Target those rooms to increase your home's value on the real estate market, if you can afford the investment. Have new cabinets, sinks and bath fixtures installed. Buy new appliances, countertops and flooring in the kitchen for any home that hasn’t been remodeled in 10 years, say experts at the National Association of Home Builders.

Target areas for remodeling that will return an investment over time. Talk with a Realtor in your area to find out what features will add market appeal to your house in your locale. For example, put money into adding a bedroom, adding a garage or replacing old carpet to increase your home’s value. Use fresh paint, colors and new furniture to improve the look of your house.