Ranch House Remodeling Plans

Design Drawing

• Before beginning to remodel your ranch house, drawing your design plans and the changes you want to make is wise. Consider your budget, the function of rooms and traffic patterns. Remodeling can include building additions to the ranch house or altering the space inside the home by removing walls, adding walls or adding skylights or recessed lighting in ceilings. You may even want to turn your single-story house into a raised ranch with an additional floor as your family expands.

Contractor Selection

• Researching contractors is essential when you consider adding an office, bedroom, bathroom or other room to or in your house. Ask for projects quotes from two or three contractors as well as photographs of work they completed. Once you decide on a contractor, explore several remodeling design plans, and have the contractor draw up a contract that states the exact work he will do, the cost involved and the time frame to do the work.

Building Regulations and Codes

• Some house remodeling projects require a work permit. Your city and/or county government offices can provide that information. Also find out which building safety regulations and codes need to be followed. If you plan to sell the ranch house in the future, you will save yourself money if all remodeling work is done according to regulations and codes so that it stands up to a thorough home inspection.

Ideas

• Remodeling plans may include adding windows for more light, ways to save energy such as new insulation, adding rooms or character, changing a small bedroom into a large walk-in closet or updating kitchen counter tops to granite. Remodeling the ranch house's kitchen and bathrooms will provide the most return on your investment, but you may want to remodel to make your home look more modern with contemporary updates.