September 16
Planning a remodeling project in the Twin Cities can feel overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time taking on a major renovation. Between building codes, Minnesota weather considerations, and finding contractors you can trust, there’s plenty to think about before the first wall comes down. HBRE has managed hundreds of Twin Cities remodeling projects since 2013, and we’ve learned that the most successful renovations happen when homeowners know what to expect from day one.
Every remodeling project brings its own surprises, but the overall process usually follows predictable patterns. Understanding these phases helps you prepare mentally, financially, and practically for the months ahead. Whether you’re updating a kitchen in Minneapolis, finishing a basement in Maple Grove, or adding space to your Excelsior home, certain realities apply to almost every Twin Cities renovation.
Most Twin Cities families continue living in their homes during remodeling, which presents unique challenges that vary depending on the project scope. Kitchen renovations mean eating takeout or using a temporary setup in another room for several weeks. Bathroom projects might require sharing facilities or using a neighbor’s shower. Whole house renovations could mean moving out temporarily for the duration of the project.
Dust management becomes a daily concern regardless of project size. Even with plastic barriers and air filtration systems, fine particles find their way into adjacent rooms. You’ll want to pack away delicate items, cover furniture, and prepare for more frequent cleaning than usual. HBRE uses dust containment systems and daily cleanup procedures, but some mess is inevitable with any construction project.
Noise starts early and continues throughout working hours. Demolition creates the loudest disruption, followed by framing, electrical, and plumbing work. If you work from home or have young children, plan for how you’ll handle noise during peak construction periods. Most contractors work between 8 AM and 5 PM on weekdays, though some phases might require longer days to stay on schedule.
Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding suburbs each maintain their own ordinances. What’s allowed in Edina might differ from regulations in Plymouth or Apple Valley. Experienced contractors know these local variations and factor permit timelines into project schedules, but delays can occur when inspectors request modifications or when permit applications sit longer than expected.
Historical districts throughout the Twin Cities often impose additional restrictions on exterior changes and sometimes interior modifications. If your home sits in one of these areas, expect longer approval times and potential requirements to use specific materials or maintain certain architectural features.
Structural changes require engineering reviews that can add weeks to your timeline. Removing walls, adding windows, or modifying foundations triggers additional inspections that must happen at specific construction phases. These can’t be rushed, so patience becomes essential when your project involves major structural work.
Most contractors break remodeling work into three main stages, and HBRE follows this approach because it prevents costly mistakes and keeps everyone on the same page.
Vision Setting: This first step is all about figuring out what you want and whether it makes sense for your house and budget. During these early conversations, we typically:
Sometimes we discover things like needing a whole new electrical panel for that dream kitchen, or finding out the bathroom addition you want would conflict with where your main sewer line runs.
Design: After you decide to move ahead, the real planning starts. This usually takes a couple of months because there are so many decisions to make. During design, you’ll be:
People are always surprised by how many choices need to be made, but every single decision affects what you’ll pay and how long everything takes.
Construction: The actual building part usually runs 3-4 months, but that depends a lot on what you’re doing.
Construction crews typically arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 AM and work until 4:30 or 5:00 PM. Plan your morning routines around this schedule, especially if your project affects bathrooms or kitchen access. Crews need clear access to work areas, so moving cars from driveways or clearing pathways becomes part of your daily routine.
Deliveries happen throughout construction, often requiring someone to be home to receive materials. Large items like cabinets or appliances might require special scheduling to coordinate with installation timing. Your contractor should provide advance notice of major deliveries, but smaller items sometimes arrive with minimal warning.
Utility interruptions occur periodically when electrical, plumbing, or HVAC work requires shutting off service to parts of your home. These are usually planned in advance, but emergency shutoffs sometimes happen when crews discover unexpected issues behind walls or under floors.
Regular communication prevents small issues from becoming major problems. Most contractors give you updates once a week about what’s happening and what’s coming next, but you shouldn’t wait around if something doesn’t make sense to you. The good ones actually want you to ask questions right away instead of letting confusion turn into bigger problems down the road.
Change orders happen on almost every project when homeowners decide they want something different from what was originally planned or when construction reveals issues that require modifications. Understanding the change order process and associated costs helps you make informed decisions when opportunities or problems arise.
Things go wrong on pretty much every job, and most of the time, nobody can do anything about it. Knowing what might happen keeps you from getting too frustrated when it does:
Winter projects face additional challenges with heating temporary spaces and protecting materials from moisture. Putting aside an extra 10-15% means surprises won’t mess up your timeline or leave you scrambling for money.
Substantial completion is when your project is done except for some touch-ups or minor fixes. This is usually when final payments are due, and your warranty period starts.
Most contractors give you a punch list that shows what little things still need to be finished up.
The city has to do a final inspection to make sure everything was built according to code and matches what was on the permits; you can’t call the project done until these inspections pass.
The projects that go smoothest are the ones where people know what they’re getting into from the start. A few things make a big difference:
References from recent projects in similar neighborhoods provide insight into how contractors handle local challenges and building requirements. Minnesota weather, permit processes, and material availability all affect schedules in ways that are largely beyond anyone’s control, so patience and flexibility become essential qualities for any homeowner undertaking a major renovation.
If you’re thinking about updating your home, HBRE can help you understand what’s involved and whether your ideas make sense for your house and budget. We’ll meet you at your home for a no-pressure conversation about your goals and give you honest feedback about what’s realistic.
Contact HBRE today to schedule your free consultation and take the first step toward creating the home your family needs.
Get a complimentary consultation with an owner or project manager (not a salesperson).
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