Fully remodeled
What do you expect of a home when you read that it’s fully remodeled? This phrase can mean widely different things to different people.
Fully remodeled: what’s included?
“Fully remodeled!” “Completely remodeled!” “Extensively remodeled!” “Remodeled down to the studs!” If you’ve been looking at property listings, you’ve probably run into these phrases a few times, and you might be wondering what they really mean. It might be less than you expect.
The most important thing to know is this: when a seller or contractor asserts that the home is completely redone, you’ll want to know what specifically was done, by whom, and what permits and finals were obtained, if any. Ask for a list. Better still is getting receipts. And always review the disclosures carefully!
A “fully remodeled home” suggests that there’s nothing left to be done, which is seldom the case. It’s usually just puffing. Remodeling to sell is often limited to what is visible, such as:
- kitchen
- bathrooms
- lighting
- floor coverings
- windows
- painting
- interior doors
- sometimes landscaping, driveways, patios, decks
At times, we’ll hear that a remodel is “down to the studs”. This is a more specific descriptor and typically indicates a deeper remodel and may mean that the contractor replaced these items:
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