Home Remodeling Contractor in Redmond, WA: What to Expect From Start to Finish
If you're searching for a home remodeling contractor in Redmond, you're probably weighing one of two things: updating a single room, or taking on a whole house renovation. Both come up a lot around here. A big share of Redmond homes were built in the 1980s and 90s, and plenty of them haven't been touched since. Solid bones, dated kitchens and bathrooms, and floor plans that don't really match how people live now, especially now, with so many more people working from home full time or part-time.
Our crew at Total Developments has been renovating homes on the Eastside since 1997, and Redmond is one of the areas we work in most! Here we cover what a home remodeling contractor actually does compared to a general contractor, what a whole house renovation tends to look like in Redmond, and what you can expect if you're getting ready to start a renovation project in the greater Seattle area.
What a Whole House Remodel in Redmond Will Look Like
A whole house remodel means updating most or all of the home's systems and finishes all in one go. Kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, layout, sometimes structural changes, all at once rather than one room now and the next room in a few years.
Property owners in Redmond usually land on this route for a few reasons. Some bought the house as-is and want everything brought up to date before it actually feels like their own home. Some have done piecemeal updates over the years, and the house ends up feeling disjointed as a result, like a nicely remodeled kitchen sitting right next to a bathroom that's still stuck in 1994! And some just have a growing household that needs the layout reworked, not just new paint and countertops.
A full remodel asks more of you upfront than a single-room remodel does. However, it does tend to be more efficient in the long-run. One permit process, one crew mobilized once, and you're not re-doing anything later because an earlier phase wasn't planned with the next one in mind.
Kitchen and Bathroom Remodels: Where Most Projects Start
Homeowners who are planning a full remodel usually start by asking about the kitchen or the primary bathroom first. Those are the rooms that show their age soonest, and the ones buyers and appraisers care about most.
For kitchen remodels, the most common request we hear in Redmond is opening up a closed-off kitchen to the living or dining area, swapping out dated cabinets and countertops, and adding an island for a family that actually spends time in the kitchen together instead of just passing through it.
For bathroom remodels, it's usually replacing a builder-grade tub-shower combo with a larger walk-in shower, updating the vanity and lighting, and in primary suites, reworking the whole layout to feel less like a builder-basic bathroom and more like an actual retreat.
Home Additions, For When Remodeling Isn't Enough
Sometimes the answer isn't renovating what's already there, it's adding to it. Home additions, a primary suite, a second story, or an ADU, come up often in Redmond, given how many households are juggling multigenerational living or just need a real home office now. An addition has to be planned around the rest of the house's systems (structural load, roofline, HVAC capacity), and that's exactly where having one contractor handle the whole scope, instead of stitching together separate hires, saves you from expensive surprises later.
What the Process Looks Like With The Total Developments Team
First comes the initial consultation: a walkthrough of the home and a conversation about goals, priorities, and a rough budget range. From there we move into design and scope, turning that conversation into drawings and a defined project, with the homeowner weighing in before anything gets locked down.
Redmond requires permits for most structural, electrical, and plumbing work, and we handle the submission and inspection scheduling ourselves so it's not one more thing on the homeowner's plate. (For more on how permitting affects timelines, our guide on choosing a general contractor in Bellevue and Redmond goes into more detail.)
Then construction, with a single point of contact the whole way, rather than a homeowner trying to coordinate separate trades on their own. And finally a walkthrough and warranty: a punch-list review before close-out, backed by our workmanship warranty.
Being family-owned means the people you talk to at the start, Ken, Josh, Chris, and Jason, are the same people accountable for the project all the way to the final walkthrough. Not a rotating cast of project managers.
FAQ: Home Remodeling in Redmond, WA
How much does a whole house renovation cost in Redmond?
It depends a lot on scope, but whole-home renovations on the Eastside typically start in the low six figures for a full update of finishes and go up from there once structural changes or additions get involved. A walkthrough and scope conversation is really the only way to get a number specific to your house.
How long does a full home remodel take?
A single kitchen or bathroom remodel usually runs 6 to 10 weeks once permits are approved. A whole house renovation is more often several months, depending on scope and whether structural work or an addition is part of it.
Do I need a permit for a kitchen or bathroom remodel in Redmond?
Most remodels that touch plumbing, electrical, or structural elements need a permit from the City of Redmond. Purely cosmetic updates, like new cabinet fronts or paint, usually don't. We confirm exactly what's required as part of scoping your project.
Is it better to remodel in phases or all at once?
If the budget allows, doing the whole house at once is usually more efficient. One design plan, one construction mobilization, no mismatched finishes between rooms that got updated years apart. Phasing makes the most sense when budget is what's driving the decision.
What's the difference between hiring a remodeling contractor and a general contractor?
In practice, not much when the contractor does both, like we do. It matters more if you're comparing a contractor who only builds new homes against one with real, specific experience renovating homes people are still living in.
Is Total Developments licensed and insured in Washington?
Yes. Total Developments LLC holds an active Washington contractor license (TOTALDL881LA) and carries liability insurance and bonding.
Ready to Talk Through Your Redmond Remodel?
Whether it's one room or the whole house, the first step is the same: a walkthrough and a conversation about what you actually want out of the space. We're excited to discuss yoru vision and needs for your space. Get in touch with Total Developments today to get started!
