What to Keep in Your Remodel Planning Folder

Most homeowners arrive with inspiration photos and a vague budget. The conversations that move fastest also include plain photos of the house as it is today—especially in Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Marietta where split-levels and ranch additions each carry different constraints.

Whether you are starting a kitchen, bath, addition, or outdoor project, a small planning folder keeps scope honest.

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Start with wide photos, not just problem close-ups

Shoot each room from the doorway and from the corner opposite the main traffic path. Include the path to the electrical panel, attic access, and exterior walls you might change.

Exterior photos should show side yards, downspouts, and where a dumpster might sit. Lot context prevents pretty drawings that cannot be built.

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Write a friction list in plain language

Note what failed last week: island blocks dishwasher, hall bath steams, no coat storage, porch unused after dark. That list anchors scope better than a style board alone.

Mark must-haves versus nice-to-haves. Must-haves belong in phase one; nice-to-haves belong in a later line item—not hidden assumptions.

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Measurements you can trust without a survey

Rough ceiling heights, door swing directions, and appliance dimensions you already own help estimators sanity-check layouts early.

If you have a prior survey or plat, add it. If not, note approximate setbacks you know from HOA documents or fence lines.

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Budget, timeline, and living plans

Share a realistic budget range and whether you will stay in the house during work. Both change sequencing more than most inspiration photos.

Upload the folder contents through our contact form. Our process uses them to decide when a site visit adds value.

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A good remodel folder describes how you live today and what must change—not just how you want it to look. Gather that before you fall in love with a layout that does not fit your lot.