Find Trusted Whole House Remodel Contractors in California
GreatBuildz helps homeowners find trusted whole house remodel contractors across California.
Trusted by homeowners across California
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Why Homeowners Choose GreatBuildz
Fully vetted contractors
Every contractor in our network passes a 10-point screening: license verification, insurance, background check, references, past work, and more. Fewer than 5% make it into our network.
Completely free for homeowners
Contractors pay to be part of our network. You pay nothing, and we don't sell your information to a list of strangers.
You get a dedicated remodeling advisor
A real person stays in your corner from the first call, helping you compare bids, understand what is included, and set a realistic budget before you sign anything. Most homeowners say it is the part they didn't know they needed.
We stay involved and hold contractors accountable
A whole house remodel takes months, not weeks. We check in throughout the build and step in if anything goes sideways, from demo to final inspection. We don't take kickbacks for steering you to a specific contractor, and our contractors know our reputation rides on their work.
Whole House Remodel Basics
What a Whole House Remodel Can Be
“Whole house” means different things to different houses. What separates a light refresh from a full gut is depth of scope: how much of the house gets opened up, how many systems get replaced, and whether the layout changes.
Some projects pair the remodel with new square footage (our home addition contractors page covers that side), and plenty start the day escrow closes on a just-bought fixer.
Cosmetic Refresh
Every wall stays where it is. You replace what you see: flooring, paint, doors, fixtures, and updated kitchens and baths in their existing footprints.
Full Remodel
Every room gets rebuilt and aging systems get upgraded along the way. The footprint holds, but very little of the old house stays visible.
Gut Remodel
The house comes down to the studs for new plumbing, electrical, HVAC, and insulation, often with walls moving to fix a choppy layout.
Whole House Remodel Costs
How Much a Whole House Remodel Costs in California
Most whole house remodels in California run $100 to $300 per square foot, and where yours lands depends almost entirely on depth of scope: how much of the house gets opened up, how many systems get replaced, and whether the layout changes. Multiply by your square footage for a first-pass budget.
Where you live affects the number too. California labor and material costs run roughly 35% above the national average, and the Bay Area tends to sit at the higher end of every range compared with Los Angeles or the Inland Empire.
Whatever the scope, add a 10 to 25 percent contingency. Remodels of older California homes almost always uncover surprises once the walls open up.
Cosmetic RefreshFinishes and fixtures throughout
Full RemodelEvery room, some systems
Gut RemodelDown to the studs, layout changes
One honest piece of advice: the contingency isn't optional on a whole house.
Most surprises surface in the first stretch of the project, once walls open up, and whole-house projects commonly run 10 to 30 percent longer than expected. Budgeting a 10 to 25 percent contingency upfront is the difference between a surprise and a crisis.
Ready to start your whole house remodel?
Tell us about your project and we’ll connect you with three vetted local contractors. It’s free, with no obligation.
Timeline & Planning
Whole House Remodel Timeline, Permits, and Planning
How Long a Whole House Remodel Takes
Most whole house remodels run 6 to 14 months start to finish: 2 to 4 months of design, engineering, and permits, then 4 to 10 months of construction depending on depth of scope. Whole-house projects also commonly run 10 to 30 percent longer than homeowners expect, and most surprises surface early, once walls open up. Planning for that reality upfront is what separates a stressful project from a managed one.
Design & Permits
Construction
Schedule Buffer
Remodel or rebuild? Answer this first
Permits and Living Arrangements
A whole house remodel needs permits through your city's building department (LADBS in the City of LA), covering everything from structural changes to plumbing and electrical, and requirements shift from city to city.
The other big planning question: live in the house or move out? Cosmetic refreshes can sometimes be phased around you; gut remodels can't. Your contractor's answer to this question, and how they sequence the work, tells you a lot about their experience.
Good to Know
In California, a contractor can’t legally ask for a down payment of more than
Of the contract price, whichever is less
On a project this size, a contractor asking for a huge deposit upfront is a serious red flag, and it’s one of the things our vetting screens out.
Reviews & Projects
Real Whole House Remodels and Reviews
California homeowners come to GreatBuildz stressed about finding a contractor they can trust, and leave with a house that finally feels like theirs. Here’s what a few of them had to say.
We started looking for general contractors after purchasing an older home. We had needed repairs on the entire house before we could even move in… The project moved along smoothly and was completed within the schedule and budget we anticipated.
Being new to Southern California I had no idea how to find a good contractor here for our full remodel. They connected me with 3 contractors, and the one I chose did a fantastic job, worked quickly, and was a pleasure to work with.
At no point did I feel alone with the contractor… you always have an impartial party to discuss the project, double-check on contractor practices, and spot any potential hiccups early on. I find this especially valuable with large construction projects.
Recent Whole House Remodels
Whole House Remodel FAQs
How much does a whole house remodel cost in California?
Most whole house remodels in California run $100 to $300 per square foot. A cosmetic refresh runs $100 to $175, a full remodel $175 to $250, and a gut remodel with layout changes $250 to $300 or more. Multiply by your square footage for a first-pass budget, then add a 10 to 25 percent contingency.
What is a gut remodel?
A gut remodel takes the house down to the studs: new plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation, and all new finishes. It’s the right call when the home’s systems are as old as the house itself.
How long does a whole house remodel take?
Most whole house remodels take 6 to 14 months start to finish: about 2 to 4 months for design and permits, then 4 to 10 months of construction depending on scope. Whole-house projects also commonly run 10 to 30 percent longer than homeowners expect, so build padding into your living arrangements, not just your budget.
Can I live in my house during a whole house remodel?
Sometimes. A cosmetic refresh can often be phased around you room by room. A gut remodel can’t; you’ll need to move out for the heavy stretch. A contractor’s plan for sequencing the work around your life is worth asking about in every interview.
Do I need permits for a whole house remodel?
Yes. Structural, plumbing, and electrical work all require permits through your city’s building department (LADBS in the City of Los Angeles), and requirements vary from city to city.
Should I remodel or tear down and rebuild?
Remodel when the bones are good. When the remodel scope approaches replacement cost, or the layout fights everything you want, a teardown and new build can make more sense. We match homeowners with contractors for both, and our advisors can help you think it through.
Why do remodels go over budget?
Most surprises surface in the first stretch of the project, once walls open up: hidden damage, outdated wiring, past unpermitted work. That’s why a 10 to 25 percent contingency is part of an honest budget, not a sign of a bad plan.
What kind of contractor handles a whole house remodel?
A licensed general contractor with whole-house experience. Running every trade across every room for months is a different job than remodeling one kitchen, and the contractor’s project management matters as much as their craftsmanship.
How much can a contractor ask for as a deposit in California?
California law limits the deposit to $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. A contractor asking for more than that upfront is breaking state law.
Is GreatBuildz really free?
Yes. Homeowners never pay us anything. Contractors pay to be part of our vetted network, which means we work for you, not for whoever bids on your information.
Finding a Whole House Remodel Contractor in Los Angeles
A whole house remodel is the project where contractor quality compounds. One kitchen going sideways is a bad month; a whole house going sideways is a bad year. The contractors who do this well in Los Angeles run tight schedules across every trade, communicate like project managers, and have finished enough full-home projects to price surprises before the walls open.
LA’s housing stock makes that experience matter more. Much of the city was built between the 1920s and 1960s, which means knob-and-tube wiring, galvanized plumbing, undersized panels, and decades of layered handyman work hiding behind the plaster. A contractor who guts LA houses regularly walks in expecting all of it. Every contractor we match you with has passed our 10-point vetting process: license, insurance, background check, references, financial review, and more.
GreatBuildz started in Los Angeles, and whole house remodels are among the biggest projects we match here, from just-bought fixers in Highland Park to full gut renovations in Sherman Oaks. We now serve homeowners across Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, San Diego, the Inland Empire, and the Bay Area, so if your project is outside LA proper, we’ve got you covered too.
If you’re still planning, our whole house remodel guide and home renovation budget checklist are the right starting points. And if you’re weighing a teardown instead, we also match homeowners with home builders for ground-up construction.
Hi, I’m Stephanie. I’ll match you with the right contractors for your project.