Whole-Home Renovations in Central Florida

Florida Legacy Construction handles whole-home renovations throughout Marion County, Sumter County, and Central Florida. A whole-home renovation can update multiple rooms, finishes, and systems in one coordinated project based on the home, project scope, and customer goals. Travis Strickland, licensed building contractor CBC1268994, leads the company’s standards, planning, and project oversight. When permits or trade inspections are required, our team helps coordinate the proper process through the appropriate local building department.

What a Whole-Home Renovation Covers

A whole-home renovation is a coordinated update to most or all of a home's interior. It typically covers some combination of the following.

• Flooring: Replacing all flooring throughout the home with a consistent material and finish
• Kitchen remodeling: Cabinets, countertops, flooring, and layout updates in the kitchen
• Bathroom remodeling: One or more bathrooms updated as part of the whole-home scope
• Windows and doors: Replacing older windows with impact-rated products throughout the home
• Interior paint: Fresh paint throughout with updated color palette
• Trim and doors: Replacing dated interior doors and trim for a consistent look
• Electrical updates: Adding circuits, updating the panel, or adding GFCI and AFCI protection to older homes
• HVAC: Replacing aging air handlers and condensers as part of the renovation scope

Not all whole-home renovations include every item on this list. Florida Legacy Construction scopes each project based on what the home actually needs and what the homeowner wants to accomplish. We give you a written fixed price before work starts.

Full Gut vs Phased Renovation

There are two ways to approach a whole-home renovation. A full gut renovation does everything at once. A phased renovation breaks the project into stages over months or years. Each approach has trade-offs.

Florida Legacy Construction handles both approaches. For investment properties in Marion County, a full gut renovation before tenants move in is the most cost-effective approach. For owner-occupied homes, a phased renovation allows you to stay in the home during the project.

Florida-Specific Considerations for Whole-Home Renovations

Several requirements apply to whole-home renovations in Florida that do not apply in most other states.

• Impact windows: Any window replaced as part of a renovation must be impact-rated per Florida Building Code. Marion County requires a permit for every window replacement.
• Moisture barriers under flooring: Central Florida's humidity requires moisture barriers under certain flooring types. Tile and LVP are the most popular choices because they handle humidity better than hardwood or laminate.
• Electrical panel age: Many older Marion County homes have Federal Pacific or Zinsco panels that insurance companies flag. Replacing these as part of a renovation is common and requires an electrical permit.
• HVAC sizing: Florida's heat load means HVAC systems must be properly sized using Manual J calculations. Oversized systems short-cycle and cause humidity problems. Replacing an aging HVAC as part of a renovation is a good time to right-size the system.

Cost Guide: Whole-Home Renovations in Marion County

A cosmetic renovation covering flooring, paint, trim, and interior doors runs $40 to $60 per square foot. A mid-scope renovation adding kitchen updates, bathroom updates, and window replacement runs $60 to $90 per square foot. A full gut renovation that includes kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, windows, electrical, and HVAC runs $90 to $120 per square foot. A 1,500 square foot home at mid-scope costs $90,000 to $135,000. Florida Legacy Construction gives a fixed written price after visiting the home and reviewing the scope with you.

Veterans may use a VA renovation loan to fund a whole-home renovation when purchasing a home in Central Florida. We provide all required lender documentation.

Permit Requirements in Marion County

A whole-home renovation requires multiple permits. The specific permits depend on the scope. Window replacements need a building permit. Electrical work needs an electrical permit. Plumbing changes need a plumbing permit. HVAC replacement needs a mechanical permit. Marion County processes all permit applications through the Civic Access portal. Florida Legacy Construction submits all applications and coordinates all inspections. You do not visit the building department or schedule inspections yourself.