No survey measures whole-home renovations as one job. The best benchmarks are room projects: across the U.S. in 2025, kitchen projects averaged 9.5 months of planning and 5.8 months of construction, and primary bathrooms 8.4 and 4.8 months (2026 U.S. Houzz & Home Study). A whole house takes longer than any one room.
What New Jersey's code sets
Two deadlines in the Uniform Construction Code shape every schedule. The construction office has 20 business days to approve or deny a complete permit application (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.16). During construction, work stops at each required inspection, and the town performs an inspection within three business days of the request (N.J.A.C. 5:23-2.18).
Your contract also has to state the dates or time period for starting and finishing the work, and any change to them has to be in writing (N.J.A.C. 13:45A-16.2).
The order the work happens in
Every renovation follows a sequence, and each step waits on the one before it:
- Design, selections and, if walls move, engineering.
- Permit application and review.
- Ordering materials, with the longest lead times ordered first.
- Demolition and any structural work.
- Rough plumbing, electrical and mechanical work, then the rough inspections.
- Insulation and drywall, once the rough work has passed.
- Cabinets, then counters (templated after the cabinets are set), tile and finishes.
- Final inspections and the punch list.
A selection that is not made before demolition becomes a stoppage later: counters cannot be templated until cabinets are set, and walls cannot close until the rough work passes inspection.
Can you live in the house?
During a phased renovation, often yes, if the phases are planned so a working kitchen or bathroom is always available. During a full gut renovation, usually no. Plan where you will live before the schedule is set.
Plan it with MHG
MHG sets your schedule while the plan and budget are finalized, before work starts, and walks you through progress week by week. Start with the full home renovation cost guide, then ask for a free estimate.
