Why Encino Homeowners Are Choosing Renovation Over Moving
With median home prices in Encino exceeding $1.5 million, selling and buying in this sought-after San Fernando Valley neighborhood comes with steep transaction costs, moving expenses, and the uncertainty of finding a home that truly fits your needs. For many families, a whole home renovation in Encino is the smarter financial play — and the faster path to the home you actually want.
Partnering with a proven general contractor in Encino is the key to a successful whole home renovation. An experienced construction company in Encino manages every trade, coordinates inspections, and keeps your project on schedule and budget. Aloni Construction has renovated homes across Encino and the San Fernando Valley for over three decades.
A full home renovation in Encino lets you keep the location you love while transforming your living space to match your lifestyle. Whether your home dates back to the 1950s ranch era or the 1980s Mediterranean revival, updating it can add hundreds of thousands in value while eliminating the frustrations of outdated layouts, aging systems, and worn-out finishes.
At Aloni Construction, we have been helping homeowners across Encino, Sherman Oaks, and Tarzana reimagine their homes for over 30 years. Licensed general contractor Doron Aloni (License #1003177) brings deep expertise in managing complex, multi-room renovations from start to finish.
Most Popular Whole Home Renovations in Encino
Opening Up the Floor Plan
Many Encino homes were built with compartmentalized layouts — separate living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens closed off by walls. Today’s homeowners want open-concept living spaces that connect the kitchen, dining, and family areas into one flowing environment. This is one of the most requested renovations we handle.
Opening up a floor plan often involves removing or relocating load-bearing walls, which requires engineering calculations, proper beam installation, and structural permits from the City of Los Angeles. This is not a DIY project — it demands an experienced general contractor who understands structural integrity. Aloni Construction works with licensed structural engineers to ensure every wall removal is safe and code-compliant.
Kitchen Remodeling
The kitchen is the centerpiece of most Encino home renovations. A full kitchen remodel in Encino typically runs between $50,000 and $150,000, depending on the size of the space, quality of materials, and scope of changes. That range covers everything from a mid-range refresh with new cabinets, countertops, and appliances to a high-end transformation with custom cabinetry, premium stone countertops, and professional-grade appliances.
Popular kitchen upgrades include large islands with seating, walk-in pantries, modern lighting, and high-end finishes like quartz or quartzite countertops. Many Encino homeowners also want to extend the kitchen into adjacent rooms or add direct access to outdoor living areas. Learn more about what goes into a kitchen remodeling project and how we approach each phase.
Bathroom Remodeling
Bathrooms are the second most impactful renovation in any whole home project. A bathroom remodel in Encino typically costs between $25,000 and $75,000 per bathroom, with primary suites on the higher end and guest or hall bathrooms on the lower end.
Homeowners in Encino and Sherman Oaks are gravitating toward spa-inspired primary bathrooms with freestanding tubs, oversized walk-in showers with frameless glass, heated floors, and double vanities. Explore our approach to bathroom remodeling to see how we create spaces that combine function and luxury.
Outdoor Living Spaces
Southern California weather makes outdoor living a year-round reality. Many Encino whole home renovations now include covered patios, outdoor kitchens, fire features, and seamless indoor-outdoor transitions using large sliding or folding glass door systems. These additions can add significant usable square footage and are among the best investments for resale value in the LA market.
Home Renovation Costs in Encino: What to Expect
The cost of a whole home renovation in Encino generally ranges from $100 to $300 per square foot, depending on the scope of work. A cosmetic refresh — new flooring, paint, fixtures, and surface-level updates — falls on the lower end. A comprehensive renovation involving structural changes, new plumbing and electrical, reconfigured layouts, and premium finishes will be at the higher end.
Here is a general cost breakdown for a typical Encino home renovation:
- Cosmetic updates only: $100-$150 per square foot
- Moderate renovation (kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, some layout changes): $150-$225 per square foot
- Comprehensive renovation (structural changes, full system upgrades, high-end finishes): $225-$300+ per square foot
- Kitchen remodel: $50,000-$150,000
- Bathroom remodel: $25,000-$75,000 per bathroom
For a 2,500-square-foot home undergoing a moderate to comprehensive renovation, budgets typically range from $375,000 to $750,000. We provide detailed estimates during our initial consultation so you know exactly what to expect before any work begins. Request a free estimate to get a personalized cost breakdown for your project.
Permits and Regulations for Encino Home Renovations
Encino falls within the City of Los Angeles jurisdiction, meaning all permits are issued through the LA Department of Building and Safety (LADBS). Any renovation involving structural changes, electrical or plumbing modifications, additions, or changes to the building envelope requires permits.
Common permits required for whole home renovations include:
- Building permits for structural modifications, wall removals, and additions
- Electrical permits for panel upgrades, new circuits, and rewiring
- Plumbing permits for pipe relocation, new fixtures, and water heater replacement
- Mechanical permits for HVAC system changes
California also enforces Title 24 energy efficiency standards, which affect insulation requirements, window specifications, lighting, and HVAC systems during renovations. Aloni Construction handles the complete permitting process, including plan preparation, submission, and all required inspections, so homeowners do not have to navigate the LADBS bureaucracy on their own.
Structural Changes: What You Need to Know About Load-Bearing Walls
One of the most common requests in Encino home renovations is removing walls to create open floor plans. Before any wall comes down, it must be determined whether it is load-bearing. A load-bearing wall supports the weight of the roof or upper floors, and removing it without proper engineering can cause serious structural damage.
Our process for structural modifications includes a licensed structural engineer’s assessment, engineered beam and post designs, city-approved plans, and professional installation with proper inspections at every stage. This is one area where cutting corners is never acceptable, and it is a key reason to work with an experienced, licensed general contractor for your home renovation in Encino.
ROI: How Much Value Does a Whole Home Renovation Add?
In the Encino real estate market, well-executed renovations consistently deliver strong returns on investment. Kitchen remodels typically recoup 60-80% of their cost at resale, while bathroom renovations return 55-70%. A whole home renovation that modernizes the layout, systems, and finishes of a dated Encino home can increase its market value by 20-40% or more.
Beyond resale value, there is the daily quality-of-life return that comes from living in a home that actually works for your family. Functional kitchens, luxurious bathrooms, open gathering spaces, and modern systems are improvements you enjoy every single day. That is a return no spreadsheet fully captures.
Living in Your Home During a Renovation
One of the most common questions we hear from homeowners in Encino, Sherman Oaks, and Tarzana is whether they can stay in the home during a whole home renovation. The answer depends on the scope of work.
For phased renovations where we work on one section of the home at a time, it is often possible to remain in the home with some temporary inconvenience. We create dust barriers, maintain access to at least one functioning bathroom, and coordinate work schedules to minimize disruption.
For comprehensive renovations involving full system replacements, structural changes throughout the home, or hazardous material abatement, temporarily relocating is usually the better option. It is safer, less stressful, and often allows the project to move faster since crews can work without restrictions. We help homeowners plan for either scenario during the pre-construction phase.
Timeline: How Long Does a Whole Home Renovation Take?
A whole home renovation in Encino typically takes 3 to 9 months, depending on the scope of work, permitting timelines, and material lead times. Here is a general timeline breakdown:
- Design and planning: 4-8 weeks
- Permitting: 2-6 weeks (LADBS timelines vary)
- Demolition and structural work: 2-4 weeks
- Rough systems (plumbing, electrical, HVAC): 3-5 weeks
- Finishes (drywall, flooring, cabinetry, tile, paint): 6-12 weeks
- Final details and inspections: 2-3 weeks
Aloni Construction provides a detailed project schedule before construction begins and keeps homeowners updated with regular progress reports throughout the project. Transparency in scheduling is one of the reasons our clients consistently leave five-star reviews.
Aloni Construction: Full-Service Home Renovation in Encino
Choosing the right contractor for a whole home renovation in Encino is the single most important decision you will make. Aloni Construction brings over three decades of hands-on experience to every project. Owner and licensed general contractor Doron Aloni (California License #1003177) personally oversees each renovation, ensuring quality craftsmanship and clear communication from the first consultation to the final walkthrough.
Our full-service approach covers every phase of your renovation:
- Initial consultation and site assessment
- Design collaboration and material selection
- Permitting and engineering
- Demolition and construction
- Finish work and final inspections
We serve homeowners throughout Encino, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, and the greater San Fernando Valley. Whether you are planning a kitchen and bathroom update or a comprehensive transformation of your entire home, we have the experience and expertise to deliver results that exceed your expectations. Learn more about our home remodeling services and what sets our approach apart.
Start Your Encino Home Renovation Today
If you have been thinking about renovating your Encino home, the first step is a conversation. We will visit your property, discuss your vision and priorities, review the scope of work, and provide a detailed, transparent estimate with no hidden costs or surprises.
Call Doron Aloni directly at 818-388-0673 or request a free estimate online. You can also visit our contact page to reach us by email. We look forward to helping you transform your Encino home into the space you have always wanted.
