Remodel vs. Rebuild in North Idaho | Our Home Transformation Journey

We bought a fixer in North Idaho with the classic dream: acreage, animals, and 180° views… with a house that didn’t do any of it justice. The floor plan was chopped up, the master bath had a tub but no shower (tactical baths only, please), and the kitchen was a narrow galley that blocked the best sightline on the property. After running the numbers, we made a counter-intuitive decision many newcomers face: it was cheaper and smarter to tear down and rebuild than to remodel. This post kicks off our series on the remodel vs. rebuild in North Idaho decision—sharing costs, permits, design thinking, salvage tips, demo day, and what’s next.