Design is exciting. Construction is a mess. In the end, if you survive the stress, you’ll be thrilled with the results! Here are some tips that will help you hold on to your money, and keep your sanity.

• Get a professional home inspection before you begin planning: conditions that don’t meet the building code will have to be corrected once work begins.
  
  
• Hire a professional designer. On average, 1/4 of the contractor’s expenses are for materials, and the other 3/4 are labor costs. Because time is so important to your contractor, the more information he has, the more efficiently he can work, the less he will have to charge you … great design documents are an essential ingredient to a successful remodel.
  
  
• Once you begin work, your home will become a construction site. Prepare yourself for this. You may want to move out. If you chose to stay in the house you will be exposed to both health and safety hazards. If you do move out, stay close by so that you can monitor the work pretty regularly.
  
  
• Monitor the work at least once a week, but try not to slow down the contractor’s momentum. If you see something that concerns you, speak up, but speak only to your general contractor – not to any of his subcontractors.

See if your neighborhood association will sponsor a Remodeling Coach Complete Remodeling Master Class! Home improvement is contagious, and one improved property will inspire all your neighbors to spruce up, and raise everybody’s real estate values too!

MORE INFORMATION

You’ll find lots more information about the home remodeling process in Managing a Renovation: Staying in Charge and Out of Trouble, our friendly and comprehensive homeowner’s guide to remodeling project management. Download the table of contents and a sample chapter, or go to the order form to purchase it.

We offer ready-to-use construction forms, including a complete remodeling contract, in our Bookstore, as well. Have a look.

And, you may want to look at our list of More Resources for some great design ideas.

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