Whether you have bought a fixer-upper or you want to add value and interest to the home you’ve lived in for years, the decision to remodel your home is no small task. You may have a lot of great ideas and have watched hundreds of DIY home episodes on HGTV, but that doesn’t mean you are ready. Here is how to go about getting prepared for a home remodel.

Decide If You Can DIY

Remodels of any size can be costly, and many people will try to DIY everything to save some money. Your first step is to determine where you can try it on your own and where you will need to call on a general contractor Boston MA company. Things like painting, pulling up old carpet, and putting in baseboard trim can be done on your own. Any electrical, plumbing, or window installations projects need professional help.

Create a Budget

You will need to determine how much you can spend on the renovation. Once you have the numbers, you need to consider how far that will go once you factor in tools, paint, contractor fees, flooring, lighting, and so on. With unlimited funds, you could go ahead and start on everything. If you are the average American household, you need to choose which projects that will fit into the budget that are the most important. You also need to factor in time, as you have a limited amount of this between weather, jobs, and how efficient a contractor will be.

Choose Your Design

To save money, you might be shopping the clearance aisles of the hardware stores or plundering resale shops, yard sales, and Marketplace. If you don’t have a preference or style for your home, this is a great way to achieve a thrifty remodel. For those that have a unique taste or a vision for their home, you need to have this design and style in mind when you create new spaces or change out fixtures or flooring.

Get the Paperwork Done

Before you can lift a finger to knock down that wall or clear out the basement for the contractor, you need to find out if you need a building permit. Your local government will have specific regulations. You also need to make sure the contractor you hire carries business insurance, but you may want to take out your own builder’s risk coverage.

Once you get these major concerns out of the way, you can get on with the demolition or redesigning. Be prepared for a disruption to your daily routine, but the end result will be worth it.