Map out your plans for your home.

Getting Ready

• Decide if you want to use an architect, a designer-builder, or other professional to translate your remodeling vision.
  Come up with a design that you love and that is within your budget.
• If you designed the space yourself, select a contractor with whom you have a solid working rapport.
• Finalize a budget and stick with it.

• Meet with your contractor to review the design plan for feasibility and/or suggestions that may improve flow or conserve costs.
• Select materials and products for the project, especially those that are needed right away and those that require several weeks' lead time (such as cabinets).
• Give the contractor time to draw up a detailed construction schedule, apply for building permits, and round up construction crews.
• Meet your contractor's job-site supervisor or production manager and develop good communication. This person will likely be your key contact throughout the project.

• Arrange a preconstruction conference at your house for you, the contractor and his or her job-site supervisor, the architect or designer, and any key subcontractors who will be working on your project -- in short, anyone who needs to be in the loop.
• Tour your house with the key players and go over exactly what needs to be done. Take notes and send follow-up memos if anything changes from the plans.
• Set the ground rules for your project between you, the contractor, and the job-site supervisor.
• Figure out a communications plan:
• 1. Decide who your primary contact person is (usually the job-site supervisor)
• 2. Place a contact notebook in a prominent location; review it each day for comments from the crew, and include your comments and questions as well.
• 3. Set up a weekly contact schedule between you, the contractor, and the job-site supervisor.

• Remove personal belongings from the work area.
• If appropriate, set up a mini kitchen in another part of the house.
• Set in place a trash bin, portable toilet, and construction fence.
• Make room for large supplies, such as rafters or drywall, which are delivered at this point.