Determine a preliminary budget
Be conservative: the final cost will be at least 10 or 15 percent higher than expected.
Choose the design, details, materials and finishes
Scour magazines, compile a folder of references you like, and visit showrooms before locking decisions.
Plan alternative living arrangements
With renovations, consider living or working elsewhere. If that is not possible, confine yourself to a manageable part of the building.
Select an architect
Ask about the fee and scope, including building department filing and engineering.
Develop schematic designs and general scopes of work
Keep your desires in mind, but remain open to new ideas as long as they stay within budget.
Approve detailed plans and project specs
Make sure you understand what the final plans and specs include, then seek bids from contractors recommended by your architect or experienced friends.
Review bids
Interview every contractor before deciding. Be skeptical of large price reductions that do not also reduce the scope of work.
Choose a contractor
Meet with the finalist and make sure you see the project in the same way before signing.
Sign a contract and issue a deposit
Have your architect review documents carefully first. The deposit should follow their advice and should not exceed 30 percent of the total job cost.
Apply for permits
Let your contractor handle this, since they know the process and can usually move it faster.
Let demolition begin
Explore the changes taking place, but use a dust mask in work areas. This is usually the quick part of the process.
Get set for construction
Request a detailed project schedule at the start, arrange weekly site meetings, and ask for a recovery plan if work falls behind.
Make payments
Payments should follow the contract and percentage of work completed. Depend on your architect to approve payments before issuing them.
Keep a punch list
Maintain a running tally of items completed and not completed.
Do a walk-through
When work is almost finished, walk through the job with your architect and make a final punch list of outstanding items.
Make the final payment
Do not issue it until you are satisfied that all agreed work has been completed to your approval.