One of the perks of being a homeowner is that you can renovate your home. Designing and renovating can be a catastrophe if you do not have a plan. A successful renovation relies on the coordination of design, money, permits, and workers. In Bismarck and Mandan, we don’t recommend homeowners being their own general contractor. It’s best to leave it to the professionals like Imagine Home Center in Mandan. Here are some of the basic steps to getting a home renovation underway.

• Budget – before you do anything, set a budget and stick to it. It is too easy to go overboard when you’re renovating your home. It is also important to add ten to twenty percent of the total budget just in case there are unforeseen circumstances.

• Designing – designing your home can be confusing, choose a designer with excellent references and make sure they understand what you want for your renovation and that they can bring it to life.

• Permits – many cities and towns building code offices require that you submit plans for your renovation. They will either approve or deny the plans. They will also need to inspect the property during the renovation to ensure that the work is up to code. If you avoid this step, your project could be shut down, and all work will need to be re-done.

• Hire a contractor – this step may take a little time; hiring the right contractor, like Imagine, is critical to your project. Ask for references and call them. Don’t rely on the contractor’s word alone. Do not choose the first contractor you interview. Most reputable contractors will require a down payment for supplies; under no circumstance should you pay them in full before the work is started.

Following these steps will give you peace of mind in knowing that your renovation will be done right.