Planning a home renovation can be an exciting endeavor; however it is important to keep in mind several things before you get started.  It will do you some good to keep the following list in mind when you are renovating your home.

• Know what your end goal is for your house! You should have in mind not only what the end of the project should look like but also, what is the purpose of your renovation. Are you looking to raise the resale value of your property or are you trying to build your forever home? If you are looking at resale value you may want to consider the surrounding properties as well. You would not want to overdo the renovation for the area you are in.
• Make sure you know your budget! It is very important that you know and stick to your budget. You should also make sure to plan for additional and unforeseen expenses. So plan a contingency fund for unexpected costs such as renting a hotel room for a few days or even eating out while the kitchen is being worked on.
• Know your limits. It may be tempting to take on some of the work yourself. It can create a sense of pride and accomplishment in addition to saving you a few dollars.  Just make sure you know what tasks you can accomplish and which ones you should reserve for the professionals.
• Clear out your house. If you are having major renovations done to your house it would be a great benefit if you could clear out the work area. If you can rent a storage pod or move your things into the garage it will prevent anything from getting damaged as well as keep it clean. This will make it easier to get the work accomplished too!
• Create a center of operations. Before you start the renovations, create an area in your home that you can use to keep your tools, materials, and check lists. This will ensure that you can find the things you need when you need them.
• Plan for disruptions in services. While your house is under renovation you find that the water or power has been shut off until certain tasks have been completed.  Having an onsite generator and extra water will only make your life easier when these circumstances arise.

Make sure you have all the permitting needed. Permits are a necessary part of any major renovation. They will ensure that your house renovation meets structural and fire safety standards. If you do not get your permits and have inspectors make sure everything is up to code you find yourself with a major headache. If you skip this process you may find yourself having to rip out any new work so it can be inspected or run into difficulty selling your home. If you are unfamiliar with the permitting process a contractor can always help you out.