Remodeling your home—even just one room!—can understandably feel like a daunting task. Between the renovation, construction, and design, there are a million steps and an endless list of things to take care of.

But it’s all worth it in the end. When you remodel, you get to customize your home exactly how you’ve always wanted it and bring your vision to life. Plus, on the bright side, a remodel doesn’t have to be the scary and intimidating process it’s made out to be.

By preparing upfront and taking the right steps, you can make your remodel a breeze. You’ll be sitting in your brand-new space before you know it!

Choose Your A-Team

Identifying your core team is one of the most important aspects of your renovation. You’ll need to choose your general contractor, architect, structural engineer, and designer. Each of these people plays a pivotal role in the outcome of the project, so it’s important to choose carefully. Meet with several people and discuss their process and previous experience in detail to get a sense of what to expect and see if you mesh. Also take a look at their portfolio to ensure you have the same aesthetics, so the final product is exactly what you were dreaming about.

Set a Clear Budget

Renovations can get expensive, so it’s important to set some guard rails before you get started. The room you’re renovating and the size and age of your home can all play big factors in how much a remodel will cost, so be sure to be realistic about how much you’ll need to set aside.

Also consult with your core team to get a baseline understanding of pricing. If you want high-end fixtures or marble countertops, it will be more expensive than mid-tier or budget-friendly options. Consider all of this when working up your budget. And don’t forget to add some wiggle room! There are often unexpected hiccups when remodeling that call for additional costs. Don’t max out your budget at the beginning, only to find you need to go way over to account for surprises along the way.

Expect the Unexpected

When you start tearing down walls or digging up old plumbing, there’s likely to be a few plot twists during construction. Whether that is unsafe wiring, rusted pipes, or any other issues, few unexpected things will undoubtedly pop up during your remodel, and especially in older homes.

But don’t worry—your core team will be there to handle all of your issues and you’ve already set aside extra budget to compensate! Just try to take it in stride and not worry. As long as you’re on the same page with your team, your remodel will still get you the results you want—it might just not take the exact road your were expecting from the start.

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

There’s only one way your core team will know what you’re thinking: if you tell them! Be sure to be vocal about your vision and your expectations during the remodel process. That way, you and your team are aligned from Day 1, which in turn will deliver the best results.

Your team will likely keep in touch with you throughout the project and give regular updates on how things are going. That will include if the project is running on time, on budget, and going smoothly. You’ll also hear from them if there are any surprises. No matter what happens, be sure to keep all channels of communication open so that you feel in the loop and confident about the trajectory.

Want to feel even more prepared for your upcoming remodel? Download our cheat sheet about what to expect so you’ll have all the info you need!