Step 1: Look for a contractor that has been around for a while and will be in the future.
Someone who is invested in the community and likely to be there five years from now. This is important to know because you want someone who has been around and will still be around, it shows that they care about the community and are good enough to last.

Step 2: Find a reputable contractor.
The only way to protect yourself during a remodeling project is to hire a professional contractor. Make sure that you choose a contractor who is insured, licensed (if required in your state) and a member of a professional trade association, such as NARI.

Step 3: Start defining the areas of the home that you want to change.
You should have some idea of what the remodeling project will entail before you call a contractor. Cut pictures out of magazines. Make a list of rooms that need to be altered and the reasons for those changes. This information will help speed the design phase of your remodel.

Step 4: Create a budget.
Decide how much you can realistically afford for the project before you start. If you are remodeling to sell, your budget should not exceed the increase in sales price of the home that is the result of remodeling. If you plan on staying in the home for a lengthy amount of time, you should spend a little more to get what you want.

Step 5: Take a deep breath and keep your perspective.
Remodeling can be noisy, time-consuming and disruptive to the normal home environment. It's important to keep your sense of humor and stay focused on the end result, not the process that takes you there.

Step 6: Request a comprehensive proposal from your contractor.
The proposal should tell you how much the project is going to cost and what types of products will be used. If the proposal comes in above your budget limit, talk to your contractor about other options. Sometimes you can accomplish the same look with other products or design techniques.

Step 7: Get a complete, written contract before the work begins.
The contract should cover the description of the project, timetable, payment schedule, types of products, etc., with provisions for the responsibilities of the contractor, subcontractors, change order procedures, warranties, and alternative dispute settlement clauses.

Step 8: Tie payments to work stages.
Be wary of any contractor who wants a large amount of money up front. Normal contracts split payments by decreasing percentages of total cost and are tied to significant work stages in the project. Please note, however, that a large amount of money is usually required at the start of kitchen remodels to cover the costs of ordering appliances.

Step 9: Make sure you know the Scaffolding Law.
Not a whole lot of people if any know about the New York State Scaffolding Law which falls under section 240 of the Labor Law. If there is an accident on the job site and someone hired to work is injured they can file a law suit against their own company and/or the home owner. You should ask to see the insurance policy that the company you are hiring to do your remodeling has, because these lawsuits start at an average of $750,000 which means you want someone with at least that amount of money in an insurance policy.

Step 10: Will remodeling a room in my house, really be worth it?
Yes, of course remodeling will be worth it when the job is done. When the job is completed there will be your beautiful new kitchen just like the Chef’s on TV, or your kids will now finally have that playroom in the basement, or you and your spouse get his and hers bathrooms etc… If you have followed the previous nine steps then everything should work out for you because you took all the precautions and have looked into this as in investment.