Remember when you bought your home and were all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed about everything you were going to do to make the place your own? Now, years later, there are probably still a ton of things on your list – and if anything, it may have grown longer, rather than shorter over time.

A major home renovation is no small project, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth taking on. If you’ve got the time, energy, and budget to tackle a rehab project, the finished product can make the return on your investment pretty exciting. The key is to not get in over your head – and one of the best ways to do this is to make sure you have a team of qualified professionals.

General Contractor

The general contractor is the number one person you need on your side to accomplish most big home renovations. This is the individual or firm that will represent your interests throughout the entire project, working with permitting offices, subcontractors, engineers, architects, and more to ensure that everything is done correctly and meets your expectations.

Choosing a general contractor that’s affordable is important to avoid breaking the bank, but it’s even more important to find one that’s going to do high-quality work and stay on top of the project from start to finish. Get recommendations from friends, family, and other trusted sources, and make sure you request bids for your project from multiple contractors before selecting one to move forward with.

Subcontractors & Specialists

In most cases, your general contractor will take care of coordinating any necessary subcontractors or trade specialists (electricians, plumbers, etc.) – but depending on the work you want done, you might be able to work directly with one of these individuals to meet your needs.

For example, if you’re just rewiring an older house or replacing major home systems with new ones (such as upgrading a gas-powered water heater), having an electrician or plumber to handle things may be sufficient, and can save you the cost of having a GC manage the project.

Architects & Engineers

When you’re talking about serious projects like additions, major structural changes, etc., you may need to break out the big guns. Hiring an architect that specializes in residential remodeling or a structural engineer to assess the needs of a project can be critical to accomplishing more significant renovation work in a timely fashion that meets safety standards and is compliant with the most current building codes.