3. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER
One of the worst scenarios ever is asking an in-demand general contractor for "a rough estimate" when you don't know exactly what you want. Get a good designer or draftsman to translate your vague vision into drawings and specs. "Being decisive and clear on the details will save you money, and the project will be more likely to meet your expectations," says Monica D. Higgins of Renovation Planners, a construction management firm in Los Angeles. It will also help you avoid dreaded "change orders," code for pricey, unanticipated upgrade decisions. And for heaven's sake, leave your friends and relatives out of the design process, says Thompson, remembering the time he overheard three friends going around in circles as they "helped" with a kitchen remodel, all the while saying things like "You really like exposed beams?