Proper planning prevents poor performance. What is important in planning? Specifications, details, overview, materials, staging, and budget to name a few.
Design: Sometimes it is necessary to hire an architect or a designer in order to realize your goals. Oftentimes a designer or architect can help with budgets and ideas to enhance your project. Architects have years of education, which can help in the design process. Design/builders often have years of experience in the trades, which offers other advantages, one of which is allowing the design to evolve with changes during the course of work. It is critical for the contractor to understand the full scope of the work and the parameters that are important to you as a client.
Specifications: What are the design elements that are important to you? Materials selection, qualities, finishes and components will determine budget and your overall satisfaction. Small details can often add tremendous value without substantially increasing the cost.
Permits: Once the design is finalized you will need to obtain the necessary permits. Each trade has its own separate permit, e.g. electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and building . Before any permits are issued the plans will need to be checked by local zoning and building enforcement officials. This can sometimes be very tricky, although experienced builders, designers and architects know what to expect and can facilitate the process.
Contractor: You will either need a contractor who will oversee the work, or you will need to be your own general contractor. The role of the contractor is to manage the workers, workflow, be responsible for on-site safety, and knowing the codes. It is often difficult for a homeowner to undertake all these responsibilities as well as hold another job. A contractor ought to have good references as well as a license, insurance and worker's comp. Sometimes homeowners successfully use unlicensed contractors to perform the work, but at times the results can be disastrous. Be certain you know who you are working with. You have very little protection or fallback if you use an unlicensed contractor to save some money.
Staging: It is now time to get ready for breaking ground. What is the contractor going to need- space for tools, material, debris? Are you going to lose the use of some vital area of the house- a bathroom, or the kitchen? Is your whole house going to be disrupted? Maybe you want to move out for the course of construction. It is certainly easier to move out, but it may not be economically feasible.
Relationship: Once work is started it is important to keep communications open with the contractor. Changes will occur, and questions come up. This ultimately facilitates the job flow and it is important for contractor-client satisfaction. Good luck in your endeavor.