Most people struggle to afford to remodel their entire house all at once. They also want to save as much money as possible. If this sounds like you, first decide which parts of the remodel you can do yourself and which you need a contractor to do.

Tasks like painting your dining room, baseboard installation, small-scale demolition (like a counter or set of cabinets), or even installing flooring can be done by amateurs. But door or window installation and large demolition projects may be more difficult.

When determining a budget, there’s so much to consider: contractors, paint, flooring/carpet, cabinets, countertops, and much more – along with tools and equipment to install each of these items.

You’ll also have to consider the time that each task will take. This is why choosing a professional, efficient contractor is so important. The same task could take one contractor half the time of another contractor, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

Some home remodeling projects require a permit. Structural changes, footprint changes, new windows, and plumbing or electrical modifications are the most common home improvements that require a permit. Smaller projects like replacing flooring and painting do not require any permit. For a complete list of improvements that do and don’t require a permit.

An easy place to start is just to call your local city offices and tell them what you are doing and ask them what permits you will need from them. They may advise you to check with the county or state for permits as well.