There is more to building than sweat and sawdust. Whether building a custom home, putting an addition over the garage or remodeling the kitchen, your local building department must be taken into account. You must anticipate their input, and add to your schedule the necessary time for approvals, processing, re-drawing of plans and re-working the changes required to meet code. Building codes for each step of construction, including framing, electrical work, and plumbing varies from city to county. Individual inspectors within a single department can also interpret the codes differently. Understanding the time and steps required to take a project from plans through approval can help you decide how best to proceed.

If you obtain necessary building permits on your own because you plan to self-contract your home improvements or because you think you are doing the contractor a favor, you should know that doing so will reduce your options under the law if a dispute arises. It could also extend your personal liability for any work-related accidents. If you contract with someone to do work, ask the contractor to obtain all necessary permits.

Another construction tip is that the more decisions you initially make, the more smoothly the project will unfold; thus the more accurate the original quote. Making changes after the contract has been signed and the construction has commenced often results in an increase in the price and length of the project.