NARI member companies pledge to follow NARI’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. NARI Certified Professionals earn individual credentials by meeting requirements for experience, education, and assessment in a remodeling specialty, and maintain their credentials through annual renewal and continuing education.

Membership and certification are different: a member company may employ certified professionals, but membership does not automatically certify every employee. Ask which professionals on your project team hold current credentials, and verify licensing, insurance, references, and relevant experience before hiring.

Use the Find a Professional Remodeler tool on NARI’s website to connect with a qualified local expert in your area who can bring your vision to life. 

Start by identifying what you want to change, how you use your home, your priorities, and the amount you can invest. Gather examples of designs and features you like, then discuss your goals with remodeling professionals. NARI’s Getting Started Guide helps you prepare questions for those conversations.

Read the Getting Started Guide

The choice depends on the project’s complexity, your skills, your available time, and local requirements. Consider whether you have the tools and experience to complete the work safely. Discuss structural changes, electrical work, plumbing, and other specialized systems with qualified professionals before deciding to do the work yourself.

Read DIY or Hire a Pro

Visit NARI’s website and use the Find a Local Remodeler tool. Enter your ZIP code to see a list of certified, insured, and ethical remodeling professionals in your area.

Look for a local, established remodeling company with positive reviews, references, and verified credentials. Check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau and local consumer protection agencies. Reliable contractors should provide proof of licensing (where applicable), insurance, and workers’ compensation coverage. 

Read Choosing the Right Contractor.

Ask questions that help you understand the contractor’s experience, qualifications, and approach to your project:

• How many projects like mine have you completed, and can I contact recent clients?
• Who will supervise the project and be my main contact?
• Will employees or subcontractors perform the work?
• Do you offer design and construction services together?
• Is your company a NARI member, and which team members hold current NARI certifications?
• Can you provide proof of required licensing and insurance?
• Who will obtain permits and coordinate inspections?
• How will you communicate progress, delays, and changes in cost?
• Ask yourself, do I trust and feel comfortable with this person working in my home?

Use the Contractor Checklist

Most building codes require permits for structural changes, additions, or updates involving plumbing or electrical systems. Projects such as removing load-bearing walls, building decks, or replacing roofs generally require approval. 

If a contractor asks you to pull your own permit, that’s a warning sign – your remodeler should handle all permitting and inspections to ensure compliance and safety.

Read Permits and Regulations

Ask for current license information where licensing is required, along with documentation of liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage where applicable. Confirm license status with the relevant state or local authority and verify insurance with the issuing provider. NARI membership and certification do not replace required licenses or insurance.

Review contractor qualifications

Remodeling costs depend on project size, materials, design complexity, and the home’s condition. Always compare bids carefully and make sure each estimate includes the same scope of work and quality level.

Remember: if a price seems too good to be true, it probably is. Choosing a qualified professional helps avoid costly mistakes and ensures long-term value.  

Read Budgeting and Financing Tips

Estimates may reflect different scopes of work, material selections, labor assumptions, allowances, and included services. Ask each contractor to explain what is included and excluded, and how unexpected work will be priced. Compare detailed written proposals for equivalent work so you can understand the differences before deciding.

Learn how to compare remodeling proposals

A remodeling timeline depends on the project’s size, design decisions, permit approvals, material availability, and construction requirements. Hidden conditions discovered during demolition can also affect the schedule. Ask your contractor for expected start and completion dates, project milestones, and an explanation of how delays or changes will be communicated.

Prepare for your contractor conversation

Remodeling that disturbs lead-based paint can create hazardous dust. EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Rule generally requires firms performing covered, paid renovation work in pre-1978 housing to be certified and follow lead-safe work practices. Some exemptions apply, and certain states administer their own authorized programs.
Before hiring, ask whether your project is covered and request proof of the applicable lead-safe certification. NARI certification does not replace EPA or state lead-safe certification.

Read NARI’s Safety and Lead Awareness guidance. 

A remodel’s value includes how it improves your home’s function, comfort, and enjoyment, as well as its potential resale value. Cost recovery varies by project and market.

The 2025 Remodeling Impact Report from the National Association of REALTORS® and NARI estimated cost recovery of 100 percent for a new steel front door, 83 percent for a closet renovation, and 80 percent for a new fiberglass front door. These are report estimates, not guaranteed returns for an individual home. Consider your priorities, budget, and how long you expect to stay.

Explore the 2025 Remodeling Impact Report

Planning & Design

• Scope of Work — A detailed description of what work is included in the remodeling project.
• Design-Build — An approach where one company handles both the design and construction.
• Allowance — A budgeted amount set aside for an item that hasn’t been selected or priced exactly yet.
• Specification (Spec) — Detailed requirements for a material, product, or installation method.
• Floor Plan — A drawing showing the layout of rooms, walls, doors, fixtures, and other features.

Contracts & Costs

• Estimate — An approximation of what the project is expected to cost.
• Proposal — A contractor’s formal description of the proposed work and associated price.
• Contract — The legally binding agreement outlining the project’s scope, cost, responsibilities, and terms.
• Payment Schedule — The agreed-upon timing and amounts of payments throughout the project.
• Change Order — A written modification to the original contract that changes the scope, price, schedule, or other project details.
• Contingency — Money reserved for unforeseen expenses or conditions.
  Construction
• General Contractor (GC) — The person or company responsible for managing the overall construction project.
• Subcontractor — A specialized professional hired to perform a particular portion of the work, such as plumbing, electrical, or tile installation.
• Rough-In — The stage when plumbing, electrical, and HVAC components are installed before walls and finishes are completed.
• Framing — The structural framework that forms walls, floors, ceilings, and roofs.
• Load-Bearing Wall — A wall that supports structural weight from above.
• Punch List — A list of remaining corrections, adjustments, or finishing items identified near the end of a project.
• Substantial Completion — The point when the project is sufficiently complete for the homeowner to use the remodeled space as intended.

Permits & Inspections

• Building Permit — Official authorization from the local jurisdiction allowing specified construction work to proceed.
• Building Code — Minimum requirements established to protect health, safety, and welfare in building construction.
• Inspection — A review by a building official to verify that completed work complies with applicable codes and permits.
• Certificate of Occupancy (CO) — Official documentation indicating that a building or space meets applicable requirements for occupancy, when required.

Materials & Products

• Lead Time — The time between ordering a product and when it is available for delivery or installation.
• Finish — The final surface treatment or appearance of a material, such as paint, stain, tile, or countertop surface.
• Fixture — An installed item such as a faucet, sink, toilet, or light fixture.
• Millwork — Finished wood products such as cabinetry, molding, trim, and built-ins.
• Backorder — A product that has been ordered but is temporarily unavailable.
• Warranty — A written commitment covering certain defects in workmanship or products for a specified period.