Get matched with top kitchen and bathroom remodelers in Cranford, NJ

When it comes to general contractors, licensing laws vary from state to state. Even if your state doesn’t require your home remodeling contractor to have a license, your municipality or city might, so it’s a good idea to check with your town before getting started. Be sure to check our state licensing tool to review the local general contractor guidelines. 

If your state or city doesn’t require a home remodeling contractor to be licensed, hiring an expert is still worth it. The costs of hiring an unlicensed or uninsured contractor are high, as you might need to pay out of pocket for employee injuries or even the cost of redoing the project. 

As you browse our pro listings, take note of the “Angi Certified” badge. Angi Certified businesses meet our standards for certification which include:

• The owner, principal, or relevant manager passed a criminal background check

• Required to have applicable state and local licenses

• Maintain an average star rating of 3.0 or better on our network, if they have at least one review

• Paying to advertise their services

• Meeting any other eligibility criteria required by Angi

The cost of home remodeling is $50,000 for the average homeowner. However, this cost can range anywhere from $3,000 for a small project to $170,000 for a whole home remodel. Factors like project size, location, and room type all affect your overall cost. For example, bedroom remodeling costs are one of the least expensive projects, costing about $1,500 to $5,500 per bedroom. However, a kitchen remodel has a significant cost range, totaling anywhere from $14,500 to over $70,000.

The best time of year to remodel your home is late winter and early spring when fewer homeowners are thinking about projects and pros are more available. Also consider the type of remodel you want and plan ahead as much as possible. For example, the summer is a great time of year to update your fireplace, but winter is a better option for fixing foundations and building room additions.

There are a few things you can do to prepare for a home remodeling project to ensure a smooth construction process. Creating a detailed budget can help you stay on track, especially with the excitement of new construction or upgrades. It’s also beneficial to map out a remodeling timeline with your contractor to have clear expectations. In addition, you’ll want to prepare the space that will be worked on ahead of time—this could be tarping furniture or entirely removing belongings from the room.

Home renovation insurance, sometimes called “dwelling under renovation coverage” or “builder’s risk insurance,” helps financially cover any damages that occur during the home renovation process. While different from typical homeowners insurance, many homeowners insurance policies already include some sort of home renovation insurance or offer it as an additional add-on. While this insurance isn’t necessary for every home remodeling project, it’s best to contact your insurance company to verify if it’s needed and what your coverage options are.