Home improvement is an important step for many homeowners to take. When home improvement graduates into a larger remodeling project, you have even more factors to take into account.

If you’re thinking of taking the plunge into a big project, you may want to speak with two professionals while you’re still in the planning stages. They can smooth the process out for you, save you money and shorten the time needed to complete what you’d like done.

Interior Design Professional If you’re remodeling to provide more living space in certain rooms, an interior designer may be able to save you money and time. Often, furniture arrangement is to blame, and someone who specializes in designing the inside of homes can help you optimize the space you already have.

Most designers charge between $50 and $80 an hour, but the cost is worth it. If a remodel is still in the cards for you, they can help you determine proper lighting, storage, flow of traffic and many other important factors.

It’s worth noting that the consultation usually isn’t an opportunity to sell other services, unlike other types of professionals, like real estate agents or contractors.

Structural Engineer A structural engineer will help you with determining the underlying structural needs of your construction ideas. They can also help you in determining which building codes apply to you and speed the process of getting the necessary permits and inspections.

They often charge around $500 for their services, but their help can help avoid impossible or impractical building plans right from the start.

It’s a great idea to consult with both of these professionals because the interior designer may not be able to spot the structural needs to the plan.

These two specialists offer a unique and valuable perspective to large remodeling projects, and can save you a great deal of money from start to finish.