Here are a few resources that might be beneficial if you are doing any work to your home. Please keep in mind, I am based in California so these resources are based on my experience from working with local regulations.
CONSTRUCTION
Hiring a Contractor: Please make sure they are licensed, bonded and insured or whatever your state requires. Even though there are plenty of good workers out their that might do a wonderful job without being licensed, probably cheaper, you take on a huge liability if they do anything wrong. You could be voiding your home insurance or decreasing your resale value by having work done with unlicensed workers which typically also means unpermitted.
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers/hire_a_contractor
Look up their license: Even if their estimate claims they are licensed and insured, be sure to look it up. Their license or coverage could have expired or been revoked. I’ve received bids from sub-contractors with a fake license number that either doesn’t even exist or is a license number of someone they may or may not know. Many contractors also operate as a sole proprietor so they don’t have to obtain Workman’s Compensation. Unless you are doing a small project, they will probably have at least a helper. If they get hurt, you could be responsible.
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/onlineservices/checklicenseII/checklicense.aspx
Building Permits: Yes, they can be inconvenient and will cost you money, but they also ensure that any work done to your home is done properly. Most work requires a permit, even a small bathroom upgrade. If an inspector suspects you are doing work and finds out that you are, they can make you tear out whatever you’ve done and charge fees on top of having to redo the work.
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers/hire_a_contractor/Building_Permit_Requirements.aspx
Read the Contact: First, make sure you have a contract and not just a signed estimate. California requires a signed contract, that is easy to read and understand, for any project over $500. There are many stipulations that are required to protect you. Many homeowners don’t know that legally, no contactor is allowed to take any more than $1000 for a deposit. If a contractor tells you that they need the money to order materials, they cannot take any money until the materials are actually delivered to your jobsite.
https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Hire_A_Contractor/Home_Improvement_Contracts
Interior Design
There are numerous Design Organizations out there to help education designers as well as help homeowners hire qualified designers. Some are national organizations with local chapters while others can be location specific. While it is not required for designers to be part of any organization and not all states require certification, hiring a qualified interior designer means you are hiring someone with knowledge and experience who has a commitment to their profession and continues to learn.
ASID: American Society of Interior Designers https://www.asid.org/
NKBA: National Kitchen and Bath Association https://nkba.org/
AIA: American Institute of Architecture https://www.aia.org/
CCIDC: California Council for Interior Design Certification https://ccidc.org/
CIDQ: Council for Interior Design Qualification https://www.cidq.org
CIDA: Council for Interior Design Accreditation https://www.accredit-id.org/
IDCEC: International Design Continuing Education Council https://www.idcec.org/Pages/Forms/Public/About/About.aspx
CAPID: Conejo Association of Professional Interior Designers https://capid.org/
