Hold it! Do you consider yourself to be a do-it-yourselfer? Is there no project you’re not willing to take on? Before you pick up the hammer, consider the findings from a recent survey. Twelve percent of respondents admitted that home renos led them to consider divorce or separation, reports the Huffington Post. Yikes. Sometimes it’s best to enlist in help from a professional to keep your home, and even your relationships, in one piece. Here’s how to tell if your next home project might require an architect or designer:

Is the project bigger than removing a non-bearing wall or enlarging a window opening?

If you are thinking about a full-scale remodel—a big project that includes more than removing a non-bearing wall or increasing the size of a window opening—you’ll want to consider hiring an architect. This is especially true if you find yourself face-to-face with some serious design problems throughout the first steps of your project. Architects can complete complicated projects in less time, and often for less money, than what you would spend, and they typically oversee the contractor and team. Architects are professionals trained in engineering, project management and design theory, three factors that give them the cred to work on your home. This includes handling things like building consultations, plans, and inspections.

It’s not uncommon to see the letters “AIA” after an architect’s name. These letters stand for the American Institute of Architects and signify membership to the group. Rates vary by individual architect and region, and it’s common to pay by square-footage, but some architects will charge a percentage, hourly or flat rate. Total cost is also dependent on the scale of the project.

Who to hire: architect

Do you want to make a small bathroom feel larger and recoup a high resale value?

Size matters. And we all want the cramped spaces throughout our homes to feel bigger than they actually are. But adding on square-footage is expensive and it isn’t always a viable option. That’s where designers come in. Like architects, designers are professionally trained, and have strong spatial skills in addition to an eye for aesthetic design. Designers make sure that the inside of your home is functional and visually pleasing. So, if you want to make your outdated, poorly-styled, small bathroom better, consider hiring a designer for the job. Bathroom remodels are not cheap, but they do yield a high return, up to 80 percent according a survey. The National Kitchen and Bath Association cites that the average bathroom renovation costs $11,364, with 20 percent of the total bill accounting for labor, and four percent going to design fees.

Who to hire: designer

Architects and designers both bring their own skill sets and tools to the table. But they are not the same. Are you building a new home from the ground up? An architect is your best bet. Looking for a fresh update that doesn’t require knocking down walls and pouring new foundation? A designer can help. When choosing a designer or architect consider your project, what you want to do as well as the scale of your renovation, and then decide which skill set best fits your needs.