Every home improvement project or fixer up rehab has its ups and downs, and there are plenty of mistakes to go around. But avoiding costly mistakes by remembering important phrases such as “Measure Twice, Cut Once,” or “Lefty-Loosey, Righty-Tighty.” NOTE: You may learn from your own mistakes, but it’s better to learn from the mistakes of others.

Buying Too High or the Wrong Location
Sometimes, do-it-yourselfers get stuck before they ever get moving on a remodel. It happens primarily for 2 reasons. Because they paid too much or they bought a house in the wrong neighborhood -next to the freeway, next to railroad tracks or that lone single-family nestled in a row of commercial. You can avoid both these problems by looking at comparable market analysis (CMA) for the neighborhood before you buy and asking if there are any drawbacks of the location. If you don’t want to live under a flight path - a new buyer won’t either. Remember, the best time to think about selling is when you buy.

Not Researching Code and Obtaining a Permit
Many people shy away from obtaining permits because they worry about the expense or think they don’t need one. Some cities issue permits based on political reasons, and some may appear unnecessary, but get a permit anyway, because it’s against the law if you refuse to comply and the fines are more expensive then the permit.

Here are more reasons to get a permit:
Inspectors will help to ensure the job is done correctly and to code.
Many buyers don’t want to buy a home that has had work done without a permit.
If your neighbor reports you to the city and an inspector discovers you have completed work without a permit, you might be required to tear it apart and start over.

Prepare a Written Work Plan
Overly zealous do it yourselfers often think it will take less time to complete a job than is does. Prepare a calendar, day-by-day, outlining each portion of your rehab project and how many hours it will take to complete it. This will keep you on a tight schedule and give you a realistic time frame from start to finish. For example, a tiling job cannot be completed in one day - First, the mastic is applied, tiles are cut and laid. The area needs to cure and dry a minimum of 24 hours. After the tiles are set, you grout the lines then you need to wait another 24 hours before walking on it.

Budgeting
The adage is figure your cost and then triple it. Itemize every scrap of material in your estimates, including mundane items such as the cost of nails, staples, fiberglass tape, joint compound, etc. Then account for 15% overage of materials for waste. Throw in another 30% for price increases if you’re not buying all your materials at once.

Tackling Jobs for Which You are Unqualified
If you’re afraid of heights or unsteady in high places, don’t install a roof. Hire somebody else to do it. Before you tackle a job, think about the job from beginning to completion. Some projects require more than one person. It’s difficult to hang drywall on a ceiling by yourself.

Expect the Unexpected
You have no idea when you tear open a wall what you will find. For example, you could find termites, beetles, ants etc. A pest infestation will require eradication and / or structural repair. You may discover wiring that needs to be replaced, pipes that need to be rerouted or moisture problems that have rotted away joists or sill plates. Pad your budget and allow yourself a bit of flexibility in your work schedule to accommodate these surprises.

Home Inspection
Always, always, always get a home inspection when you buy. Hire an accredited individual to perform the inspection - not your Uncle Joe or your buddy that’s a contractor, get an experienced inspector. Be there for the inspection and ask questions. Pay close attention to safety issues so you can be an informed buyer. If the inspector calls for further inspection by another professional (i.e., contractor, etc.) find out if the inspector is telling you there could be a serious issue or if the inspector isn’t able to address that issue. There’s a difference.

Tools
When it comes to tools, you can’t go wrong by buying professional tools that are made to perform specific functions. While you can get by using a drywall gun to screw deck boards to a joist, you can’t use a hacksaw to make precise miter cuts with any accuracy.

Practice Safety.
Wear goggles when using a power saw.
Don’t stand on the top rung of a ladder.
Shut off the main breaker when working with electricity.

Materials
Don’t skimp by buying ceramic tile for 50 cents a square foot, but it will probably crack. Buyers will notice if you only install quarter-inch granite on counters or buy plastic baseboards. You want the quality of your work to shine throughout the house. If you shop carefully and negotiate prices, you can purchase brand-name, high quality merchandise for less. Then you can advertise those manufacturer names in your marketing materials when it’s time to sell.

Estimating the Resale Value
People like to use a rule of thumb that says they can sell a house for twice the cost of its improvements, plus its acquisition price. That formula doesn’t always work all the time. It’s far wiser to check with a realtor and have a comparable market analysis done for similar homes in the neighborhood to determine if your improvements are in line with other homes in that area. Plan for the bottom of those comparable sales as a return on your investment. Anything you make above that figure is gravy.