Sometimes, do-it-yourselfers (DIYers) get stung before they ever get moving on a remodel. It happens primarily for two reasons. Because they paid too much or they bought a house in the wrong neighborhood — slammed up against 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 sales for the neighborhood before you buy and asking about the drawbacks of the location. If you don’t want to live under a flight path, the chances are a new buyer won’t either. Remember, the best time to think about selling is when you buy. Because the most beautiful remodel isn’t going to pay back in spades if your property backs up to the city dump.

Many DIYers shy away from obtaining permits because they worry about the expense or think they don’t need a permit. 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 it’s required.

Here are more reasons:

• 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.

Overly zealous DIYers often think it will take less time to complete a job than is necessary. Prepare a calendar, day-by-day, outlining each portion of your rehab and how many hours it will take to complete. 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 at least 24 hours.
• After the tiles are set, you will grout.
• You still need to wait another day to walk on it.

If you’re afraid of heights or unsteady in high places, don’t install a roof. Life is short and then you die. Hire somebody else to do it. Before you tackle a job, think about the job from its inception all the way through to its completion. You don’t want to reach the halfway mark and discover you can’t finish.

Some projects require more than one person. It’s hard to hang drywall on a ceiling by yourself, even with a deadman prop. Pay attention to the weight you lift; it may wreck havoc on your back or throw you off balance.

excerpt from