Get your game planIt's hard to shop when you don't know what you want or need. So look through magazines and catalogs, browse the web, and keep track anything that inspires you. Start a file with pictures and photos of appealing designs and use them when starting projects. Don't limit yourself to getting inspiration only from other home projects. Use art, decor, the outdoors or even clothing to glean ideas.
Set a timeline
Some projects need just a couple hours a weekend for a few weeks to be complete, while others jobs will require months. To keep yourself on track, make a project timeline. Plan for hours spent on the job itself -- but also the time spent perusing, shopping (and returning -- see below), toting and prepping for the task.
If this becomes something you're doing because you want to but don't have to, consider investing in a software program specially suited to the task. They can help you plan your project's look as well as assist in budgeting both time and money.
Make a list. Consider everything from the painting accessories, type and size of hinges to trim and towel bars. Mathews advises looking online first when searching for fixtures, tile, carpeting, appliances, cabinets, flooring and lighting. "The obvious downside is that you can't actually touch the products." He says to get your ideas out there in the stores, and buy there or online. Don't forget to include purchasing, borrowing or renting the proper tools required for a professional -- really professional -- looking project.
Create a budget
If you're comfortable with a little flexibility in your budget, build in a little wiggle room, but still keep on paper an upper end figure you will not go beyond. Remember to factor in all the costs. Are you taking trips to the dump? Do you have all the tools, brushes, protective gear, patience and persistence required?
Get quotes from local equipment rental companies. Tile saw, jackhammer, pressure washer and carpet cleaners, some savvy showy shopping may keep costs (and clutter) low. Don't be afraid to borrow a tool, or a friend to help with daunting projects. But, beware, this could be a way to lose said friend or finger. Also, helpful friends require sustenance, so don't forget to budget for meals out when one is too tired to cook. And then there are the beverages... like soda, water, tea and of course, many cups of coffee. Also factor in extras like taxes, delivery charges and installation fees. You should also make sure you check with your local building department to see if your city, county or state has special building regulations, or requires permits or permissions. Often following the permitting process can be a hassle -- and a slow, slow process -- so find out what you need to do, how long the process will take, and how much it costs before jumping into your project.
Don't feel dumb asking for help
Come on - you're not expected to know where everything in the store is located, nor how to use every tool or supply. (Not to mention that the smaller and/or more obscure the item you're seeking, all the more you will need help to find it.)
Don't give up after the first "I don't know." If the associate/salesperson doesn't know the answer to your question or is simply too busy to help, ask someone else. (Along these same lines, if they claim not to have a product you'd expect them to stock, ask another salesperson... just in case.)
Sooner or later (hopefully sooner), the do-it-herselfer may find that she's more knowledgeable about where to find things than the aproned sales associate.
Make "her-story"
Not quite ready to use a tile saw? Unsure about fixing a fixture? More than a little worried about being zapped by electricity? "Big-box home" improvement shops like Home Depot and Lowe's not only have large and diverse inventories, but also offer some good clinics.
The Home Depot offers both in-store and online clinics so you can learn how to do a variety of home improvement projects yourself. Locally, they offer weekly clinics with information on usually 3 to 4 different projects for adults (and a new one for kids) each calendar month. They also offer "Do-It-Herself Workshops" -- a free, one-night workshop every three months. Check HomeDepotClinics.com for a schedule and more information.
Lowes stores also offer classes which change on a monthly basis. Find out more at Lowes.com.
Stay in your friendly "neighborhood"
If you're reading this article, you probably aren't one hundred percent confident of your own construction abilities. That's totally normal. But while you need to go a little outside your comfort zone, you don't necessarily need to take it to extremes -- for example, going to specialty supply stores when you're looking for the basics.
For example, for the construction newbie to get good results, you may want to steer clear of the lumber yards and stick to home improvement warehouse stores. Why? Jim Mathews, owner of Mathews Contracting LLC in Seattle says, "The lumber yard people won't deal with you unless you have a certain amount of expertise." So if you can't fake knowing board feet from bead board, shop at a place where the customers aren't all general contractors.
Consider 'green' alternatives
Add environmentally thoughtful fixtures, wall, roof, and floor coverings. Check out renewable products and those made locally. Find out more by clicking here.
Salvage useful fixtures, draperies, lights and appliances. Consider donating useful, but lets say, ugly faucets, fans, hardware, cabinets and even flooring remnants to your local builders emporium, or charity -- check with your county.
Buy extra and return what you don't use
Worried you may not be buying enough materials to get the job done right? The solution to that problem is simple: Buy more than you need. Whatever you don't use (subject to the store's policies, of course) should be returnable if in its original packaging. Bring your receipt along with the goods returned to be sure you get back the price you paid, not the lowest sale price.
A couple tips on returns: Check your store's return policies when you buy the extras. Some places require the goods back in a certain number of days, while some merchants will charge a restocking fee.
If you purchased your supplies from a big home improvement store, you may want to save up extras from a few shopping trips before braving the returns line. And to keep the trip as short as possible, avoid the peak hours (weekends and after 5pm).
Keep your receipts
There are lots of reasons to keep the receipts, the best of which is that those little scraps of paper can help you save money. Home improvement projects can increase the value of your home, but the IRS needs documentation in order to give you any tax breaks. Label your receipts with a description of the product/projects and keep them safely on file or in a shoebox. (Check with a qualified tax-advisor if you have any questions on deductions and recordkeeping.)
Your saved receipts is an important tool to use in order to get full refunds on unused items that you return.
Finally, if you need to get more of the same products, you already possess the vital information -- product numbers, descriptions, cost -- to make it a reasonably easy transaction.
