When it comes to your house, you can’t afford to be cheap and careless. As you prepare for a renovation, be sure to take your time so that you can stay cautious and alert. If you’re too trusting, too cheap, or too ignorant, you’re sure to make choices that you’ll later regret. To help you avoid these common remodeling mistakes, we’ve compiled some simple but vital tips that will help your remodeling project run smoothly.

It all begins with the planning stage, during which you should take some time to analyze what compelled you to make this change to your home. Think about why you’ve chosen to spend this money and what its effect on your home will be. Will the remodeling project increase your home’s organization, efficiency, comfort, space, or style? Will it increase the property’s value? Or, are you simply following the trends or copying a friend’s enviable style? Before you move forward in the process, be sure that your intentions are good. Your home doesn’t need to be trendy or fashionable; it only needs to be perfect for you and your family.

Next, do some research. Find all the information you can regarding the remodeling project, the products you will need, and local contractors available (if you will be hiring someone to complete the work). Do all of this work beforehand so that you aren’t tempted to go the easy route when the time comes to make a decision. Beware of charismatic salespeople wishing to sell you features you don’t need and don’t automatically trust your contractor to make important decisions. Take your time and use as much research as possible. This is especially important when it comes to hiring a contractor. Rather than choosing the cheapest worker, ask your friends for recommendations or look online for great reviews. It is customer satisfaction, not price, that reveals a reliable and talented contractor.

When the project gets going, it’s important that you expect it to go both over-budget and over-time. Although this may not be the case in the end, you should always give yourself some wiggle room. If you plan a party for the day after the project’s end date or use every last penny of your savings, you will end up stressed and disappointed.

That wiggle room brings to mind another important remodeling tip: measure everything. Keep your measuring tape handy and use it to check the dimensions of products, room features, and doorways. You’ll feel very silly if, after weeks of planning, you can’t fit an integral product through the doorway.

Finally, beware of taking on too much work. If you hire a contractor, trust him or her to do the job and check in occasionally. If you’re completing the project yourself, be honest with yourself and admit when you’re in over your head. One of the most common remodeling mistakes is taking on a project that you’re not really qualified to perform. Don’t risk damaging your home just because you want to save money.

With these easy tips, you can avoid the common remodeling mistakes that lead to future regret. Good luck!