The easy part of home improvement is the planning, and the fun part is starting the project. The joy must come when it's finished.

A lot of things have happened from planning to completion. Lots of different thoughts and emotions have helped guide you along. You will have learned many things. Things you would have never thought of. With any luck you will have added some tools to the mix. The best part will be all the experience that just one project can give you.

You should know your tools a little better, what they will do and what they won't. You should know more about timetables, how long different tasks take, how long it takes to rip it all out and clean up, how long it takes to make the repairs and really get started on the over all project, How long your family can put up with all the dust and noise.

This is all valuable information that should be brought into play on the next project. I talk about planning a lot because it is so important. It can save a lot of time and money. All though time is less important to the do-it-yourselfer than money, we can save a lot of both with a good plan. Some parts of the planning will involve waiting time ? letting paint or glue dry or ordering materials.

On the countertop I tiled not long ago, I had to wait a couple of days before I grouted it. This allows the tile adhesive to set properly.

Things like paint usually need more than one application with some dry time in the middle. This time can be spent on other things like preparing for the next thing or cleaning up. Cleaning up is one of the least attractive parts of home improvement, but nevertheless it is very important. Maintaining a tidy work area will keep things like paint cans from being knocked over or getting nails in your foot. It will also keep the other members of the family a little happier a little longer.

Another large part of the planning is the cost outline. We all know that the cost of these projects can get out of hand really fast. A good plan can help a lot here. Some projects may be planned so that they will be completed after next payday or later next month. Sometimes it can be hard to really finish a project because the costs have grown beyond the original plan.

This happens all by itself, trust me. I do this type of work every day. Like this week I am working on a bi-fold door system for a laundry closet. The homeowner and I have decided that the trim around the doors needs to match the rest of the hall way. Not a big alteration but one that adds a little more cost and time.

What we're talking about are unexpected issues that arise from the work we planned. Some things like repairing the plumbing while redoing the kitchen counter can be planned for in advance. But repairing the drainpipe all the way down to the next junction may have easily been overlooked. Let's not kid ourselves ? these things are seldom an easy cheap fix. Older houses are generally worse, but some of the newer homes I'm working on at present have issues too.

Even if you don't find anything wrong things will creep up. With all the new innovations in home repair these days you may find a better way of doing something or a better tap set than you originally planned for. Some of the new fancy bathroom taps need special plumbing. This will cost more.

Not long ago I priced out a waterfall style tap set for a 15-year-old house. The basic plumbing required to install the $350 tap set would be another $525. That's right, over $900 just so you can shave. All those wonderful sinks and taps we all see on the renovation TV shows ? well, most start at about $2,000. Now if we are renovating our house to sell it now or in the near future, we can expect to get that all back and then some.

On the last small bathroom renovation I did the material costs were divided equally between the vanity top with all its fancy tile and trim and the tap set. The quality of the tap sets these days are far better than the ones we're replacing. They need less maintenance as the years go on and they are easier to keep clean. It's also popular to match the towel racks and soap dish to the taps too. It all adds up.

You can still buy a good quality plumbing fixtures at relatively low cost. If you choose the cheapest you can than you get what you pay for. A good example is a new kitchen sink. You can buy a brand new one for as little as $100 on sale. However, what you may not know is that the finish may not last as long and the metal will be a lot thinner than the $200 one. What this means is simple. Your new sink will age a lot faster and look just like the old one, with all it dents and scratches, within a couple of years.

Sinks are like door locks. Buy the best you can afford and include that in the over-all plan of the renovation or repair. I am called by homeowners all the time to install some item that they have bought on sale. Sometimes after I look it over and explain what I think they change their mind. It was a great idea at the time. I think that is an important part of my job, explaining what the long-term issues could be.

Educating your self about these things is an important part of any reno plan. If you?re new at renovations then take all the time you need. Ask questions, lots of them. The people at the building stores want to answer them. And no, they won't think they?re dumb. This is what they are there for, to help you get the job done the way you want it done.

They will also be glad to show off any new tools you may need for this project. Now that's good news.