Anticipation: You must develop your ability to anticipate problems before they arise. Simply imagine and think through each task before it occurs. For example, if the electrician is coming tomorrow, picture any impediments to her progress. Are there any plumbing pipes or objects blocking the work space? Where do I want the circuit breaker box? Where do I want the electrical meter to be on the outside of the house? What appliances will be drawing power?

Just spend 15 minutes with a pen and paper and write down as many questions as you can.

Effort: In order to get the best result, you can't just hand over the keys to the contractors and expect them to read your mind. You have to direct them with precision and accuracy, and you must supervise their progress. Sometimes, you need to goad them along to finish quickly. Your satisfaction in the finished product will be a direct result of the amount of effort you exert during the process.

Negotiation: Anyone in the real estate or construction business will tell you that most of what they do is negotiation. Negotiation doesn't have to be conflict and confrontation. It is simply a matter of getting your needs met while meeting the interests of the contractors.

Handling Stress: Renovation can be very stressful if you let it get to you. Stress occurs when you are worried about making costly mistakes. The information on this website will go a long way toward reducing the amount of errors that you make. Also, remember that nothing is irreversible, and every mistake can be corrected.

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University