Permits and Planning Ahead - Your number one priority should be to secure a building permit from your local city or county government. Failure to do so could ultimately make your project much more costly.

A set of architectural plans will really help you and your service professional visualize the finished project, but any design preparations can be helpful. Consult with a designer for ideas or check out magazines and cut out ideas, designs or photos that approximate what you want, or simply make a sketch of what your plans are. Any of these things will eliminate surprises and minimize or eliminate misunderstandings between you and your service professional.

Moving utilities - Letting your service professional know about moving utilities helps him better judge how much work will be necessary to complete your project. For instance, bringing in plumbing, electricity or a gas or phone line might necessitate structural or wall changes. It will also let him know if he needs to contact other tradespeople to finish the project.

Flooring basics - The most durable of all floorings is stone and ceramic tile - materials that, when properly installed, last the lifetime of a house. This toughness combined with the natural beauty of stone and the incredible array of tile types, colors, patterns, and textures makes tile and stone the materials of choice where quality and character are most important consideration.

Vinyl, or resilient flooring, is one of the most practical flooring materials. With vinyl flooring, a dropped milk glass has a chance of survival, and the resulting spill is easy to clean up with a damp cloth. Underfoot, vinyl flooring is comfortable, skid-resistant, quiet, and warm. In addition, it's relatively inexpensive and readily available in an unbelievable array of patterns and colors.

One flooring material that never falls from grace is wood. Tough, durable, natural, and warm, wood is perhaps the most practical of all flooring materials. There are three main types of wood flooring: strip, plank, and parquet.

Laminated flooring has a 1/8-inch layer of hardwood bonded to two layers of less costly wood backing, reducing the amount of expensive hardwood needed. It's also easier to install because, unlike conventional solid wood, laminated flooring is pre-finished and may be glued down or applied over a thin foam pad laid on the subfloor. Some types are adhesive backed.

Where comfort underfoot is key, carpet is the floor covering of choice. It's relatively affordable, quick to install, soft and warm to walk on, and sound absorbing. Depending on how the face yarns (surface material) are finished, the carpet may have a pile that is looped, cut, cut looped, or tip-sheared.

Concrete flooring is a fairly convenient and inexpensive option for a basement. Once the concrete work is done, be sure to follow proper maintenance to prevent deterioration. Concrete sealer can be applied to prevent staining. If gouges, fissures or cracks develop, you can patch them with mortar.

-- Tips courtesy of HomeAdvisor.com