1.  WHY are you remodeling?    Is it for you for a long time OR is it to increase the value of your home, possibly for a sale in the next two years?  Be honest, now.  Look, if it is for YOUR enjoyment for a LONG time, then the sky's the limit!  Go for the gold!

2.  If you are in this house for the short-term (1-3 years), then look around the neighborhood.  Here's an old rule:  The least expensive home in a neighborhood is PULLED UP by it's neighbors;  The most expensive home is pulled DOWN by it's neighbors.  Don't be a chump and over-improve YOUR home in a neighborhood of less expensive homes.  You will never get it back!

3.  Remember:  Kitchens and bathrooms are the most quickly dated rooms in a house.  Re-doing them usually picks up the appearance of the whole house, so you almost always get more than a 100% return on your investment.  Important: Get professional help in designing the room (Lowe's or Home Depot can help a lot), then buy the best quality materials you can afford.  An eighty dollar faucet for the bathroom can pay big dividends.  Go through some new builder products to see how they do it now.  Then see if you can top them by using better quality goods.

4.  Architecture matters!  Get an architect to do an artist's rendering of the front view of your home.  Then ask for a suggested improvement.  You will get ideas that you never thought of!  There are architects that specialize in this sort of work.  City Codes change from year-to-year and there may be options open to you that you don't realize.  Look for ways to increase your home's size and improve the street appearance.  Don't rule this option out due to cost, either.  You may be pleasantly surprised!

5.  Green improvements:  Look at ways to reduce the energy costs of your home.  Buyers will be looking at this aspect!  See if there is solar heating for your pool and hot water.  If you have to replace the air conditioning, see if there is a heat-recovery option to heat your hot water.  Switch out older appliances in favor of newer technology;  new microwave/infrared/convection ovens can save a ton of money.  Look at a tankless under-sink water heater that gives instant hot water at your kitchen faucet.....saves water and electric, too.

6.  For older homes, look at a new front door.  More pizzazz, more security and better energy product.

7.  If your home is over 7 years old, look at the windows.  Go to Lowe's and Home Depot and ask them for opinions.  many new options can save you energy and provide better wind resistance.

8.  Look at the roof.  Many roofing options today are a huge improvement, both technically and visually, over the older product.  Again, go to the Big Box Home Improvement stores first, then talk to specialists in the roofing business.  Just be cautious and don't go overboard.

9.  Get your electric company to do an energy audit on your home.  Listen carefully to what they say!

10.  Warm it up!  Use soft and warm colors.  Shy away from the Hard, Brilliant colors.  If you don't understand, go to a color consultant at a good paint supplier (not Wal-mart or Big Lots, thank you).  Get them to introduce you to the color wheel. Tell them you are looking for the soft, warm look of a model home.

11.  An old Marine Corps saying:  the 7 "P"s:  Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance.  (Please excuse the French.....it was the marines, after all).