If this is your first foray into a Do-It-Yourself project, don't worry. You'll survive. Here's some advice to get you started. Be prepared and don't be afraid to ask for help!

How to Prepare

• Understand the various steps in the project -- If you are painting a room, you'll want to consider how much prep work is involved and whether you have the necessary skills and tools. If the room was painted a few years ago and there is no lead paint to worry about, then the process will be straightforward. If you are painting over cracking plaster in an 80-year-old house, the job becomes more difficult.

• Be realistic about your expectations. If you are a perfectionist who shudders at the sight of stray paint on a window, then plan to spend a few extra days painting.

• Pretend that you are a contractor who is being paid to do the work. Look closely at the condition of the room. You may find that the plaster should be repaired before you paint. This discovery will change the project description and affect your timeline.

Should You Go It Alone or Ask for Help?

As you decide, consider:

• Reading through a book on home improvement
• Asking for advice at your local hardware store. Veteran rehabbers are often filled with pearls of wisdom that can help you save time and avoid making big mistakes.
• Asking a friend to help you get started.
• Hiring someone for a few hours to show you the right techniques. You'll then have enough confidence to finish the work yourself.

Before You Go to The Store

• Make a list of supplies and buy a little more than the job requires to give yourself room for spills and miscalculations. Have everything ready before the weekend. Don't start out Saturday morning with a trip to the home improvement store!
• Make a schedule. Block out a weekend when you can ignore social invitations and concentrate on scraping bubbling patches of stain from your windows.
• Add some time at the end of the project to allow for fixing a few mistakes or redoing part of the project.
• Leave a little room in your budget for extra supplies. Most home improvement projects require at least two trips to the hardware store for miscellaneous drill bits, a different grade of sand paper or an extra can of paint.