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How to Avoid Common Do-It-Yourself Mistakes Ask yourself these questions before you heft that hammer.

Want to make sure your do-it-yourself project doesn't turn into a screw-it-up-yourself project? Increase your chances of success by asking yourself these questions before you start, courtesy of Abby Buford, a spokeswoman for Lowe's® home improvement stores.

Is your DIY project cosmetic, structural or a system change?
If it's cosmetic, like painting, you're probably safe tackling it on your own, Buford says. If it's structural (involving changes to the foundation, walls or home exterior) or a system change (affecting the plumbing or heating and air conditioning), Buford suggests setting up a mock area where you practice using materials such as cardboard and masking tape.

Have you done your research?
Do you know what tools and material you will need and how much they will cost? Will you need permits from county or city government? There's a good chance you will if the project is structural or involves a system change, Buford says. Research the project by reading books and magazines, talking to friends and family, comparing Internet sites and using tools such as the Lowes.com library. Hardware stores also may have experts on hand to guide you.

Have you created a realistic budget?
Determine how much the project will cost, then add at least 20 percent, Buford says. Be sure you account for materials and tools you will need to buy or rent, the fees for any necessary permits, the possibility of needing additional materials, and "any unforeseen hiccup," she says.

How will you pay for the project?
Some people set aside cash ahead of time. Other options include home equity loans or home equity lines of credit. Hardware stores usually offer financing through store cards. The interest rate is likely higher than for a home equity loan. If you decide to finance your project with a store credit card, look for deals where you can pay off the amount in a certain number of months without incurring interest.

Can you complete the project safely?
Will you be working on an older home that might have hazards such as asbestos or lead-based paint? Have you familiarized yourself with any power tools you might need to use? Do you have stepladders, safety goggles, gloves and other supplies?

Do you have time to complete the project?
Just as they often cost more than expected, DIY projects often take longer than expected. "Allow for extra time and a learning curve," Buford says.

Can you complete the job by yourself? If not, who will help?
"If you make that decision ahead of time, you won't have to stop to train a person in the middle of the project," Buford notes.

Do you have the patience to do the project?
Be honest with yourself. Many people end up with half-finished projects around the house because they don't have the patience to see them through.

"If you research ahead of time and plan on the front end, you can really create a successful project," Buford says, turning do-it-yourself into I-did-it-myself.

How to Find the Genealogy of Your House You'll spend a lot of time at the library and the county courthouse.

Ever wondered who lived in your house a few decades ago, or what the house looked like when it was built? You can research the genealogy of your home just like you can research your own family tree, using many of the same public records.

The determined researcher can have a lot of fun playing house detective, says Sally Light, author of "House Histories: A Guide to Tracing the Genealogy of Your Home."

"There often are some fascinating stories. Others are ordinary, typical stories," she says. Her best advice for someone beginning house genealogy research? "Don't believe everything everyone says about your house."

Libraries, county offices and historical societies and museums will be among your best resources.

Light suggests starting with a title search. You'll need a legal description of your property. It's on your deed, and on file at the county clerk's or county tax assessor's office. You might also need some kind of parcel identification number; check your annual property tax notice.

The title search tells you who owned the house and when it changed hands. County records also detail the sales price of each transaction. Light cautions that title information might not detail a home being passed from family member to family member.

The Jefferson County Historical Commission in Birmingham, AL. -- one of many local historical groups offering tips on researching the genealogy of a home - says that county appraisal files will often date a structure, identify previous occupants and even contain photographs of the home.

Old city directories can provide additional occupant information, the Birmingham group says. You also could check to see where a previous occupant lived before and after he or she lived in your home. Check your local library for city directories, also known as reverse directories.

The Jefferson County Historical Commission recommends supplementing what you learn from public documents with interviews with neighbors and others familiar with the oral history of your home.

Light says local fire departments often will have detailed property information going back decades, or even centuries. You could learn, for examples, the materials used to build your house, when additions were built on and the home's contents.

The Smithsonian Institution has published an easy-to-follow guide to researching your home's genealogy. Check it out on the Web at http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/pdfs/webhouseguide.pdf.

When a Home Renovation Digs Up Buried Treasure Found an arrowhead in your garden or a cache of letters in your attic? Learn what you should do if you find buried treasure or historic artifacts on your property.

If these walls could talk…
In April 2005, Andrew Mayes was renovating a home he'd bought in Lockport Township, near Chicago. While knocking out a wall in a closet, he discovered several unusual antiques: Several boxes of ammunition with a receipt dated 1940 and a mint-condition 1928 A1 Thompson submachine gun, a favorite of 1930s Chicago gangsters.

Surprised by his unusual find, Mayes immediately contacted the police, who quickly confiscated the weapon and ammunition. A sheriff's spokesman, who estimated the gun's value at around $10,000, praised Mayes for his honesty and noted that since Illinois state law prohibits civilians from owning automatic weapons, Mayes would not have been able to sell the gun if he had kept it to himself. He could have even faced up to 10 years in prison for possessing or selling an illegal and unregistered weapon.

While Mayes was unlucky in that he discovered something he wasn't allowed to keep, don't assume that what you find will automatically be taken away from you. In March 2006, for example, a demolition crew uncovered a stack of bills worth over $30,000 hidden in the walls of a flood-ravaged home in New Orleans. The surprised homeowner, a woman in her 50s who opted to remain anonymous, believed the money had been stashed away by her father, who grew up during the Depression and was wary of banks. And, once the woman's identity was confirmed, she was allowed to keep every cent.

Finding items of significance -- historical or otherwise -- during home renovation projects is rare, but it does happen. Here's what to do if you uncover something of interest:

Notify the proper authorities
You should always notify the proper authorities if you discover something out of the ordinary. State laws vary in regards to the legal ownership of artifacts found on private property, but generally speaking, all items (with the exception of things that are illegal to own) belong to the person who holds title to the land from which they were retrieved. Items found on federal or state land, or with federal or state money, however, become the property of the respective governments. You must obtain written permission from the landowner before you can legally remove items from property you don't own.

Consider the historical value
If you come across something that may have historical or archaeological significance, you should report it to your state archaeological society (The Archaeological Institute of America has contact information for most state boards). The society will most likely dispatch an investigator to examine your item in person and determine its validity. Don't worry, he or she can't and won't take it from you, or excavate your property, without your permission.

Look, don't touch
If at all possible, don't move an item that may have historical significance. It helps archaeologists to see the item in the condition it was discovered to determine its use or function. Take a picture of the site and protect the item from the elements. Some metal and wooden artifacts that have been buried in soil or under water may be damaged when they come into contact with the surface atmosphere again, so it's always best to leave them where they lay.

Don't commit grave errors
In the event that you should uncover human remains on your property, contact the police and the county coroner immediately. Do not touch or move them if you can help it. Accidentally disturbing graves or human remains is not a crime, but intentionally doing so or not reporting their discovery to the relevant authorities is a violation of state and federal laws.

Get it in writing
While you are allowed to sell artifacts that are legally yours to museums or private collectors, it's always wise to get an accredited archaeologist involved first. Unless an item is officially documented as 'historic' and appraised, it will likely be significantly harder to sell or sell for a reduced price.

Remodeling Can Pay Off Smart home improvements can make your home more valuable.

A major home remodeling project can be a great investment. In fact, some types of projects in certain regions of the country can recapture more than 100 percent of the cost by making your home more valuable.

A recent report in Remodeling magazine revealed the national and regional average costs and percentage returns of popular home remodeling projects. The averages, which are given for upscale and mid-priced projects, are good relative indicators of which home improvements may be good choices for homeowners who want to recoup their costs. These figures shouldn't be taken as a guarantee of a specific return on an individual project, however.

Top payoffs vary among U.S. regions
Four mid-priced remodeling projects returned more than 100 percent of the cost, on average, in the Pacific region. Those projects were a minor kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, wood window replacement and addition of a second story. Remodeling was a very good investment in the Pacific region, where every upscale and mid-priced project on the list recouped a higher return on average than the national average for the same project.

The top mid-priced remodeling project in the New England region was the replacement of vinyl siding, which returned more than 94 percent of the cost through a higher home valuation. The same project topped the list in the Mid-Atlantic region as well with an average return of 92 percent of the cost.

Three mid-priced projects recaptured slightly more than 90 percent of the cost in the South Atlantic region. Those projects were an attic bedroom remodel, basement remodel and the addition of a second story.

Vinyl siding replacement also topped the list of returns on mid-priced remodeling projects in the East North Central region and the East South Central region, with a return of 81% for the former and 105% for the later.

Home offices offer least return on average
A remodeled home office might be a great boost for a home-based business, but this project offered the least attractive average return of any remodeling project on a national basis. The average cost of a mid-priced home office remodel was $20,057 and the average return on that cost was $12,707, or only 63 percent. The home office was the lowest-ranked project on this scale nationally in 2005.

Lifestyle should trump investment potential
Regardless of the return on investment, a home remodeling project should be a personal choice that is unique to you and your home. While the likely increase in the value of your home as a result of improvements is worth consideration, remodeling should suit your needs as well as your lifestyle.

Do-It-Yourself Faux Finishing Techniques Punch up any room with unique wall treatments that are quick, easy and inexpensive.

Faux finishes have been sprucing up our living spaces almost as long as humans have been living indoors. Evidence of faux painting -- the practice of painting and finishing one surface to resemble another, like marble or sandstone -- dates as far back as the days of the ancient Romans, Greeks and Egyptians.

A good faux finish can transform even the most mundane room into a unique, dramatic-looking space relatively quickly, easily and inexpensively. Plus, if you make a mistake or don't like the results, fixing it is as easy as repainting. What you can accomplish is only limited by your imagination. Here's an overview of the techniques, tools and shortcuts you can use to create striking wall designs of your own.

What you'll need
The recent surge in popularity of faux finishing has resulted in a glut of new glazes, brushes and gizmos coming onto the market, all promising to make the process easier than ever for the average do-it-yourselfer. But you really only need a few special tools outside of the usual interior painting standbys to create a good faux finish. In addition to brushes, rollers, rags and painter's tape, some useful items include:

• Natural sea sponges. Most professional decorators prefer natural sea sponges to synthetic sponges because of their unique texture and durability. Buy the largest sizes available and cut them down into smaller pieces when working in tight spots and corners.

• Cheesecloth rags. A wise choice when working with glazes, cheesecloth's mesh texture adds a distinctive textured pattern to a wall. Its high absorbency also makes it easier to apply runny glazes.

• Softening brushes. Soft, natural bristle brushes are useful for buffing out visible brushstrokes left behind from some techniques to help create smooth, natural-looking surfaces.

• Stippling brushes. These blocky, soft-bristled brushes can be used to create random textured effects. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes for different effects.

• Artists' brushes. Fine artists' brushes help create detailed effects such as marble-like veins. You can usually find a good set containing a number of different sizes in art stores and home-decorating centers.

Looks you can create
Since just about any surface or texture can be mimicked as a faux finish, the possibilities are endless. Some of the most popular methods and techniques include:

• Antiquing/distressing. An antiqued or distressed look (sometimes called "crackle painting") lends a room or piece of furniture an esthetically pleasing aged feel. To create this effect, start by painting your surface with a flat paint and let it dry fully. Next, create a glaze by mixing 1 cup of neutral base with a quarter cup of paint, stirring in water until the mixture is runny, yet still sticks to your brush. A light base color requires a dark glaze, and vice versa. Apply the glaze, letting it collect in the grooves and cracks, but don't let it dry completely. Then, wipe off the glaze with a damp cloth, removing as much or as little as you want. Finally, let the surface dry and apply a water-based sealant.

• Color washing. Color washing is perfect for creating a rustic, country-style look. In fact, with the right color choices it can fit well with just about any design esthetic. It's also one of the easiest finishes to create. The effect is created by applying one or two different colored glazes over a base coat. First, apply your base coat and let it dry overnight. Next, brush on the glaze in all directions (as opposed to uniform up-and-down strokes) to create a textured effect. Wait for the first layer to dry before applying another glaze.

• Stippling and Ragging. These two similar techniques add depth and texture to a wall. Both are created by adding a layer of darker glaze (or multiple layers) to a surface painted with two coats of a lighter eggshell base. For a stippled effect, apply an even coat of glaze and then go over it with a dry stippling brush to create a rich, textured look. Ragging is accomplished by using a wadded-up cloth in place of the stippling brush, dabbing at the glaze and turning your hand as you go in order to avoid creating a repeating pattern. For an even more textured effect, apply a second layer of glaze and repeat.

• Marbling. To create a marbled effect, clean the surface thoroughly, prime it and apply two coats of eggshell white. Prepare four different glazes, one for each of the marble vein colors you want to create. Next, apply the marble veins, one color at a time, with a stippling brush. Before each glaze dries, swirl it with an artist's brush to give the veins an irregular shape (for each successive color, use a smaller brush). When you've finished the veins, go over them with a large soft-bristled brush to eliminate any obvious brushstrokes. Let the surface dry overnight. Then, apply a coat of clear oil glaze with a rag and use a small artist's brush to add definition. Go over the surface again with the soft-bristled brush while the glaze is still wet and let it dry. Finally, coat the surface with urethane. First-timers are encouraged to practice this technique often before trying it on the wall or surface they want to marbleize.

• Sponging. Sponging is another quick and easy technique that adds depth to a room. Start by painting the walls with your desired background color. Next, wet your sponge, wring it out and dip it into your secondary color. Make sure the paint is equally distributed throughout the sponge, then start gently tapping it on the wall. Working in three-foot-wide spaces at a time can help ensure an even application of paint. Twist your wrists to break up the uniformity of your pattern. More layers may be applied using different colors of paint.

• Strié: A popular choice for doors and wood panels, the strié effect is created by combing vertical lines through a colored glaze to reveal the base coat underneath. Start by applying your desired base coat. Then, create your glaze by mixing three parts paint with four parts glaze, adding water to thin the mixture if necessary. Next, apply the glaze with a roller in 3- or 4-inch strips, and then drag a wallpaper brush through the glaze from top to bottom. Continue until you've covered the entire wall.

For more faux finish ideas and detailed instructions on how to create them yourself, contact your local home-decorating center. Most offer classes, demonstrations and workshops with hands-on tutorials for a modest fee.