Remodeling Quiz

Although it can vary from house to house, most people agree that the kitchen is the most expensive room to remodel.

There's a list a mile long of things you need to do before hammer strikes drywall, and permits and budgeting are both on it.

Finishing work and framing are best suited for an expert. But if you want to save some money on your remodel, you can do some demo work without much experience. Just be sure to watch out for electrical and plumbing if you're demoing any walls.

Some people elect to save money by working as their own general contractor. This means you're hiring individual craftsmen and maybe even buying your own materials, so your inner control freak can shine.

Laminate wood flooring provides an attractive but cheaper alternative to real hardwoods, which can get a little pricey.

Subway tile is chosen for the floors and walls of underground transit systems because of its durability and inexpensive price tag.

Big muscles and a pickup truck might be high on some people's lists, but you should really be looking for that license.

A small size kitchen around 200 square feet costs an average of $19,000. Larger, premium kitchens can run as high as $75,000 to $100,000.

There's a popular saying across all walks of life -- cash is king. In this case, save some money by handling labor costs with cash money.

It's rare for a job to come in on or under budget, so you should always plan for at least 10 percent cost overages. Some would even recommend planning for 20 percent.