With the housing market in a record slump, one of the biggest questions I get from people is how much is too much to spend on a renovation and will I see that money back when I go to sell my house?

While it is a common belief that any money you put into your house will add value to it, this is not always the case. There are really two different categories that you put home renovations into- General Maintenance/Upkeep and Visual Improvements.

Having installed hundreds of kitchens over the years, one of the biggest mistakes that I see homeowners make is that they get so focused on the look of the kitchen and don't think about the functionality of it. Adding custom pieces that look like furniture and installing dishwashers in the drawers sounds innovative and eye-catching, but will it really fit your families needs?

Storage space is even more important in a small kitchen, where counter space is limited and you can't afford to have unnecessary items taking up space on the counter.

Buying kitchen cabinets can be an overwhelming experience to say the very least.

The big home supply centers do a very good job of offering every door style, wood type, and finish under the sun. They also do a very good job of distracting you from the two biggest features that you should be focused on, which are price and quality of construction.

Remodeling the kitchen is an event that most homeowners look forward to. There's no better feeling than seeing your old, tired cabinets, counters, and fixtures replaced with attractive, updated versions.

Of course, most homeowners don't look forward to the cost of that kitchen remodel. Replacing even just the old cabinets can cost an astonishing amount.

There are a lot of misconceptions about Ready-To-Assemble, or RTA cabinets that may have been true when they first hit the market, but no longer hold true. With improvements in the manufacturing process, some (not all) of these cabinets now conform to the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturing Association standard and can be more durable than the big name brands.

Even with the ups and downs of the real estate market, home ownership still produces the most return on your investment- with the national average appreciation on a house being somewhere between 5-6% annually. Maintaining your house is the easiest way to retain that value, but there are also some simple ways to enhance the value of your home through remodeling projects.

There are a lot of reasons why a renovation or remodeling project can go wrong. For every happy homeowner there is another 2-3 that ran into some sort of problem with their project. While some problems can not be avoided, there are a lot that can. Here is a list of tips to help ensure your project goes smoothly.

1. Establish good two-way communication with the remodeler.

Trying to sell a house in a down market can be difficult, but there are several things you can do to improve its marketability. By investing some money and sweat equity before it goes on the market, you can ensure that your home presents well, stands out from the crowd and doesn't turn off potential buyers so that you can sell quickly and at the best price.