Anyone who has taken a breath has likely had an idea that could have literally changed the course of his or her life in a revolutionary way. Unfortunately, such ideas rarely get implemented. According to Mark Twain, “the secret to getting ahead is getting started.”

If you are tired of inactivity robbing you of your potential, then here are 15 ways to be a doer.

Dreams and Mental Preparedness

1. Cultivate Your Dream
   What would you attempt to do if you knew that you could not fail? In so many cases, your answer will account for a mere fraction of your potential. This is important because in order for one to unlock such potential, often they must move past mental barriers. Accordingly, meditate on what winning will feel like for the next 30 days. Saturate your mind with the next level, but don’t stop there. Write the vision. Make it plain. Unlock your dormant dreamer and doer!We tend to move in the direction of our most dominant thought. Don’t be contained by limited thinking. Your dreams should inspire you to move beyond your comfort zone and into action. Your dreams should also inspire awe from observers. Whether your dream is prosperity and wealth, helping thousands of people, fitness, or a phenomenal career, cultivate your dream. Remember, the dream is the fuel, and your plan is the map!
2. Relinquish Regret
   Regret is usually a waste of time – Thomas Crown. Languishing in regret and despair over past mistakes is counterproductive and will rob you of your joy. The energy expended on regret could be put to much better use realizing your dreams. Everyone makes mistakes or missteps occasionally, but the key is extracting the lessons from the mistakes and minimizing or even evading future losses. To err is human, but to forgive is divine.Forgive yourself today.
3. Let Go of the Stigma of Failure
   Similarly, you should not let the fear of failure stop you from attempting your goals. John F. Kennedy said those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly. Dave Ramsey, Robert Kiyosaki, Suze Orman, and many others have tasted what many would characterize as failure, only to later achieve extraordinary success. The key lesson is that there is another act to your life’s play.In How to Appreciate the Pain of Financial Problems, I discuss how failure can be instructive, is often temporal, is a matter of opinion, and can unleash your creativity. Don’t let the stigma of failure stop you from attempting your goals, even if you experience an initial setback. If you made a mistake, you are in great company.
4. Know Yourself
   Knowing yourself is so important to getting the maximum return on your efforts. You are unique and have tremendous value. Sometimes, we begrudge our differences from others rather than embracing them.For example, when I was in pharmacy school, I discovered how I preferred to learn; sometimes this differed from others in my classes. However, knowing my learning preferences ended up being a great benefit to me because I began to cater to them. Had I not understood and embraced my individuality, content that I now devoured readily would have continued to take me a long time to understand, analyze, or evaluate. It is important to every doer to honor his differences and use them to his competitive advantage.
   Goals and Planning
5. Plan to Win
   To Type-A personalities, it may seem intuitive that making a plan dramatically increases the odds of achieving. However, so many of us fail to systematically plan our finances, careers, health, and our relationships. Failure to plan is planning to fail. What’s your success plan? Often, what is lacking is a plan of action specifying precisely what we want our lives to look like in the next three years and what 6 steps we will take to achieve our goals. A goal without a plan of implementation is a pipe dream. Decide on a course of action today.
6. Prioritize
   Attempting too much is just as dangerous as not attempting anything. Focus is blinding. By focusing on your priorities, you can block out distractions. Sometimes that means putting down something that is important for a passion that must happen.Thomas Edison said that he has more respect for the guy with a single idea who
   develops it than the person with 1,000 ideas but does nothing. We shouldn’t unnecessarily dichotomize everything into “good” or “bad” when it comes to goals. Sometimes it’s simply a matter of “now” versus “later.” Harness the power of focus to unleash a determination and passion for your dreams that will make you unstoppable.
7. Start Small
   Don’t despise small beginnings. How do you eat an elephant? The answer is one bite at a time. Just because your goal is to lose 40 pounds this year doesn’t mean you are a failure for losing 10 pounds in the first three months. In fact, even if you only loss five pounds but have improved your cardiovascular conditioning, diet, and
   muscularity while decreasing your percent body fat, you have made significant progress.Don’t be discouraged by the need to tweak your plan to account for life. Instead,
   acknowledge your progress and continue moving in the right direction. Remember, people
   cannot always be what they are not, but they can become what they are not.
8. Set a Time Limit on Preparation
   I love preparation as much as anyone, but doers often set a limit on preparation time. The downside with spending too much time preparing is that you may never get started. In Poke the Box, Seth Godin argues that it is easy to fall so in love with starting that we never start. If you truly are progressively moving towards your goals via preparation, go for it.There are some things (and even certain professions) that require years of preparation before they are achieved. However, make sure that you are not using preparation as an excuse to avoid action. Setting realistic expectations on how much time should be allotted for laying groundwork is a great way to keep preparation time reasonable.
9. Admit the Joylessness of Over-reaching
   While I love setting audacious goals, I also have to caution you regarding goal-setting fatigue. If you are constantly over-reaching, then you risk burnout. You can still stretch yourself and have phenomenal goals without being perpetually miserable because your goals are so huge that they require miracles to accomplish.Don’t allow your motivation to wane because you set yourself up for disappointment. Treat such stretch goals as just that: goals designed to push you out of your comfort zone. Know that they are a part of your overall success plan, but don’t despair if your plans sometimes take longer or go in a different direction than you initially expected. By pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone, you are often still better off than the alternatives, provided that your ambitions don’t rob you from experiencing any contentment in the process.
   Relationships
10. Banish Eeyore
    Dream-killers, aka “Eeyores,” are some of the most dangerous people that you know. They function as saboteurs to productivity. Regardless of whether they act with the intent of maliciousness, banish (or limit) such disastrous relationships if you plan to be a significant doer. People providing constructive criticism are fine, such as
    those providing advice on being objective with your projections. However, those who
    primarily hinder your progress due to their limited vision need not be included in your elite team.
11. Network With Achievers
    If you want to move beyond your comfort zone, one of the fastest ways is to network with achievers. In fact, while I’m writing this, I have just returned from spending a week with people in my industry who are rock stars. Being immersed in that environment compelled me to take my game to the next level faster and grander than I had initially planned. When you network and become accustomed to interacting with the next level, this serves to make you uncomfortable with where you are currently at. Strategically, place yourself in situations that stretch you.
12. Get an Accountability Partner
    While “head knowledge” is good, part of the secret to successful transformations, such as those seen by popular diet programs, is accountability. Your relationship with partners is powerful in achieving your goals because good partners have already gone through the same journey, can see through the lame excuses, and will encourage you during the down times. Everyone is not suitable to be your accountability partner, which is fine. Find the person who will empower you to push past the common to achieve the impossible.
13. Delegate
    Not everything requires your core competencies, so it is not always advantageous to do everything yourself. The ubiquity of businesses such as Elance, Angie’s List, and Fiverr makes finding reasonably-priced freelancers and contractors to delegate to much easier. It’s one thing to do tasks that are not central to your focus because you enjoy them or lack the finances to hire help, but it is another issue entirely if you are stuck doing something you hate simply because you haven’t inventoried the resources available to you.Delegation can be a powerful practice that allows you to develop in your strongest areas while relinquishing distractions and increasing your overall productivity.Deal With Barriers to Motivation
14. Create an Action Environment
    Your environment matters to your productivity, often more than you realize. It’s important that when you sit down to work that you are not bombarded with distractions. It is sometimes difficult to get motivated to do anything productive in the first place. Thus, the last thing one needs is to get started only to have
    his or her time wasted on something that’s unimportant.Creating an action environment may mean shutting off the automatic email notification feature (on your phone or Outlook account) or turning off your phone’s ringer at certain times during the day. It could mean removing the candy jar from your desk or logging off of Facebook, GASP!Regardless, create an environment that encourages you to get things done.
15. Record and Celebrate Your Progress
    Acknowledging and celebrating your triumphs can serve as tremendous motivation to continue in your endeavors. Achievers don’t just work hard; achievers play hard too. When I became debt free, I threw a huge party, just as I would have celebrated a milestone birthday or a graduation. Big hairy audacious goals require time, so when you are victorious, why not celebrate your successes?The law of recognition says that what you fail to recognize will not be properly
    acknowledged, and what you continually fail to acknowledge will eventually leave your
    life. If you value your successes, celebrate them!

Snacking keeps the cravings down. You don’t get over-hungry – so you don’t eat as much at mealtimes. If you snack a little during the day, you’ll consume fewer calories during meals: aim to eat a light meal or snack every three hours.

Of course, you need to eat the right things. Snacking on candy bars and chips won’t help you lose weight.

Choosing the Best Soil

To create a successful container garden, the most important ingredient is good potting soil. Choose a mixture that provides a good combination of excellent drainage and aeration.

“Look for ‘professional’ on the label,” suggests Dr. Susan Hamilton, who oversees the University of Tennessee Gardens. “That word puts the potting soil in a whole different category. You’ll be paying a little bit more, but it will be high quality.”

Many growers like to mix their own and prefer particular blends. “Every greenhouse manager has his or her favorite potting soil recipe, and each thinks theirs is the one to use,” she says. Here, says Hamilton, are three great recipes:

Mix #1
2 parts peat: 1 part perlite: 1 part builder’s sand

Mix #2
2 parts peat: 1 part builder’s sand

Mix #3
1 part peat: 1 part builder’s sand: 1 part pine-bark mulch

Is it really worth it to mix your own if you’re a typical backyard gardener? “No,” Hamilton says. “When you look at price and volume versus what you really need, you usually have a lot of material left over. Besides, bagged soils are pretty cost-effective because all the guesswork has been taken out of it. Professional blends have already been charged with starter nutrients and pH adjusted.”

Selecting Plants

Select plants that are compatible in terms of light, water, growth and the conditions in the chosen site. Don’t mix a shade- and water-lover like impatiens with a dry-and-sunny plant like thyme. Some plants like mint are such aggressive growers they need a pot of their own.

Watering Your Container Garden

Pay close attention to watering. For containers in sunny, hot or windy areas, watering twice a day may be necessary. A plant that has outgrown its pot will also need more frequent watering.

Consider using a water-absorbing polymer; it will improve the moisture retention of the potting soil. Follow the directions on the package.

Dressing Your Plants

Top-dress your plants with mulch and a slow-release fertilizer. You’ll be reducing the evaporation rate and eliminating regular feedings.

Schedule Events: Not every homeowner is an expert on lawn, yard and tree care, so it helps to get several pros out to your property to advise you on what needs to be done and what the options are. It’s a free education about your property.

“The most important advice is to talk with several firms,” said Robert Krughoff, president of Consumers’ Checkbook, which offers ratings of local service companies to subscribers in seven U.S. markets. “Use them as your consultants.”

To get names of companies for your initial visit, you can use the usual method of asking for referrals from neighbors and local friends and family. You can also go online to service-review websites. Good paid sites include Angie’s List and Consumers’ Checkbook at checkbook.org. You might get reviews and comments on some companies from such free sites as Yelp.com, Kudzu.com or even the firm’s own Facebook fan page.

You can cross-check names of any finalists with the Better Business Bureau, bbb.org; pay attention to the number of complaints lodged against the companies.

If all you need is simple mowing, raking or weeding, you might not need a professional at all. A hard-working, entrepreneurial teenager up the street might yield the best deal, Krughoff suggests.

Get Price Bids: Once you know what you want, request apples-to-apples estimates from at least three companies.

“You’ll find big price differences on these things,” Krughoff says.

Checkbook used one major metropolitan area as an example and found that the same tree-removal job could cost from $1,935 to $6,300, depending on the company. Prices on a smaller tree job ranged from $375 to $1,100. For lawn care, Consumers’ Checkbook found one case in which the same promise for the lawn brought prices ranging from $229 to $805.

But pricey firms do a better job, right?

Not really, Krughoff says. His publication found virtually no correlation between price and quality in lawn care and tree services, meaning you don’t necessarily get what you pay for. But that’s not true in all cases. Pricier garden nurseries were found to generally offer a higher quality, Consumers’ Checkbook found.

Get it in Writing: Especially for bigger jobs, be very clear—in writing—about what a firm is expected to do. In the tree-removal example, will they haul away debris? Will they cut up wood into firewood length and leave it? Will they remove a stump? If so, how? By cutting it to grade level or grinding it?

“A lot of times, people just don’t get specific,” Krughoff comments.

For lawn care, do you expect a green lawn quickly or can you be patient for a care program that will strengthen root systems and be healthier in the long run?

If you’re hiring a company to install plants, note the replacement policy. Angie’s List suggests not hiring a company if it won’t promise to replace and replant any plants that die despite proper care.

Get Credentials: Make sure the company has liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. Some yard work, especially in high trees, is dangerous to people and property. And for some jobs, you might look for certifications and membership in professional organizations—such as the Association of Professional Landscape Designers—Angie’s List suggests. For tree service, consider companies with a professional arborist on staff.

Be Wary of Add-ons: If a landscaper or lawn service recommends various fertilizers, sprayings and treatments, you want to hear a compelling case on why it’s necessary and evidence that it will make a difference, notes Krughoff.

Paying: Ideally, you will pay nothing until the job is done, which gives you the most leverage to ensure it’s done right. But some companies will require a deposit. Avoid paying the entire amount upfront, and use a credit card if you can. That allows you to dispute the charge with the credit card company if the service was incomplete or not done right.

National Companies: If you’re talking about weed-and-feed services, you have a number of options for national companies, such as Lawn Doctor, Scotts and TruGreen. In a 1008 report Consumer Reports notes that service varied, even within a company. Sometimes technicians were incorrect about their assessments of lawns, as judged by the experts Consumer Reports used. For example, some said the lawns had crabgrass, thatch buildup or insect problems, when in actuality they did not. However, the report did not evaluate the quality of services performed by these companies.

Consumers’ Checkbook finds local lawn care firms tend to have higher customer-satisfaction ratings than chains, and prices can be comparable, says Krughoff.

The following tips from the April 2011 Issue of HOLMES: The Magazine To Make It Right provides useful information that will keep homeowners from going over budget as they take on renovation projects this spring.

1. Work in the off-season. Some jobs like pouring concrete and applying stucco, are best done in good weather, but if your job doesn’t require it, postpone it until the off-season to save on labor costs.

2. Avoid structural changes. Moving walls and adding foundations also raise the bill. If you must have more space, steal it instead of adding on; grab it from an adjoining closet or room, or even the hollow between studs.

3. Work with what you’ve got. Unless you’re dealing with structural issues or water damage, it’s likely that not everything needs to be replaced. If you’ve got a good set of cabinets, why trash the boxes when just replacing the cabinet doors will do?

4. Leave appliances, fixtures and outlets in the same locations. Running new lines drives up costs. Only when you’ve planned for such changes is it the right time to go to the trouble of rewiring and plumbing so that a range can sit where the fridge once stood.

5. Value-engineer. Your architect and contractor are trained to know all types of materials. Ask them to make recommendations for thrifty alternatives.

6. Buy all appliances or fixtures at one time and on sale, if you have a place to store them. Purchasing items in bulk can often garner you a discount from the retailer.

7. Stick with normal colors. By that we mean choose standard color wheel options or neutrals, which are manufactured in the greatest numbers, and the efficiency is passed on in the price.

8. Opt for factory finishing. Cabinets, floors and even entire houses are now available factory finished, allowing for faster installation.

9. Make decisions based on quality, not just price. It’s still cheaper to have the same item over a longer period than to replace it a few years later—and pay for labor again, too.

10. Plan for energy efficiency. This can be as simple as buying Energy Star appliances that draw less energy over their operating lifetime, or installing a Solatube that uses reflective materials to capture and amplify natural light, negating the need for an electric light in a windowless room. Investigate these options before you complete a contract.

11. Prioritize and don’t budge. Once you have your list, refine it by dividing it between what you want and what you need. Ask yourself again why you are doing this project. Do you crave a more efficient space? An attractive and up-to-date room? Are you doing it for yourself or for resale? If the latter is the case, consult with your designer and a REALTOR® to see where your money will count the most.

12. Go with the standard model whenever possible. There are low-cost alternatives to just about everything, and you don’t have to compromise quality. This means weighing standard appliances versus commercial grade, stock versus custom cabinetry. Labor-intensive tile and woodwork can dramatically bump up cost. Talk to your builder about how to achieve a custom look for less. “Spend money on your priority pieces,” says Melissa Paulson, owner of Brillo Home Improvement in Milwaukee, “and cute back in areas that are not as important.”

13. Rule out thoughtless change orders. Nothing busts a budget faster than changing a floor plan or materials after work is underway. The time you invest in planning now will pay off as work gets underway. If you do run into any changes, minimize them. At this point, it will not only cost you money, it could also temporarily disband your construction team while you wait for new materials to arrive. And don’t forget to request a copy of the change order from your contractor, detailing the new timeline and payment due date.

14. Use an architect, your paid advocate in directing the contractor and subs. And when you can’t be on-site to stop waste and overspending or curb unauthorized changes, he or she can. The peace of mind is worth the money.

15. Have the architect itemize everything. Sounds tedious, but that’s the thoroughness you are paying for. You’ll want to see a detailed work scope document with sketches outlining the following: demolition, construction, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, tile and stone work and finished. “Itemize absolutely everything,” says Collette Whitney of Whitney Interiors in New York City. “This will give you an accurate basis from which contractors can bid, and from which you can compare bids.” That includes specifications, which list every material thing going into the project, right down to the doorknobs. Don’t forget to ask for a floor plan and elevations. “People tend to hear only 65-70 percent of any conversation,” says Rory McCreesh, owner of Duce Construction Corp. in New York City. “You want to be sure you and your contractor completely understand the finished project. Detailed, comprehensive drawings give your contractor the tools to understand exactly what he needs to build for you.” These drawings become the basis of your contract and the construction documents.

16. Seek multiple bids. Once you have the architect, pursue the best possible bids for the job. Have more than three licensed and insured contractors provide a detailed bid, including labor and materials, so you can really compare and analyze each. “When interviewing, you might want to ask the contractors about their worst experience and how they handled it,” says Jason Yowell, owner of Metropolitan Design and Construction, Inc. in Atlanta. “That’ll give you insight as to how they handle adversity.”

17. Itemize within the contract. Once you’ve picked your general contractor, he’ll create a contract that includes a progress payment schedule. This is based on certain milestones of completed work, such as cabinet installation. It tells you how much money you have to pay and when, and what should happen when. Plus, realistically, snags do come up, no matter how well you organize and plan. Make sure the contractor includes at least a 10% cushion for the unexpected. Of course, review the contract in person with your architect and contractor, item by item, to make sure all are in agreement before singing.

18. Memorize the change order policy. Then try your hardest to avoid the need for any. You don’t want them. But even we acknowledge they sometimes happen for legitimate reasons. In case you must make a change, make sure in advance that the contractor has a policy whereby he advises you of the cost and writes a change order immediately, which you then sign. Be informed of the procedure. Anything out of step with the contract at this point puts the project at risk.

19. Ask for pricing. You thought you did this when you went over specifications, right? But when you build anything, you have a minimum of 16 categories of pricing. “There’s masonry work, millwork, cabinetry, framing, drywall, doors, windows, plaster, stone and tile, electrical audio and video,” says Steve LeBlanc, president of Tranquility Homes in Nova Scotia. “The more information the contractor gives you in terms of what something costs—and individual breakdown, item by item—the more likely you are to stay on budget.”

20. You can benefit by purchasing materials through a professional. Architects and contractors have relationships with suppliers who offer purchasing efficiencies that save time. A big upside in using this service is that whoever orders the products also assumes responsibility if something goes wrong or is damaged or missing—not you. Any upcharge in materials takes into account the contractor’s time, responsibility and experience; it’s worth it.

21. Have all materials on-site before they’re required. It’s called the “preconstruction period” when everything gets ordered. This way no time is wasted—on your dime—while workers wait or miss a day because the materials they’re working with have not arrived. The architect or contractor’s project manager should be designated to monitor delivery times.

22. Hold pre-construction meetings. The people on your construction teams need to thoroughly understand the job prior to starting. Your contractor can see to this, possibly with a project or field manager, at this special meeting. You as the client won’t attend; talks will be mostly technical. Prior to demolition, though, you should meet the crew. “Get together with your contractor’s construction team to go over all aspects of the job, from introductions to phone numbers to a brief recap of the whole job,” says Tom Sertich, president of Kirk Development Co. in Phoenix. “You, the client, may have further questions, such as scheduling, and they can all be addressed in person then by the team on-site.”

23. Check materials as they arrive. Sounds obvious, but you must see everything out of the boxes to ensure things arrive undamaged and intact. Your contractor should review all materials as they arrive so the subcontractors aren’t waiting for an indispensable item. This helps maintain productivity, too.

24. Let the pros do their jobs to avoid confusion. Ask questions if something concerns you, but don’t get involved in the day-to-day management and give conflicting directions to subcontractors. This risks creating miscommunication. “The architect is your representative to the contractor and can walk through the site with you, get notes and then take that direction back to the contractor,” says Dan D’Amelio of D’Amelio Porter in New York City. Since each knows the technical aspects of construction, they will speak the same language fluently. The architect can also approve the completion of each stage.

25. Prepare a punch list, or post-job list of to-do items you feel may still need attention. When the job appears done, it’s customary to do a walk-through with the contractor or project manager and your architect. “Before the walk-through,” says Jason Yowell, “get some Post-its and use them to write notes for anything that concerns you, and then attach it to that item.” Bring the punch list to the meeting.

26. Space out the payments. You should have been doing this throughout the project with the help of your written contract that includes an incremental pay schedule worked up beforehand. Now is the time to be ready with the final payment. This schedule is your insurance that the contractor will be with you until the end. Only when the project is completed—and any lien period has expired—and you are happily surveying a job well done, shake hands and hand over that check.

More often than not, the kitchen is more than a place to prep and enjoy meals. It also doubles as a home office, homework station, and family gathering spot. And everyone knows it’s the prime hangout during social events. With all this traffic, it’s no wonder it’s one of the first places in the home where wear and tear really begins to show.

How do you breathe new life into your kitchen? Despite what most people expect, making kitchen improvements doesn’t have to cost thousands of dollars, or involve granite counter tops. Here are five ways to upgrade a tired kitchen without blowing your budget:

1. Update the cabinets. Cabinets are one of the most prominent features in a kitchen and if you want the biggest change, updating your cabinetry is the way to go. There are several ways to do this on a budget:

• Paint the cabinets. Painted cabinets are by far the most affordable and cheapest way to update. Make sure to sand, prime, and remove hardware as well as tape off any areas you don’t want painted before you begin.

• Reface the cabinets. Refacing involves replacing the cabinet and drawer fronts with a wood veneer or plywood. Or, you can even replace the doors with glass for a modern look. You can also install crown molding to the top of cabinets for added punch. Most home-improvement stores have several refacing options ranging in price and can give you tips to help you do it yourself.

• Replace the hardware. Think of hardware as the jewelry for the cabinets — the style, shape and color of cabinet pulls and knobs can make your kitchen appear dated or modern. First, decide on a cohesive style for your kitchen (modern, traditional, country) and find knobs to match. Whether you paint or reface your cabinets, replacing the hardware is one of the easiest ways to update a kitchen. Check out the hardware section of any home improvement store for a variety of prices and options.

2.  Paint the walls. You want your kitchen to look fresh and clean. Short of spending hours scrubbing every food splatter off the walls, nothing says clean like new paint. Depending on the size of your kitchen, you can tackle this project in an afternoon or weekend.

3. Lighting. Lighting can say a lot about your kitchen. There are many different lighting options available, and again it depends on the aesthetic or overall style of the room. Do you have stainless steel appliances and sleek drawer pulls? Try modern track lighting or recessed can lights. If you have more of a country feel to your kitchen, try a small decorative lamp on a counter to make the room feel more inviting. Or, brighten your work space by placing halogen or florescent lights under the cabinets. More and more modern kitchens are including this amenity

4. New faucet. The faucet is often the most-used item in the kitchen and an old faucet can immediately date the overall look. While you can purchase a new spout for over a grand, there are more affordable and aesthetic options ranging in the $40 to $100 price bracket. With some help from your home improvement store, replacing a faucet can be something that you do yourself.
5. Back splash: The kitchen’s back splash might not be the first thing people notice, but adding tile or other detail to this area is an easy way to upgrade. You don’t have to skilled tile mason to tackle this project; most home improvement stores now have adhesive strips of tile that can be cut to fit any area.

Follow these seven tips to make sure your contractor agreement works in your favor—not your builder’s.

A solidly crafted contractor agreement should clearly define all project plans and specifications, including necessary permits and materials that will be used.

To protect yourself and your home improvement project, make sure your contractor agreement is based on these seven common-sense principles:

Step 1: Hire a lawyer

Contractors use their own forms, which are drafted for their benefit, not yours. You’ll benefit from hiring an attorney to review your contractor agreement or draft one that’s you-friendly. Even though this may cost around $250 to $500, it can save thousands of dollars later if there’s a dispute.

Step 2: Take the home court advantage

Add a “choice of law” or “forum selection” provision, which says that disputes will be litigated on your turf. This provides protection against out-of-town contractors or suppliers—you don’t want to have to drag yourself across multiple state lines for a lawsuit.

Step 3: Create an incentive to finish

Define when the contactor will deliver on his promises, and when he’ll get his money. Within the contractor agreement, create a payment schedule in your favor by holding money back until the work is fully completed and you’ve verified the final payments to subcontractors. Maintain control by holding the purse strings.

Step 4: Reeling in a runaway contractor

The most common problem you’ll encounter is a general contractor who gets paid, but doesn’t pay his subcontractors and suppliers—possibly leaving you on the hook, according to Craig Robelen, a home builder in Boca Raton, Fla.

Robelen advises protecting yourself upfront by requesting the names of all professionals your builder will work with. Verify that your contractor has paid his subcontractors by requesting conditional partial lien releases during the construction term, and a final lien release at completion. (Have the general contractor collect them and present them to you.) These are essentially formal acknowledgments from subcontractors that they are being paid for work done.

Also, see if your contractor has a “payment bond” that guarantees subcontractors will be paid.

Step 5: Corral unauthorized costs

Your contract should state that any changes that will affect the price of construction should be in writing and countersigned by both you and your contractor. This protects you from unauthorized charges.

Step 6: Avoid kickbacks

Protect yourself from kickbacks—where contractors gets bonuses from their subs for referring business—by requesting that builders sign affidavits that they’re not getting any “fees” from subcontractors as a prerequisite for doing business with them. Keep costs well-defined by asking for a “bid summary,” which should show a minimum of three quotes in every cost category of your budget.

Step 7: Binding words

If you’d like to avoid going to court in case of a dispute, add a clause in the contractor agreement for binding arbitration. If there’s a problem, you and your contractor will plead your case in front of a non-biased arbitrator, whose decision will be final.

If your contractor balks on any contract point you feel strongly about, do some more research. Maybe what you’re asking isn’t typical for that kind of job. Talk with neighbors who have had similar work done and sound out other contractors regarding their policies on the disputed issue before you sign anything. This helps you determine what’s customary for your particular area.

This survey from Coldwell Banker Real Estate explored what was most important to new buyers to provide insight for those looking to buy or sell in 2011.

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), first-time home buyers accounted for half of the market in 2010.

What Surprised First-Time Home Buyers
Several consumers experienced unexpected benefits after buying their first home:
-67% said the market afforded them the opportunity to buy a home sooner than expected
-Half said they found a home in a more desirable neighborhood than expected
-61% were able to get the home at a better price than expected
-40% got more space than expected
-43% locked in a lower interest rate than expected

“There’s a real ‘a-ha’ moment for sellers revealed by this survey that the condition and quality of their home matters a great deal to first-time home buyers,” said Diann Patton, consumer real estate specialist, Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. “On top of that, our agents have reported that on average, first-time home buyers now look at more than 11 homes before making a decision, which is higher than in the past. They can be choosy about what appeals to them and are recognizing the benefits of the low prices and wide selection of homes in many areas.”

What They Want
In addition to move-in conditions, first-time buyer results revealed the old adage “location, location, location” still holds true:
-78% of respondents said the home had to be in an area convenient to shops and services
-Three-quarters of buyers said it was important to be close to their place of work♦
-Nearly two-thirds said it was important to be near “highly-rated” schools

That said, some real estate agents say they think the market may be rebounding because prospective buyers fear interest rates are permanently back on the upward trajectory and they need to get in the game.

B. John Duffy, president of Philadelphia-area brokerage Duffy Real Estate, said that sense “may have been fueled by the slight rise in mortgage interest rates,” now 4.74% from a record low 4.17% in November.

In a market where financial motivation is canceled out by financial apprehension, the state of each house for sale becomes even more important to getting a deal done.

Buyers are still looking for “perfection, with comfort,” said John B. Badalamenti, an associate broker at Prudential Fox & Roach Realtors in Wayne, P.A. “As a result of the staging craze, buyers have become a bit spoiled,” Badalamenti said. “Homes are almost being put on the market as museum pieces. You can bounce a dime off a bed.”

Said Carol Sabatelli, an agent with Weichert Realtors in Media, P.A.: “Right now, you need to pull every trick out of your hat in order to even get a showing.”

Staging has become big business and is often recommended for hard-to-sell houses and potentially easy ones alike.

“It is rare to find a home that does not need some suggestions for showing,” said Diane Williams, an agent with Weichert Realtors in Spring House, P.A. “In fact, I find that sellers ask about it because they are familiar with the TV shows or articles on staging.”

When she goes to a listing appointment, Williams—who has a real estate designation qualifying her as an expert in staging—can quickly tell whether the house needs tweaking or major changes. If only minor touches are required, she gives the homeowners “suggestions to make the house more showable.”

And, of course, it should be “Q-tip clean,” as Williams’ staging course recommended.

After-showing feedback is important, too, even though many sellers do not want to hear buyers’ opinions.

“Gone are the days when buyers were willing to settle for anything,” said Cheryl Miller, of Long & Foster Real Estate in Blue Bell, P.A. “The Wizard of Oz has had the curtain pulled back.” In other words, those housing-boom days when people would sign deposit checks at the front door are long over.

Sellers who have let things slip may have a lot of work to do before their house can be considered ready for the market.

Deferred maintenance “is almost a death sentence” for a listing these days, Badalamenti said. “Things like nail pops and settlement cracks, while often easily repaired, are not being tolerated.” Because, buyers surmise, if there are nail pops, there must be something wrong with the rest of the house.

Home inspectors typically enter the process after an agreement of sale is signed, examining nooks and crannies under the watchful eyes of agents for both anxious sellers and edgy buyers.

Harris Gross of Engineers for Inspection in Cherry Hill, N.J., said reactions to what he finds “depends on the personality, pocketbook, and skill set—what can the buyer fix.” Generally speaking, Gross said, “I’d say water leaks from plumbing or the roof are something I’ve found buyers consider important to them, as well as structural issues, depending on the extent and severity.”

Termite damage is high on the list, partly because the full extent may not be completely visible, he said. “I’ve seen some nightmares.”

Radon can be a concern, too. About 50% of his clients tested for radon last year, Gross said, although buyers of less expensive homes typically do not.

The availability of so many newly constructed houses has made selling older homes tougher, many agents said.

As an agent, “I must point out to a seller that they will get a more favorable response by sprucing up and freshening, if not redoing, tired kitchens, baths, floors, and paint,” said Joanne Davidow, vice president of Prudential Fox & Roach in Philadelphia. “This approach is not always possible or practical,” she said, “so keeping the price lower than the new properties is another way to go.”

Adding motion sensor lighting in and around your house provides an automated, hands-free way to turn on lights when you need them, and off when you don’t.

Motion sensor lights are eager helpers and good little guardians. They illuminate the way to your front door when you pull into your driveway, light hallways when you get up in the middle of the night, and turn on lamps when you enter a room.

They also provide safety and home security, powering up exterior floodlights should someone attempt to trespass when it’s dark outside.

In addition, they watch over your budget, dutifully turning themselves off after you’ve entered your home or left a room—saving you money on energy bills. Light-sensing diodes prevent them from switching on during daylight hours.

Plug-and-play lighting solutions

Many motion sensor lights don’t require elaborate setups or wiring; they simply plug into any wall outlet. Battery-operated types can be mounted onto your walls using adhesives, magnets, or screws.

Sylvania’s LED Motion Sensor Light runs off batteries, is easy to install in any room, and is especially handy for small spaces, such as closets. Cost: $13.

Put a sensor on anything

Have a lamp in your living room you want to turn on automatically when you walk in? The SensorPlug Motion Sensor Outlet Plug from Andev plugs into any standard wall outlet. In addition to lamps, you can use it with equipment that doesn’t exceed 500 watts, such as fans and radios.

The SensorPlug Motion Sensor Outlet Plug costs between $10 and $20.

Sun power

If your home gets ample sunlight during the day, install a solar-powered light and avoid the need to do any wiring. Designed for the outdoors, the Solar Security with Motion Detector from Concept helps you save money by not tapping into your home’s electricity.

It uses 32 long-lasting LED lamps, providing bright illumination for places like your driveway and front door. Since only sunlight is needed to recharge the battery, you can attach it anywhere on your property, such as the far end of your yard.

The Concept Solar Security with Motion Detector is available through Amazon at $49. The Solar-Powered 80 LED Security Floodlight, an even brighter light with 80 LED lamps, costs $105 from Smart Home Systems.

Overhead detection

You can easily add a motion sensor to an existing overhead light fixture by adding adaptive devices, such as the Motion Sensing Light Socket from First Alert.

Simply screw the motion-sensing light socket into an existing wall or ceiling fixture and add a 25- to 100-watt light bulb. Some motion-dection light sockets won’t support energy-saving compact fluorescent bulbs, but for rooms that are infrequently used, such as an unfinished basement, it’s a quick solution. The First Alert Motion Sensing Light Socket sells for $25.

Home automation sensors

Home automation systems, such as those based on X10 and Z-Wave technology, are great for controlling your thermostat and home entertainment center, but they also are useful for home security purposes. Linked to motion sensor lights, your home automation system can send a signal to have lights turned on when triggered by a timer or by your smartphone.

The HomeSeer HSM100 sensor is available for Z-Wave systems for $74, and the Eagle Eye Indoor/Outdoor Motion Sensor costs between $18 and $30.