Over the next 12 months, 54 percent of homeowners are planning a remodeling project and nearly two-thirds (65 percent) plan to do at least some of the work themselves, according to Consumer Reports’ latest poll on home remodeling. The most popular types of work include painting (56 percent), designing (39 percent) and flooring (34 percent).

Funding for home remodeling stems from a variety of places, but two out of three (66 percent) homeowners pay for projects with savings. Others plan to cut back on travel and entertainment (29 percent), while 1 out of 5 (21 percent) are using a home-equity or other loan.

Changing plans is the most common but costliest remodeling gaffe, adding $1,500 to kitchen projects and $650 to bath remodels. Be sure to leave time for research and create a comprehensive plan, listing every product. And, prepare for the unexpected. There’s a lot going on behind the walls. Unexpected water damage was an issue with 17 percent of bathroom remodels, while structural problems caused headaches for 10 percent of kitchen projects. A good contractor will be able to anticipate, allowing the homeowner to budget accordingly.

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