Working out what consents are needed if planned work includes major activities such as knocking out walls and installing new French doors and factoring in that cost is important, he says.
"You're better to do your homework before launching into it and making sure you have a good understanding of what you can do without going through the council for permits."
Doing the research to find out top prices in the area and what people are willing to pay is key.
"There are definitely people looking to buy and do up, not really the first home buyers but generally people who might have done it before."
He says that with the right location, research and plan, it can be a worthwhile project.
Kitchens and bathrooms are key areas to focus on, because those are where renovation costs start adding up for prospective buyers, he says.
"Landscaping is something that is really underestimated and can make a big difference for a bit of effort and sweat."
The importance of planning is something Waiariki Institute of Technology interior design lecturer Joanne Donovan agrees with. She believes that not only have reality television shows made people more likely to revamp their homes, they have also given people a better understanding of how design can improve quality of life.
"A few years ago, people associated design with purely decorative purposes, now people are beginning to understand the impact of design on quality of life with better use of space, sunlight and outdoor flow."
Donovan says upward trends centre around sustainability.
"People are moving away from new things and there's a big trend towards renewing what they already have."
Trends in the bathroom include creating zones that are "less utilitarian" and more of a place to relax, she says.
In kitchens, she says islands and sculleries are still popular.
Donovan says the biggest mistake people make is underestimating the amount of planning they need to undertake before they start - and how vital it is to call in the services of a professional if the task is a major one.
"A designer is always a really good idea, especially when you are spending a significant amount of money."
She says far from just choosing paint colours, designers were skilled in how to save money and devising ways to better utilise space.
"They have an enormous amount of knowledge."
The other key, especially for those looking to do up a house to make money, is looking for a house with good bones and good indoor-outdoor flow.
When it comes to kitchens, designer Narisa Morrisey of Innovative Kitchens, says key trends this year include a lot more wood grains as well as mixing of textures. However, she says it really does depend on individual customers' tastes.
New builds tended to focus on open plan kitchens with a lot more sculleries while renovations, which made up the bulk of their work, were restricted by existing space.
Morrisey's advice to renovators planning to on-sell was to keep up with the trends "but not go crazy".
A beautiful new kitchen will often improve how fast houses sell, while in the right area they can add value to houses.
Those renovating a home they were planning to live in for a few years tend to go more timeless with colour selections.
While they are still doing glass splashbacks, the "pop of colour" in the glass was getting less and less as people tended towards the natural look.
Ovens - and their size - were another area of focus, with higher-end kitchens going towards the "two oven" model.
Making sure there is enough storage is another key, Morrisey says.
Bathroom trends for the year focus around natural materials too, as well as the use of copper and freestanding baths.
According to Resene, paint colour trends 2015-2016 have come around to perennial favourites - deep blue reds, the striking tone of black and near black, the soothing restfulness of duck egg blue and greyed blues, and the bold pops of orange and yellow to add a touch of upbeat.
They also say something big is the use of colour blocking and stencilling to combine favourite colours. Stripes are increasingly being used in paint, and instead of just using them vertically, they're becoming popular horizontally.
Stripes are also being used on floors and even ceilings - which, while once pure white were now being painted different colours.
DIY idea exchange
The Rotorua Daily Post Home & Leisure show is taking place from July 10-12 at the Rotorua Energy Events Centre.
Whether you are remodelling, landscaping, renovating or updating your furnishings, the 2015 Home & Leisure show has a large range of exhibitors suiting every home owner's needs.
www.rotoruahomeshow.co.nz
