Yes, you can remodel your home with ease if you plan ahead and take one step at a time. The home is often the largest financial investment a person will make, and the decision to alter that investment by paying out more money is not an easy one-but it is worth it.

Whether you are remodeling to sell the home or just to make it more comfortable for the coming years, remodeling is a smart decision. But it is a decision that requires planning and patience.

Here are 10 important steps you can take before starting a remodeling project:

Step 1: Assess your current situation. Do you have the funds, time and patience to remodel your home? Does it make sense to remodel or simply move into a larger home? According to the American Homeowner Foundation, moving can be extremely expensive, typically involving a 6 percent commission on the sale of the current home, plus another 2-4 percent for closing, moving and other costs. They suggest that if you like your present neighborhood, you should look into what improvements you could make for 8-10 percent of your current home's value before you seriously consider moving as an alternative to remodeling.

Step 2: Decide how long you intend to stay in your present home. Are you remodeling so you can sell faster or get a higher sale price? Or are you remodeling to create a more comfortable environment for a long-term situation? The answers to those questions will determine how much money you should spend and the scope of the remodeling project you should realistically undertake.

Step 3: Start defining the areas of the home that you want to change. You should have some idea of what the remodeling project will entail before you call a contractor. Cut pictures out of magazines. Make a list of rooms that need to be altered and the reasons for those changes. This information will help speed the design phase of your remodel.