SPRINGFIELD, Mo. The Home Builders Association’s home show is happening this weekend at the Springfield Expo Center.

If you’re looking to stay in your home instead of buying new, KOLR10 set out to learn everything we can about hiring a contractor, and avoiding design mistakes.

“One of the biggest mistakes that people make is not having a plan beforehand,” said Gina McMurtrey, an interior designer.

McMurtrey said it’s good to plan out the beginning, middle, and end of your design project.

“Because you really get a good feeling of how the colors and the textures are going to work together, or maybe this is too much going on, and you really are losing your focus with one particular special feature to the room. It’s just too busy,” McMurtrey explained.

She also said another design mistake people make is trying to be too trendy.

“Not incorporating enough classic elements in the space, and everything is a trend,” explained McMurtrey, “every little area is trendy.”

She said it’s better to focus trends on small, interchangeable areas.

“So you’re not stuck with a trendy piece that’s going to go out so soon, and then you’re stuck with it because it’s just too expensive to change out,” said McMurtrey.

“I would always recommend you find somebody that is a member of the HBA greater Springfield,” said Jason Bekebrede, president of Home Builders Association, “we are all insured, we all have workers comp and liability insurance, and we are all the most educated.”

He also recommends what to do when you get multiple estimates on a job.

“You compare apples and apples,” Bekebrede said, “don’t just look at the bottom line, because that’s not going to be always your cheapest bid, make sure they have the same stuff in them.”

He also wants to remind people to find someone you can communicate well with because you would probably have to work with that person for nine months to a year.