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The floors are among the largest surface areas in your home so any improvement there makes a big impact. The trick is to minimize the impact on your pocketbook. Carpet is among the least expensive flooring options but it isn’t very do-it-yourself friendly. However, you can remove the furniture and the old carpet yourself if you need to save a few bucks with the installer, so discuss that with him in advance. If you cut the carpet and pad into smaller squares of about 3 feet by 3 feet, it’s much easier to get it out of the house and dispose of it. You often need to add shoe molding after a hardwood, vinyl or tile job so ask the installer about shaving his price some if you handle that chore yourself. And of course if there are any painting touch-ups needed afterward you can handle that on your own too.