Your kitchen is the heart of your home. It's where everyone gathers. It's also a great place to invest. However, in this Angie's List report, News Four's Tessa Darlington tells us why professionals advise you to not try and outdo your neighbors.

Remodeling your kitchen can be a give you a sweet return when you go to sell, but it can also turn into a recipe for disaster if you start the project unprepared.

"What are the rules you are going to set for your family? What areas of the house are they going to have access to while they are doing the remodel? Are they going to set up a temporary kitchen for you to use during the remodel? If you end up having to eat out every meal during the remodel, that can add a lot of cost to your project,” Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks said.

These are questions you need to answer if you're planning a complete overhaul of your kitchen. You also need to figure out how much money you "can" spend on the project, as well as how much you "should" spend.

"A good rule of thumb for thinking about investing in your kitchen is not to spend 20 percent of the value of your home on your remodel. If your house is worth $200,000, your kitchen remodel shouldn't exceed $40,000,” Hicks said.

Investing in a kitchen remodel could mean an 85 percent return on your investment, but over-doing it could send your investment down the disposal instead.

"It’s also important to keep in mind what your neighbors have, what your neighborhood has to offer so that you don't end up pricing your house out of the neighborhood. If none of your neighbors have granite countertops you might not want to install those in yours," Hicks said.

If you only have a few bucks to spend on a make-over, go for the cheaper upgrades.

"I would go ahead and paint; I would replace the sink, faucets and all the knobs and maybe add some crown to the top of the cabinets,” remodeling contractor Kathy Cuppy said.

If you just want to touch up paint and replace knobs, you can do those on your own. However, if you're thinking of installing new cabinets or taking on bigger projects, you should think of hiring a contractor.

Here are some other tips and things to consider if you’re thinking of a kitchen make-over.

•You can remodel your kitchen for around $5,000, but costs can climb much higher depending on size and whether you’re gutting the old and replacing everything or doing something smaller.

•The biggest trend right now isn’t a product: it’s getting more value for less money. Consumers are investing in their homes, but they’re more willing to negotiate now and shop for bargains.

•One of the ways to do this is to buy less expensive cabinets, or have your existing cabinets refaced – and instead focus on the trim and hardware, like door handles, because that’s where the eyes are going to go anyway. A fresh coat of paint is also another less expensive way to spruce up a kitchen.

•Energy efficient appliances will start paying you back immediately, and you’re going to be using these devices every day, so invest well in these items.

•Brushed nickel and stainless are popular, and quartz countertops are as popular these days as granite.

•Kitchen remodels are among the most complicated projects out there because one part of the job depends on other parts of the jobs being done first and you could have a handful of different trades people responsible for each job. Chances are, your contractor has other jobs going, and he’ll be trying to get the most out of his crew, so you want to streamline your project so you can get the specialists you need when you need them.

•Unless you can devote most of your time to the project, you may want to hire a general contractor to coordinate the electrician, the plumber, and the others who will work on cabinets and countertops, tiling, flooring, appliances, lighting, and painting.

•Do your homework to learn what your local licensing requirements are and don’t settle for anyone who doesn’t carry a valid license. They need to be insured and bonded, as well. If they aren’t happy to show you proof of these things, find another contractor.

•If you are doing a total kitchen remodel, ask the contractor if/where they will set up a temporary kitchen for you and your family to use while the project is underway. Eating out for every meal gets old and expensive fast… and so does doing your dishes in the bathtub.

•Few homeowners are really prepared for the stress a weeks-long project has on their daily life. After you’ve decided on a licensed, insured and bonded contractor, talk to him or her about these things. Set ground rules for when the crew can arrive, where materials will be and things like that.