Basement furnishing

I would like to get helps/ideas on basement remodeling, such as
how to get started, how to find a good designer and reliable contractors, what kind of simple work can be done by myself in order to save money, if I should buy materials(flooring, dry walls, cabinets, etc) by myself to ensure quality and resonable price, what the resonable price for labor, and what kind lessons you learned from your own experience. Thank you very much for sharing!