Watching your favorite sport or tv show on your TV at the end of the day is a great feeling. But watching it on your new 65” TV on the wall is another experience. Hanging the TV on the wall eliminates the need for extra furniture, and it makes the room look better and cleaner. If you are like me, you would prefer to install the TV mount yourself instead of hiring a professional. The truth is mounting a TV is not rocket science, but many things could go wrong. Here is a list of common mistakes that you should avoid.

1. Not reading the instructions.
   This mistake sounds extremely obvious. However, it is the most common mistake we make. It doesn’t matter if it is for a tv mount, a drawer, or a DIY car. As humans, we seem to avoid reading instructions. It will take you only a few minutes, but it could save you hundreds of dollars.
   
2. Mounting the TV above a fireplace.
   Usually, a fireplace works as a focal point in the living room. Therefore, it often seems like the best place to locate a TV. The bad news is that fire and smoke don’t mix well with electrical appliances, and while it might not immediately affect your TV, it will, for sure, shorten its lifespan.
   
3. Not considering sun exposure.
   Not considering the sun exposure is a common mistake that we often realize too late. Before mounting your TV, make sure that the location is not in the direct angle of the sun’s glare. Otherwise, you might have to keep your blinds shut to watch the TV.
   
4. Mounting the TV too high or too low.
   According to a Nielsen Report, United States adults are watching an average of 35.5 hours of TV per week, which is a little over 77 days per year.  Mounting your TV at the wrong height could give you neck strain with a side effect of headaches.
   
5. Not adding more cables for future use.
   As they say: It is better to be safe than sorry. Adding a few more cables for future use while you are mounting your TV will always be cheaper than doing it later. When you already have holes in the wall, it is a good idea to fish some extra HDMI cables through them. In case you want to add a game console or any other appliance later, the hardware is already in place.
   
6. Not securing the mounted correctly.
   About 99% of the time, when a TV falls from the wall, it is because of incorrect installation practice. Not finding a stud partition or using the correct drywall method could cause your TV to fall down the wall.
   
7. Not using a level.
   If you don’t want to end up frustrated by the crooked angle of your TV every time you watch it, it is better not to rely on your eyesight. Before you start drilling any hole, use a level to make sure the bracket is level. Once it is level, mark the holes so that you know where to drill.
   
8. Wanting to do it all by yourself.
   Some people might consider that peace of quiet is much needed when doing DIY jobs. However, mounting a TV is definitely not a one-person job. Try to get someone to help you out.

If you consider that mounting a TV might be too much for you, the best you can do is to hire a professional that will make sure to do a good job.