Tips for first time restorers!

Well said, especially bagging and identifying the small parts, and the photos. Can't have too many photos! I am constantly pulling my photos up from my computer for reference.
Sometimes if I'm not in the mood to work on it, I find a reason to go in the garage just to do something....paint a small part, tape up a loom, put tools away,...it keeps me involved. And one more to add -- save old parts! If you replace something and it doesn't fit or perform, you always have the old part to refer back to.