The ultimate benefit to home improvement is the appreciation in value of your home. If you pick a renovation or addition project that you can do without outside help, you can save a lot of cash while increasing your home’s value. In addition, it can be a very enjoyable way to spend some free time. These tips can help you get started with your next home improvement project.
Sometimes, you only need one little improvement to raise a home’s value. If you want to sell your home, do a few small projects first. A good example is a clean coat of interior and exterior paint. Weekend job like these are low-cost and can enhance the value of your home.
When planning a major home renovation project, hire a professional architect or designer to create your plans. If you choose not to hire a contractor, your plans are likely not to materialize well. A professional designer can come up with concrete plans that are viable and that conform to local building codes.
If you can afford it, real wood floors are a better choice than laminate. While laminate is more cost effective and easy to clean, you can not refinish it. In 10-20 years, you will find that your floors need to be replaced and cannot be refinished.
Use bleach to sanitize your commode. Although bleaching toilets might smell bad, it lowers the risk of spreading germs and illnesses. In addition, it improves the look of your toilet. If you can’t stand the smell, buy scented bleach.
Sealant Strips
Purchase a few sealant strips and draft excluders. Draft excluders slide under the door to keep air in and out. Sealant strips can fit around frames of doors and do something similar. You can get them at most hardware stores.
If your home heating costs are out of control, consider insulating your attic to save money. Heat rises and, over time, a lot of it is lost during the colder seasons in houses that have poor insulation in the attic. It is easy to put in insulation and it is easy to find.
You need to determine how much paint you’ll need before you set out to paint. Don’t try to blindly tackle a job, or it might cost you more in the long run. Take your time, and do calculations the right way.
When you can, use materials that are natural for your home improvement projects. Real building materials like stone, wood and ceramic are in virtually every case superior to their synthetic equivalents. They are far more durable and also look better. Costlier natural products are likely to generate savings in the longer term, since synthetic materials will need frequent replacement.
If you are undertaking an extensive outdoor improvement project, make sure to check in with your neighbors regarding any drainage concerns. You want to drain as much water as you can off your property. However, if it just runs onto your neighbor’s lawn, he or she is not going to appreciate that. You can coordinate drainage plans, however it requires clear communication.
Purchase Extra
If your chosen project involves the use of bricks, always purchase extra ones to use as needed. Whenever you need to make a repair or add-on to the brick work, it may be hard to locate bricks that match up with the bricks you already have. Brick colors and styles change often; therefore, you should purchase extra bricks for any repairs. Buying as many bricks as you can will make it easier to match them in the future.
Installing new door knobs in place of old ones will increase safety and improve home appearance. This project won’t require more than an hour of your time. All you need is a screwdriver. Visit your hardware store and find a knob that matches your home.
Add curb appeal and increase the value of your home by adding one or two coats of high-gloss paint to your front door and shutters. Red looks great with brick, while jade green looks better with dark exteriors.
Be aware of the weather. If your area produces a lot of blustery days or heavy rains, a deck, patio or outdoor barbecue center may not be in your best interests. If you are set on installing the patio, you can add covering, but it isn’t cost effective and unless you have the extra money, it is advisable you skip this project.
Home improvement projects can make you feel good about your home and yourself. With any luck, these tips have given you the knowledge necessary to make great choices and realize real savings.