Home improvement

When you think of home improvement you probably think of the exhaustive assessment, careful planning, and infinite reserves of funds that it will require. But you know that if you do it properly you will add value to your home and as a result, make it look remarkably stylish, elegant, and sophisticated. On the flip side however if you do it improperly, you will only succeed in making your property look shoddy, which will cost you a lot in both time and money. Here’s how to make sure the work will actually improve the value of your property.

1. Try to decide the actual reason for your home improvement. Most generally people like you decide to undertake home improvement for one of three reasons. First they want to get a good price for their property. Second they want to make their home look better. Or third they may need to accommodate additional people. If you are looking to selling your home, then all the enhancements that you do on your property will impress the potential buyers. However if you are looking at keeping the property for yourself, then the improvements that you make should be considered invaluable additions.

2. Mark out areas in your home where you are able to make improvements. In your home there are certain areas where your home improvements will work the best. These include such places as your living room, where you like many probably spend at least half your time, your kitchen where you can update your appliances that you use the most, and possibly even your garden since it will look more appealing to the neighbors and passerbys. If you are lucky enough to have adequate amount of money at your disposal you can even add another room on to your property for your growing family. Each and every one of these improvements will as a result make your property more valuable. But you need to remember that the improvements that you are making should match the existing style of your home, as well as be consistent with the size of your property and overall layout of your house. You need to also make sure that you have the required permission from the local authorities for any alterations. A lot of states and cities require you to have a permit to perform any remodel project.

3. Make a financial plan. Depending on what you will be doing, you may need quite a bit of money to make improvements in your home. Things like construction materials, labor, and advice from contractors can become quite expensive. You need to ask yourself if you are actually able to afford your home improvement project. This is the very first and most important question that you will need to find an answer to. You can begin by creating expenditure plan and then make plans for the funds accordingly. You also have the choice of using your own savings or attempt to get a home improvement loan. You will need to consider the pros and cons of the above options before you make a final decision.

All of the above options need to be carefully researched before you attempt to make any home improvements on your home. If you do your home improvements properly you stand to add quite a bit of value to your home.

By: Ned D'Agostino

Plan it out: Many investors, especially newer investors, try to make their house the prettiest one on the block like they see on the tv shows. This will cost you big time. Your goal should be to bring the property up to date, not to gold plate it. If your new property is in a Joe Lunch box neighborhood, don’t try to make it look like the ones on TV’s Extreme Home Make Over. Kitchen cabinets can be sanded and re-painted. Adding some new hardware makes a dramatic change in the effect without spending a lot of time or money. If the cabinets need to be replaced you can often get a bargain on in stock cabinets at your local Home Depot or Loews. Vertical window treatments can be replaced fairly inexpensively. When buying the hardware, see if you can get a large box of knobs and hinges instead of buying them one packet at a time. Think about making your selections for appliances, cabinets, bath room fixtures, lighting, paint, etc. a duplicatable process so that you save time on the next job and so you begin to know what items should cost.

Bids: If you are not doing all of the work yourself, get at least 3 bids on everything. Even if you have a bunch of regular contractors that you deal with. To get a head start on the bidding process, you can use Service Magic online to start a flow of qualified contractors giving you bids. They can arrange to have at least four different contractors contact you and will gladly add more if you don’t like what you got from the first batch. Keep in mind, that when you find a contractor that you like… the one that seemed the most professional may not be the cheapest but you can absolutely tell him or her that they were not the lowest bid, but you would still like to use them if they can just match it. Most often, they will match it or come much closer to it just to get the work. This saves you money as well as gets you the contractor you really wanted to use.

Paint: you can buy “mistake” paints for several dollars a gallon, If you take all of the extra cans they have on the floor and throw them in a 5 gallon bucket, invariably, you will get a beige or taupe color. Just add some more white to lighten it to a shade you like. Put a little on the backs of several outlet plates so you have an example to use for matching if you need to have more blended in the future. The mistake paint may cost only three to five dollars a gallon but still give you a good quality paint. If you do not want to have to do all of the hard work of painting the exterior yourself, use your pressure washer to blast the outside of the house and then go to the local big box home improvement store and look for paint trucks (Any vehicle with paint splatters, a ladder with paint splatters or any type paint equipment.) Approach the drivers as they return and tell them you are looking for someone to paint the outside of the house either this week end or the following week end. Tell them the house is already pressure cleaned and will be ready to paint (You will need to mask off the windows the day before they get there). You have set them up for an easy extra pay check for just a little extra work. You provide the paint… they only need to show up.

There are numerous ways to pinch a penny. The best ways involve having others take care of the tasks that you either can not do yourself or just prefer not to do yourself. You will save a little money, some back breaking work, and speed up your whole process by not having to do it all yourself.

By: Kurt Wells

The only constant in life is change. Everything needs change at times, even your home sweet home. Is it time to make some changes in your living space? Here are some points to consider when devising what your home needs.

Some owners need to make changes to their homes to make it more comfortable. Is your place hot or cold enough? Is there enough storage space? Do you live in an older home and things are just due to be fixed or replaced? Or are you planning to sell your home and want renovations to improve the home’s value?

Others need to change in order to accommodate more or fewer residents. Are there children coming into your life? Or are they leaving the nest? Are elderly or disabled relatives coming to stay with you? Do you have guests now and then and need space for them?

Fortunately, most of these circumstances can be met by simply renovating your existing home rather than selling it. It’s amazing what a few changes can do to give your place a whole new look. Try improving the lighting or removing a wall to make a larger gathering area. Improving the electrical or plumbing systems can make all the difference in your family’s comfort. Even a fresh coat of paint can give a room new life and even make a room feel larger or smaller.

Two common areas for renovation are the kitchen and the bathroom. Cabinets may need to be replaced. The plumbing may need to be fixed or there may not be enough storage. It may be time to replace the refrigerator or the tub. Countertops may be scratched and warped. Consider granite countertops if yours are in need of replacement. If you have the space, would adding another bathroom or installing a second oven help your family’s circumstances? Larger families or those with frequent guests love the convenience of a second set of appliances.

Another popular project is to install a new deck or patio. With today’s focus on the environment, people crave an extra outdoor “room”. The deck or patio can take care of your space needs, especially if you make it a three-season enclosed structure. You’ll be surprised at how often it is used.

When considering home improvement ideas, remember you don’t have to do them all at once. Plan and complete one task first before going on to the next. The other projects will still be there when you’re done.

It’s fun to dream about ways to improve your home. That’s why home improvement magazines and television shows are so popular. Check out a few of them and find some ideas for yourself. Then carefully plan out whether it is doable, both in terms of time and money. If you do, why not take the plunge? Not only will you solve your housing problem but you’ll also improve the value of your home.

By: Robert J. Carlton

If you are taking up home improvement project for the first time, it might seem to be a tough task to accomplish. However, you would be happy to know that it is actually not as tough as it sounds! You just have to be careful about the home improvement contractor you are hiring, the budget you are keeping aside for the project and most importantly, the improvements or changes that you want in your house.

Although there are quite a number of things that you might consider while taking up such project, here are some common remodeling considerations:

* Areas which sustain moisture or water throughout the year – like bathroom, basements, and often kitchens – should be considered for mold remediation and water cleaning.

* You can consider converting the spare spaces in the attic and basement into usable rooms. You could also remodel your interiors to make it spacious and airy. This might also help in increase the value of your property too!

* Consider the quality of materials you are using for the project. Use of good quality sinks, cabinets, appliances and other materials should be preferred even if you have to pay a few dollars more. Use of cheap items apart from causing inconveniences to the homeowners might even reduce the value of your home.

While these are some common considerations for home improvement project, there are certain things that you should keep in mind. Firstly, if you are taking on the remodeling project just to improve the value of the property and is considering a resale soon. In that case, you should avoid expensive home improvement projects and ask the home improvement contractor to do just the bit which would increase the value of your house.

It is also important to research to determine the average value of houses in your neighborhood. You should only do enough improvement of the house to match the average cost of houses in your area. The improvement project should never be so high so as to gulp down your profits in selling the house.

But, remodeling projects should never be tried based on the do-it-yourself tips you might find over the Internet. Ignorance about the home remodeling task and the ways to operate the machines and equipment might cause fatal accidents and other health hazards.

By: Alice M Shown

Many people today are watching home improvement shows and these shows seem to be pushing Canadians to renovate their home into a dream home instead of realizing the financial realities of renovation.

Surveys show that, although 60% of the people in the survey who had a home renovation worked up a budget for it, 27% spent more than they had originally budgeted.

It is not easy to stay within budget when you are doing a renovation. Add to that pressure all of the home improvement shows on T.V. or all of the decorating magazines that make the homeowner want the latest and fanciest in appliances and decoration. Most people who renovate their homes want to stay within budget, but all of these influences can frequently tempt them to extend themselves a bit to have the features they see on T.V.

Even without this, it is difficult to predict extra costs and make sure there is enough money to cover any project overruns. Financial experts suggest that you have the financing for the project lined up ahead of time in the form of a personal loan or a home equity loan. This will give the homeowner the necessary cushion for added costs. Even if you don’t use the line of credit, it is good to have it to cover contingencies. What if you are having a room added, and then you find out there is a problem with the electrical system that has to be repaired?

The surveys show that 68% of the respondents used savings to pay for their home renovations, but they still will require planning to stave off financial problems. Of the homeowners surveyed, 34% were borrowing to cover the cost of the home improvement.

Don’t get caught up in the trap of trying to imitate the beautiful mansions you see on these home and garden T.V shows. Don’t let the beginning of a home improvement become the end of your marriage. A study by the British Gas Association and published on their website house.co.uk indicates that more than half of the do-it-yourself home improvement projects are inspired by these shows, and that 80% of the families doing the projects are having arguments over them.

Two thirds of the families have serious disagreements over the color scheme of the project! The aim of the research was to learn consumer attitude toward DIY. The site, house.co.uk is a a national registry of screened tradesmen who are promoted by HomePro Ltd. the leading on line supplier of trade professionals.

Having a professional may help a family avoid the deputes that occur in DIY projects and may save money in the long run, since so many families have to pay extra to fix their DIY mistakes.

Here are the top ten reasons for the disputes:

10. The Mars/Venus trap. Men are from Mars and women are from Venus and they cannot agree.

9. Lack of knowledge to do the job.

8. The high costs.

7. Stress.

6. The disruption in the household the renovations cause.

5. Finding time to complete the project.

4. Unfinished jobs.

3. Misconceptions about the job. The T.V. show makes it look so easy.

2. The one doing the job really doesn’t want to do it.

And the top reason (hardly seems worthwhile):

Disagreements over the color scheme.

Many people are reluctant to decide about moving because of uncertainty in the housing market, so they are following the lead of T.V. shows and renovating instead of moving.

By: Vince L. Paxton

I really don’t like the word “modern”. Modern becomes old all too soon. When you read an old book or article and they are describing something “modern” it often sounds silly compared to the present moment in which you are reading!
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Okay, that being said, I used modern in the title a slightly different way. I’m talking about modernizing. Bringing styles current. This is a common reason to do a home improvement.
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Three Popular Situations for Modernizing a Home
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There are three times when home improvement is undertaken for the sake of modernization. I’ll mention the three then we’ll talk about easy and effective ways to accomplish the goal.
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First: When you are preparing your home for resale
Second: When you are preparing to move into a new purchase
Third: To enhance your enjoyment of your existing home
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Your specific reason or reasons will dictate exactly what you do to accomplish the improvement of your home. Before I get into a few specifics about each situation I’ll outline some of the most popular and effective ways to accomplish the process of modernization.
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Most Effective Home Remodeling Tips to Modernize
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Ways to modernize are virtually endless but here is some food for thought.
Replace old style and worn carpeting Replace dated ceramic tile Remove old wall-paper Upgrade counter-tops Change out appliances Install new kitchen and bath cabinetry Change lighting fixtures Upgrade faucets and other plumbing fixtures Paint, trim, and window coverings

Hiring an interior designer is a great way to get ideas and get some direction. Most of the time you do not need to retain the designer to take charge of the project. You can simply pay her to give you some ideas or even prepare a plan that you can follow yourself.
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But, before you dive headlong into your project, let’s go back and analyze your reasons for the home improvement.
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1) Preparing for resale: When you are preparing to sell your home, many times you can get by just with proper “staging”. This is where you simply just dress up the home cosmetically. However, if your home is seriously outdated, this may not work. That’s the time you may have to start well before you list your home and take care of things like removing old wall-paper, adding new paint and trim, and replacing old-style, worn out carpeting.
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2) Moving in to a newly purchased home: This calls for more extensive upgrading. Some things can be done over time, but I normally advise people to tackle the big items like new carpeting and other floor coverings, replacing of cabinetry and counter-tops, and changing of outdated fixtures like tubs, toilets, and sinks before moving in.
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3) To enhance your enjoyment of the home: Certainly, the items in number two apply here. Yet, we would carry the project on with many things that can be accomplished over time. Light fixtures, new appliances, paint and trim, window coverings and many cosmetic changes can be done one at a time if you wish and can provide a significant change in the feel of the home.
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For Profit or Pleasure
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If you know your goal, your strategy will be easier to develop and follow. Whether it’s for resale, your personal enjoyment, or whether it needs to be completed quickly or it’s a process to enjoy over time, only you can know.
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Plan well, execute according to the plan and you’ll find it far easier to reach that “modern” look you want for whatever reason you want it.?

By: Mel Inglima

Planning on building a rec room in your basement or in that extra bedroom that you have? Sure, that’s a great idea if you want to be just like every other homeowner that’s hiring general contractors to update their living space. If you’ve got a lot of desire but limited home space for making a rec room or media room for your family then turn your attention elsewhere – like the garage.

A finished garage is a hip way to revitalize your home and create an entertainment “addition”. It’s a natural choice because the architecture and framework is already in place and in many cases – so is the electricity. The cost of finishing a garage is relatively cheap depending on your overall plans for the space and in some cases can cost less than finishing your basement. There’s also less worry about water damage and moisture in a finished garage. Not sure of what you could do with your garage space? Check out some of these design ideas from general contractors around the nation:

Start with Basics

Shoot for the things that mean the most when it comes down to style and design in a finished area. With a garage, you want to have the option to turn it BACK into a garage from the new living space. A drop ceiling is a good choice, as are insulated walls and wiring for media. Plumbing is a great option because it’s within the walls and won’t interfere with a working garage at a later time.

An insulated and well-constructed subfloor can even be installed. If properly installed, it can support the weight of vehicles in the future. With the subfloor in place you can use any flooring you like – just base your decision on whether or not this is a permanent change in your garage.

A Space for Appliances

You don’t have to make a space in your media room for a full size fridge (unless you’re the party type) but it pays to make a spot for an under-counter fridge when you put some counter and cabinet systems into your rec room. This is especially true if you’re planning to add any kind of a wet bar. Having a fridge in your media room means you and the family won’t have to jog into the house for cold bottled water or a drink during the game.

Add the Right Doors

Most garage spaces aren’t designed for much more than a vehicle or two and some workspace. If you have a smaller garage you may be limited in your floor plan so using the right doors will give you the most benefit to your design. For the garage door, keep that wall open and use French doors and simple wall panels when finishing the space. This makes it easy to change things back over to a garage in the future. For other access, such as to a patio or pool area, use pocket doors that eat up less floor space.

Custom Cabinetry and Entertainment Centers

The limited floor plan can get gummed up quickly with cabinets and wet bar space, an entertainment center, book storage or console, movie and game storage. Instead of investing in additional furniture, have a general contractor install custom cabinets for each area. The cabinets can function for entertainment purposes and – if need be at a later time – be turned into normal garage storage.

Think smart when you’re working with a general contractor to design a new space in your home. When you get creative, such as turning a rarely-used garage into a rec room – you’re investing in your living space. The return comes when it’s time to sell the property and perhaps relocate. Should you never sell, you have a great place to get away from the norm of the house and settle into a nice secluded area perfect for you or the whole family.

By: Steve Kayhill