Any homeowner will tell you that owning and maintaining a home is both expansive and time consuming. Homeowners can reasonably expect to spend up to three percent of the home’s value on annual home improvements. Luckily, there are ways to lower these costs.
Increase your home’s energy efficiency by adding weather stripping to your doors and windows. Weather stripping allows your cooling and heating unit to operate more efficiently by locking in cool and hot air. You won’t experience drafts on cool, breezy nights, either.
Plastic 2-liter bottles are an excellent kitchen storage option. They are transparent, and a good way to store things like flour, baking soda and sugar. You can store these on a shelf or in the freezer or fridge. Simply take of the top and pour it when you need it.
Prior to going to the home improvement store, create a list of what you are going to need. When you make a list, you ensure that you don’t make a lot of trips to the store. It also keeps you organized.
If your next project involves lighting or other electrical components, you must cut power to that area before you begin. Not taking this important step can cause you to be electrocuted or even die.
A well-made and contemporary front door can lead to an increase in the value of your property. Even if you can’t replace the whole door, a coat of paint and a new doorknob can give your old door a new look.
If your ceiling is starting to leak, odds are you need to replace your roof. If you do not fix it, you are flirting with disaster. You should find a roof specialist who can help you with the needed repairs. You need to ensure that they know what they are doing.
When repainting rooms in your house, look for no-VOC products. This is good for the earth and also do not have harsh chemicals. These are as good as regular paint, they might cost a little more.
If you are planning to do some home improvement, schedule plumbing and electrical work first. Since most of these repairs need to be done by going into your walls, you should take care of them first. Additionally, it’s much easier and less costly to get your plumbing and electrical maintentance done when walls are already torn open.
Selling Points
Whenever you want to sell your home, it is important that the selling points of it are showcased well. Eliminate the canopy in order to showcase the master suite’s tiered ceiling or block windows with a view of a pond. Whatever you wish to do, you really have to show off the main selling points. This will make your home seem more unique and desirable.
Arrange for several of your friends to be available to assist you in case one of them doesn’t work out. Otherwise, you may find yourself high and dry with no help in sight. This also holds true in this case.
You should always turn off the gas if you’re working around gas components. Just because you aren’t a smoker does not mean you won’t accidentally cause a spark. Whether you disconnect the line or not, gas may escape when appliances are moved around.
Boost the power of your clothes dryer by shortening the hose. Begin by disconnecting the current hose and vacuuming the area. Trim the hose length so that it is only a few feet long. The hose should be long enough so you can move the dryer and clean behind it.
It can save a lot of money to get together with your neighbors and share tools with each other. There’s no reason for everyone in your neighborhood to own the same rarely used tools! This can prevent you from having to purchase an expensive specialty tool that you’ll use only once. Instead, you can borrow it from the neighborhood handyman who uses it on a more regular basis. You could even share tips with your neighbors.
Burning Stoves
Any wood-burning stove you use inside your home should be EPA certified. Most newer wood-burning stoves will be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency; however, older model wood-burning stoves need to be tested to certify that the stove meets current emission standards. Check your stoves for leaks to reduce the chance for carbon monoxide poisoning.
A rarely thought of way to improve your home is installing a new appealing mailbox. When choosing a mailbox you should find one that compliments your home’s exterior. Make sure you adhere to all city regulations when erecting your new mailbox. This is also a fairly quick job that can take a couple hours.
Weigh your options carefully when you’re furnishing your bedroom, and give due thought to freestanding furniture. Though custom units look terrific, they cannot easily be moved to a new house. In addition, free standing wardrobes and dressers are portable, allowing you to put them in different rooms. You can also sell them if you want to change the look of the room.
You should start getting your home ready for the winter during the fall. Some projects, like weatherstripping, are dependent on adhesives that have better chances of sticking when applied before the air gets too cold.
Make sure you have copies of all the necessary permits and inspection reports. Before you hire the contractor, ask about his policy concerning those files.
If you are offered a discount because you pay in cash, don’t do it. Using cash as your payment method will leave you with no paper trail or recourse if the contractor leaves with your money without completing the home improvement project.
If you think you’re going to be remodeling an old home, then you need to think about insulating the pipes. Sometimes, the insulation in an older property’s pipes gets so worn that it actually separates from the pipes. Make sure you have new insulation on the pipes to keep them from freezing.
By using the tips you have read here, you can complete your next home improvement project without spending a fortune. You can make your home a beautiful place to live in, while still saving a lot of money.
