Improve Home Value And Appearance With These Helpful Tips
Sep 21st, 2013 by administrator
Improve Home Value And Appearance With These Helpful Tips
If you find yourself thinking about taking on home improvement projects, then you are probably also wondering if you will be saving yourself money by doing them yourself. You can, but you will need to know what you are doing to make the right decision. This piece offers terrific tips for taking projects on yourself and knowing when professionals are needed.
When you are a seller wanting to make your home look its very best for buyers, one of the most common things that you can do is to work on your yard and outside appearance. Check your light fixtures to make sure that they are clean and working and replace them if you need to. Maybe try making a small vegetable garden in your backyard since most people enjoy some type of gardening.
When selecting a contractor for a home renovation, be sure to find someone you trust. Perform interviews as if you were hiring a personal assistant. You will have to let this contractor into your home and work with them on a daily basis. It’s better to select one you trust from the beginning than to face personality clashes later.
As you take steps to improve your home, you can do things that not only improve your house but make it reflect your tastes. Include a little bit of your own personality in every project.
If your space is limited, think about purchasing a small, stackable washer and dryer. These combo units are great space savers in apartments and homes with not a lot of extra space. Many combined washer-dryer models can fit in compact spaces or under counters. The combo can both wash and dry clothes.
If you plan to install paneling, you should first paint stripes on the wall. Regardless of your skill, it seems inevitable that some of the old wall will show through. This can be prevented by taking a few minutes to measure the area in which the panels will adjoin. Paint strips on the wall using paint color which better matches the paneling color.
If you are concerned about adding value to your home, do not put in a swimming pool during your next home improvement project. The upkeep on a pool is very time consuming, and they are also difficult to clean. Your energy would be better spent on a project (such as a garden) that will give you a better return on the amount of money you are spending.
Dress up a few pillows for the master bedroom. Just take some old pieces of clothing with interesting patterns, cut and sew into a cool pillow cover. This will enhance their room with a bit more flavor and personality.
If you’re hiring a handyman to take a look at some problems, be sure to draw up a contract. By having something in writing, you will be protected from extra charges and unfinished work. Without that contract, you may lose lots of money.
Open up the curtains and blinds during a showing to allow natural light into the home. If the outdoor scenery is not desirable, consider keeping the blinds somewhat closed to draw less attention to it. Turn on all of the lights in the home so the home looks bright and cheery instead of dark and dreary.
Homes that are built in warmer parts of the country often lack proper insulation for the brief periods of cold temperatures. Instead of wrapping your water pipes with rags or pieces of cloth, spend just a few dollars to purchase a flexible, foam pipe covering from the hardware store. This is a permanent solution that will keep your pipes from bursting during an unexpected freeze.
Facing your outside lights downward can accent your lawn and show its attractive elements. Place them in a tree to simulate natural lighting like moonlight or dappled sunlight. It can also be used to showcase garden statues or lawn furniture.
A simple way to freshen up your living area is to get new covers for your outlets. Your outlets will look discolored and old over time. Installing new ones can help make everything look fresher.
Create extra seating in your kitchen. If you don’t have the space for a full sized kitchen table and chairs, think about using barstools around a kitchen island. This creates a casual area, perfect for eating a quick bite or simply chatting with family and friends. If your kitchen is too small for an island, consider using counter stools.
When making improvements on your home to sell it to a potential buyer, you want to make a good first impression. In particular, you want to make sure you make the proper renovations on the exterior. If you want your home to sell, you need to make it look good.
To save a considerable amount of money and get virtually the same effect, install granite tiles instead of a solid piece of granite slab. Granite counter tops are very popular, but can be quite expensive with slabs priced at around $5,000. However, granite tiles can provide the same visual appeal, yet cost a small fraction of the slab’s cost.
Your home is a reflection of you. There are a ton of things that someone who owns a home can do to get a better price out of their home if they are going to sell it. Sometimes you do need to get expert help, and this piece helps you determine when that might be.