You can make improvements to your home without busting the bank. You can even make the improvements yourself, just use an extra amount of care and go slow – two things that will serve you well when you’re doing your own home improvement projects.
For some specific ideas, how old are the lighting fixtures in your dining room or bathrooms? These are fixtures that most people live with and use each and every day but often ignore. Changing these lighting fixtures can make a huge difference in the appearance of your rooms.
Look around at home improvement stores and lighting stores to get an idea of the style that you’re looking for. While a lighting store may be priced higher than what you want to spend, it’s a great place to get ideas for lighting fixtures you may be able to find at less expense retailers later during your budget friendly home improvement project. If you have any second thoughts about the color of the lighting fixture, ask the sales associate to move the fixture to a part of the store that most resembles the level of lighting in the goal room.
Visiting upper scale lighting and home stores is a great place to “window” shop for the style you want for the goal room. When trying to plan home improvements on a budget, shopping around for deals is the first and most time consuming step.
Once you have finally settled on a style that will fit within your home decor and decided on the big purchase, you can move on to step two of your home improvement project on a budget; installation.
Local home improvement stores are constantly offering classes on electrical wiring and lighting installation. To save the most money during your budget wise home improvement project, wait for a class on fixture assembly and installation and install the units yourself.
Saving money while improving your home is all about cutting costs. If lighting fixtures are your current project, shop first, shop second and install last!
By: Julia Vakulenko
Archive for November, 2009
Home Improvement On A Budget
November 24th, 2009Home Improvement Projects for the New Year
November 23rd, 2009
Happy New Year!
I hope you enjoyed the holidays and had some quality rest and relaxation. I know I did. I also spent some time contemplating my new year resolutions. My wife would probably classify the effort as more like planning my new year home projects, and she is probably more accurate, but no matter. Planning and setting goals are always a good thing to do at the start of a new year, regardless of what they are.
On the top of my list of new year resolutions (a.k.a. home improvement projects) is re-shingling the roof. It is followed by re-siding the home with vinyl siding. I am still contemplating this idea, as I have never been a big fan of vinyl, but after years of painting I am getting more wetted to the idea of vinyl. This may be the year I break down.
Third on my new years resolution list is replacing a couple of all wood windows with vinyl clad windows. I did this on a number of other windows on my home already, and have been thrilled
with the look and performance of them.
In addition to my top three resolutions, I have a number of other items that I am also still contemplating for 2006. They include: installing a Hot Tub, re-surfacing a deck, and landscaping.
Over the next week I will sharpen my pencil and cost out each of the “resolutions” and try to maximize the resolutions with the allowed budget. A must task for every home improvement Do-It-Yourselfer.
I know 2006 is already shaping up to be an exciting year in our home. I hope it is the same for you.
By: Mark Donovan
A Home Improvement Loan Calculator – How to Use and Understand It
November 21st, 2009
When we set out to begin a major home improvement project, the first things we should be thinking about are our total cost and final budget. However, even with a budget, we can overshoot our material expenses or underestimate our costs, leaving us without backup funds to complete the project.
That’s where loans come in. Loans are a great and often low-interest way to finance major home improvement projects. However, as easy as it is to walk into a local loan office or apply for a loan online, you need to make sure you understand all the costs involved with your home improvement loan.
One tool that helps figure out the exact expenses involved with a loan is a loan calculator. Essentially, a loan calculator works by taking the amount you want to borrow for your project, the number of months you expect it will take you to pay it back and a general estimate of your interest rate. With that information, the loan calculator provides in return a fairly accurate estimate of your monthly loan payments.
Of course, loans can sometimes be a little more complicated than that, so keep reading to learn about the different variables that will help you understand how a loan calculator works.
1. Periodic Payment Figure
The periodic payment amount is the figure that you will need to pay every “pay period.” A standard pay period is usually one month. The amount of these payments is based on the number of payments you’re making or the length of your loan, along with the total principal amount and the interest.
2. Periodic Interest
The periodic interest rate, once settled on by your loan officer, is the amount of interest, or percentage of the total loan, that will be charged every payment or interest period. Remember to shop around for the best interest rate.
3. Total Payments
This is the total number of payments that you will be required to make over the duration of the loan. For example, a 3 year or 36-month term loan will likely require you to make 36 payments. Usually, the sooner you pay back your loan, the better. Of course, a shorter loan period means higher payments. Before making this decision, evaluate your monthly income and general household budget to make sure you’re choosing a payment plan that you can afford.
These are just the basics of home improvement loans and the three factors you’ll encounter when using a loan calculator. Before deciding on and signing a loan agreement, always make sure you understand the terms and all associated fees and costs.
By: Bill McCowen