When you are purchasing a new home you are making a long term investment and over time you will want to add to the value of that investment. On average for every dollar that you spend on improving your home it will add seventy cents to the overall value of your home and property.
When you are looking at hiring a contractor to do some of your home improvements you need to be sure that you never pay them completely pay them all up front. Instead you can pay the contractor after each phase of the home improvement project that they complete. This will help you avoid being scammed by those shady companies that unfortunately exist.
When you are looking at making home improvements to your home there are a wide variety of options that are available. The ones that are the most popular however, are those improvements that allow you to have a bigger return on your overall investment. This includes such things as repairs to your bathroom, updating your kitchen, and adding a garage among others. The overall improvements are classified into three very basic levels; minor, mid range, and major improvements. The classification that you do on your own home would depend completely on the amount of money that you had to spend to finish the overall project.
There are a wide variety of different projects that fall into the minor category. If you are planning on a minor project it should include such things as putting in new floor tiles, putting on new shower doors, replacing certain doors, and any other minor repairs that not only add to the value of your home but also the overall beauty of your home as well.
The mid range category will include such things as remodeling your bathroom or kitchen. This can also include any other remodel projects that will not cost you a lot of out of pocket expense. Even updating your kitchen with more modern appliances is generally classified under the mid range of home improvements.
The major category is a little more complex. This involves such things as adding an outdoor pool, adding another room, or any other renovation that will become a major expense to you.
The most important thing that you will have to remember when you are planning any of the above home improvement projects is that while you are performing these improvements you are adding to the comfort, value, efficiency, and overall beauty of your home. You need to decide which type of home improvement project that you can afford before you even begin. You will also need to be sure that you have all the proper instructions and tools. All of these will help you have a successful remodel project.
By: Bruce Swedal
Posts Tagged ‘Amount Of Money’
Getting Home Improvements For Less
February 25th, 2010
Do you ever find that you look around your house and wonder whether you could make some improvements? Many of us tend to look at our homes in the same way, but it’s easy to put off making changes because we fear the high costs involved. This article is all about providing you with some useful advice that can be used to ensure that you can get home improvements done for less money.
The costs that most people associate with improvements to the home can often be thought of as being in two categories. The first set of costs are associated with getting professional help to actually get the work done. The second large set of costs are caused by the need to buy in suitable materials. The key to reducing how much you spend is to look at these two areas and see what you can do.
Getting rid of those costs associated with hiring people is probably easier than you might think. You’ll soon see that there are various steps that can be taken to help reduce your spending. It may be, for instance, that you’ll be able to take on more of the workload yourself. If you don’t think that you’ll be able to handle the work then you might find that you have some friends who can help. Even if you end up paying them a reduced rate for their help, you’ll still be making a saving.
People tend to worry when they think about reducing what they’ll be paying for materials. That’s because they think that others will notice that they’ve not bought designer products and spent an enormous amount of money. The reverse is usually true. Others are fare more likely to be impressed if you can add your own unique touch to products that were actually fairly cheap to begin with.
Are you still worried that you won’t be able to cut costs by enough? If so, think about whether you could scale back your plans. Do you, for instance, really need to do all of the work that you’d initially thought about? Many home owners find that they can discover creative solutions. You can still make great home improvements, but you needn’t pay too much for them.
By: Keith Barrett
Going ‘Green’ with Environmentally-Friendly Home Improvement Products
January 27th, 2010
Over the last few years, buying environment friendly products for the home has become an increasingly important consideration for homeowners looking to make “green” improvements to their living space. To address this growing need, products such as flooring, lighting and paneling, as well as materials like paint and varnish are now readily available for virtually every remodeling project and every room in the house.
Numerous States have now also adopted legislation that limits the use of products that contain harmful fumes or chemicals. The good thing about this is, other than the obvious Green benefits, that many of the products that adhere to the new legislation are also becoming more affordable and are therefore more likely to be found on the shelves in our local hardware and home improvement stores.
See The Light! And Still Save on Energy Bills
It’s no secret that energy prices have soared and if you are planning a home improvement project, one of the simplest ways you can protect the environment – as well as save money – is to use less electricity.
Lighting and major appliances consume the most electricity; simply by switching to fluorescent bulbs, you can save up to 30% a year on your electricity bills. You can save a noticeable amount of money on your lighting costs by painting walls a lighter color, thus distributing light more effortlessly as well as making rooms appear brighter.
Leaking ducts can account for a surprising amount of wasted energy – up to 30%. If you are planning to caulk around ducts, vents and windows be sure to use a product that complies with recent regulations concerning the use of less VOCs in its manufacture. These are volatile organic compounds which contain pollutants that damage the ozone layer, and also contribute to producing smog.
Paint may be your biggest cause of concern if you are planning a home improvement project. Read the small print on the tin to make sure it complies with VOC standards – almost 30 brands are now readily available. Typically, lighter colors of paint tend to contain fewer VOCs.
Tip-Top Countertops
Kitchen countertops are an area where it is possible to help the environment. A recent innovation is a countertop made entirely of recycled paper and water-based resin. You can also install countertops made of paper and cement so that the production involves no quarrying that damages the land.
The bathroom is one of the most important areas where you can help protect the environment. Around 75% of all water used in the home is used by the bathroom shower, toilet and sink combined. Low flow or adjustable showerheads are easy to install and a dual flush toilet – offering a full or half-flush – can potentially lower a typical water bill by up to $75 a year. An estimated 4 trillion gallons of water would be saved every year in the United States if every household installed a dual flush toilet.
The Japanese are well known for their inventive labor-saving and technologically advanced devices. One of their latest innovations may soon be commonplace in the United States – an ingenious combination toilet/bathroom sink – you wash your hands in water that is then used to flush the toilet.
Get Floored! In The Utmost Style of Course
And one of the biggest trends in home improvement? Many people, especially those moving into a new home, consider installing a new floor covering as one of their most important projects. Cork, bamboo and reclaimed wood flooring all have a strong visual appeal as well as helping the environment, and in recent years, these alternative materials for flooring have become popular.
Cork flooring has excellent insulating qualities and can save on energy costs; it also reduces noise and can help keep a home free from allergens. What’s more, it is surprisingly tough as well as being water resistant.
And one other thing to keep in mind if you are “going green” when remodeling or improving your home. Always dispose of old or unwanted materials safely – many materials can be donated for people to reuse, or otherwise recycled. If in doubt, check with your county recycling program.
The next time you are making improvements to your living space be sure to do your bit to protect our precious planet… Go Green!
By: Tom Willmar