Are you thinking of making some home repairs or improvements? Not only will making these improvements increase the comfort and aesthetics of your home but the value of your home will also increase. Some will take out a loan or second mortgage on their home and feel that drastic changes are needed to improve their home and value but that’s not always necessary. Investing thousands or tens of thousands of dollars into improvements will just put you in debt and if you’re getting ready to sell your home, it may not be a wise return on investment. A few, inexpensive do-it-yourself projects can usually do the trick and not leave you in debt.
Repairs to existing problems should be your first step. You might be thinking that a crack or leaky ceiling is livable but in reality it can lead to bigger problems and will deter prospective renters or buyers.
To repair basement leaks or cracks in cement and masonry, you should use waterproof masonry sealer which is a mixable solution that is applied to walls and hardens to bond and fill cracks. Follow the directions from the manufacturer. A minimal amount of tools are required; they include a wire brush, a paint roller, sponges, mortar sand and a trowel.
It’s necessary to clean the wall before applying anything to it to ensure the product adheres and bonds with the existing wall. Mix the sealer according the instructions and apply a dab of it to cracks. Smooth using your tools so the sealer is flush with the existing wall.
After the sealer is hardened, you can paint the area using masonry paint to maintain aesthetics and help seal and prevent moisture from forming. Before applying the paint, use a wire brush to thoroughly clean and smooth out the area. For an especially rough surface such as cement and brick, use a drill with a wire brush attachment.
Another improvement that can be easily made to your home is replacing faucets and shower heads. While this may seem like something that’s not necessary, it can greatly add to the beauty and value of your home, especially if you have original, cheap faucets. Shower heads come in a variety of styles and features. Kits can be purchased at any home improvement or hardware store. Prices vary depending on the brand but you usually get what you pay for.
Paint can really be an enhancement to your home. The amount of work and expense involved is minimal compared to amount of improvement. If you’re thinking about renting or selling your home then choose colors that will fit many tastes; white isn’t necessary but bright and bold colors aren’t for everyone.
With a few inexpensive repairs and improvements, your home will be comfortable and the resale value will increase.
By: Peter S. Mason
Posts Tagged ‘Home Improvements’
Reducing How Much You Spend on Home Improvements
April 28th, 2010
It’s understandable that we should all want to make our homes look as fantastic as we possibly can, but we do sometimes feel restricted by the high costs that are involved. We may think about whether it would really be possible to make all of the home improvements that we’d hoped for. Luckily, you’ll soon find that there are a number of actions that you can take to help reduce the costs involved.
One thing that will be helpful will be if you can do quite a bit of the work yourself. Indeed, it’s likely that you’ll find that having good DIY skills can be an excellent way of saving money on a number of tasks around the house. You may be worried that you don’t have the necessary skills. In that case, you could consider buying a decent DIY manual or maybe look into the possibility of attending a course.
There are, of course, some tasks that are best left in the hands of professionals. Despite this, you’ll soon discover that there are lots of things that you’ll be able to do without any great difficulty. Having the necessary skills to do basic decorating will be particularly useful and these make a good first step. If you really think that you’ll struggle then you could always ask around and see if you have any friends who would be prepared to help.
Another great way to reduce costs is by using the internet. As an example, you may be thinking that you’re going to spend a lot of money on decorating materials and furniture. By comparing prices online, you may well be able to spot some better deals. You’ll also discover that internet retailers are usually able to offer low prices, often as a result of their lower overheads. It’s also worthwhile to track down discount codes too, as these can help you to make even bigger savings.
You’ll find that you often need to think a bit more creatively in order to make the biggest possible savings. Many people are surprised by the improvements that they can make without spending too much. There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t make some dramatic changes without paying over the odds.
By: Keith Barrett
Home Improvement And Repair Projects Have Never Been More Popular And Easier To Accomplish
April 20th, 2010
The popularity of HGTV (Home & Garden Television) has created a
thriving market in do-it-yourself home improvement and interior
decorating. All sectors of the home improvement industry have
benefited since HGTV started airing in 1975.
The real estate boom was followed by a home improvement boom.
People would buy a old house and want to redecorate the house
from floor to ceiling. People who had lived in their houses for
a while wanted new kitchen cabinets. The home improvement shows
were an impetus for a massive movement by homeowners to start a
remodeling revolution
The home improvements that people take on include makeovers from
the attic to the basement. They perform functional repairs like
fixing a leaky roof, replacing windows, and adding more room to the
house. Then there are the projects that are just for the
beautification of the home like updating kitchen, remodeling a
master bedroom.
Some people use home improvement as a creative outlet. They paint
and redesign just for the satisfaction of improving their living
space. HGTV has been a large contributor to the home improvement
revival.
HGTV reaches 89 million households every week and over 800,000
nightly prime time viewers. The format of the show has been copied
several times and spin offs like Trading
Spaces, Extreme Makeovers. Viewers sit for hours watching
“Design on a Dime” “Devine Design”, “Landscapers Challenge”.
The home improvement shows just keep coming.
HGTV provides instructions for thousands of home improvement projects.
They provide video clips for everything from garden projects to
constructing a bed. HGTV is the one-stop resource for finding anything
you need for expert help with “doing it yourself” projects.
HGTV makes home improvement look easy and fun. HGTV gives viewers
new ideas and inspires the week end warrior to do some type of home
improvement project. HGTV mission is “to provide ideas, information,
and inspiration for decorating and home improvement”.
The impact that HGTV has on home improvement can be measured in these
statistics.
Furniture sales grew by 75%, between Between 1995-2005
Sales of home furnishings increased 97% in this same period.
These items included soft goods as well, carpets, lamps, area rugs,
linens, glassware
People all over the country are decorating their homes to look like
these superbly beautiful fantasy creations that they view on HGTV.
If you are not a “do it yourselfer” you can just imagine the way your
home might look when you go on tours of million dollar home all
across the country. You see people who look like you making grand
improvements to shacks that end up looking like your dream home.
HGTV has had a dramatic impact on the home improvement industry
because HGTV appeals to the age group of people who have the money
to pay for major home improvement projects. The demographics of the
typical HGTV is a female age 35-64 years old. Over 70% of HGTV
viewers are females.
That means that the female viewers are encouraging husband, fathers,
brother to do the work so they can enjoy the benefits.
The additional general consumer demographics for home improvement by
female indicate:
They shop more often
Visit more stores
Spend more than the typical shopper
The target demographic for the Do It Yourself Website is:
Homeowners
Ages 25-54
Incomes of $60,000
Internet access
Propensity for home improvement
The home Improvement Research Institute studies show that both men
and women are active participants in the planning of home improvement
projects as well as the purchase of those products used for
improvement.
By: Tim Gorman