Home improvement projects have the potential to make or break your wallet, your investment and your resale value. This article will give you lots of great advice on how you can protect the investment you've made, get the best bang for your buck and not go broke in the process.
Before beginning home improvements apply for the appropriate building permits. Any home improvement that involves plumbing, electricity, or structural changes can require a permit. Check your local laws. If you proceed without a permit then you can be fined or it could make the house harder to sell in the future.
Use aluminum foil to cover your outlet covers and switch plates before you paint. Aluminum foil is a lot easier to use than tape, and it will protect the covers from unintentional splatters. And it makes cleaning up a breeze. Before you take the foil off, the paint should be dry.
Having a small kitchen doesn't have to be all bad. Since you have limited surfaces and space to work with, make sure to purchase a sink with a deep bowl. Then add some elegant high- end faucets to match the rest of your kitchen. You can easily create a feeling of space without having to compromise the rest of your home.
Windows and doors make a perfect home improvement project. You can add an indoor window box or change out your old patio doors for French doors. It is often possible to find good deals on these types of materials at the home improvement store. You won't have to spend a lot of money to make a dramatic change.
Organize your closet by purchasing some designer paper boxes. You can usually find paper boxes with a nice patterned design at your local store. Use these boxes to organize your seasonal clothing, hide winter accessories, purses you aren't using or shoes you won't need for a while. Using patterned paper boxes makes the layout of your closet appear more organized and provide a hiding spot for things you're not using.
If you don't have enough space for a small office, you can use a small portion of your living room for that purpose. Buy a small privacy screen and place a desk behind it with a matching chair. You can purchase small shelves to install on your wall to store your pens, pencils, staplers and other important items.
If your home improvement project involves moving appliances or other furniture in your house, make sure to put something down to protect your floors. Particularly if you have hardwood flooring, taking out large items can make a big mess and scratch up your flooring. Taking a few minutes to protect your floors can save you a lot of money in the long run.
Take your trash out at least once a day. Don't let your trash pile in the kitchen because it attracts flies and ants as well as mold. Make sure that you don't let your trash take over your kitchen and set aside three minutes a day when you throw it out.
To raise your home's value without spending a lot of money, take the time to replace your light fixtures. Light fixtures are one of the first things that catches a buyer's eye, and a dingy and dated one can change their opinion of the whole room. An inexpensive new light fixture will make the room feel fresh and new.
You'd be surprised at how much difference an updated address and nameplate can make on the front porch of your house. Sleek and shining house numbers make your home easier to locate, while a custom-engraved nameplate adds class and distinction. Finally, spend a little bit of cash on an ornamental door knocker, even if you have a doorbell.
If you are trying to remove wallpaper as part of a home improvement project, especially if you are removing wallpaper with paint on top, consider renting a wallpaper steamer. On plaster walls, a wallpaper steamer can greatly speed up the process of wetting and scraping the wallpaper. However, you should take great care when using a wallpaper steamer on drywall, as the drywall is very easily damaged with all the scraping and steam.
Increase your home's value by refinishing your floors. Floor re-finishing is a major task but not terribly hard. The equipment you need and instructional classes can sometimes be found at hardware stores. This project will save you a lot of money in the long run.
You should make sure that a home with any additions is properly zoned and has all of the licenses that the area requires. There are some people who will build additions without permission first. If an addition is not registered, your insurance company could refuse to give you full insurance.
If your refrigerator is more than ten years old, consider replacing it with a newer model. Your fridge uses a significant amount of energy, and a newer model can pay for itself in a relatively short time with savings on your electric bill. Look for an Energy Star model for the most efficiency.
Before rolling paint onto walls or ceilings, cut in the edges with a brush. Tape off trim, moldings, windows, ceiling edges and fixtures. By painting the few inches closest to the edges using a brush, you do not have to roll right up to these obstacles which may prove too cumbersome with a full-sized paint roller.
Don't ignore local characteristics when adding improvements. A pool is perfect in Miami, but not so much in Vermont. A beach house with a deck works well in southern California, but the winds at the beach in Hyannis, Massachusetts would blow away every last deck chair. Features that are not usable in your area's climate will add no value to your home.
As you can see, there is a lot involved in even the most simple of home improvement projects. But, if you follow this advice and use it to make really wise investment decisions, you should have no problem choosing the best projects and the best money saving ideas for your home.
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