All homeowners know that owning your own home can be expensive, but takes a lot of work as well! On average, homeowners spend between 1 and 3 percent of their home’s value on repairs and improvement. Luckily, there are ways to lower these costs.
When replacing baseboards, stained wood offers more appeal than painted baseboards. Natural wood has a look that is not only classic, but works in nearly every style of home. Stained baseboards also do a better job of hiding scuffs and scratches. You can choose from many different colors of wood stain to match any decor.
If you use mud for drywall you can put texture on your walls and hide problems. It is simple to do texturing. Use a trowel to apply the joint compound, and then dab with a sponge, brush, or a crunched up newspaper to add some texture.
When buying furniture, stay away from couches, sofas, chairs and recliners with busy upholstery. You may love loud florals or crazy geometric shapes, but they can be a challenge to decorate around. Choose solid tones for your furniture such as blue, brown, green, beige or black and choose your accessories carefully. Add patterns through pillows, blankets and drapes instead.
Use wallpaper to decorate a book case. Choose a vibrant graphic design. If you attach the wallpaper on the back wall of your bookcase, it will be visible behind any books or trinkets. Not only will this bring an old bookcase back to life, it will be a signature piece in your room.
Don’t start on your kitchen or bathroom re-do project without first turning off the water supply. Find the shutoff for water in your home before you begin any kind of work on rooms that use water. Doing this will ensure that you don’t accidentally flood your house.
If you have a handyman working for you, get your contract in writing. By having a firm contract, you won’t have to worry about any extra charges or being exploited. If you don’t have a contract, you may be very surprised by your bill.
Always check references if want to hire anyone to help with your home improvement projects. Think about it like you are hiring an employee. Do your homework and check all of their references.
Downspouts, chimneys and gutters are overlooked often with home improvement. However, focusing on these purely practical updates will go a long way in ensuring that your home operates safely, efficiently and in an affordable manner. Chimneys can catch on fire if they aren’t cleaned regularly, and clogged downspouts or overflowing gutters can cause water damage.
Bathrooms are also key to anyone planning to flip a house. Other rooms are easy for buyers to fix up on their own, but this is not the case with bathrooms. Be sure your sink, shower or tub are working. If they’re not, be sure to replace them. If you have linoleum flooring, install tiles instead.
Always use water resistant board for areas where heavy plumbing is present to avoid water damage or mold. Water-resistant wall board is commonly referred to as “green board.” Most green boards are treated to resist water retention, and the mold that typically grows in moist environments.
When you can afford to, stick to natural supplies. Natural materials, such as wood, ceramic, and stone, are typically much better to use then synthetic ones. They are more durable and attractive than man-made alternatives. The initial expense up-front for these materials may pay off over time because they will last longer.
Does your lawn have bare spots without grass? If this is something you struggle with, pick up some grass seeds and work to fix your lawn. If the lawn is uneven, your home won’t look that great. Spend the money and get your lawn to its former glory.
Be honest with your contractor about your budget for all remodeling projects. If your contractor is aware of your budget, they will then be able to make decisions with that in mind. Additionally, the contractor will be able to get the best value for their dollars. The great thing about this is both parties win.
After you have looked over these hints, you will be able to save money when you go to buy your materials. When you choose good home improvement projects and handle them well, you can significantly boost the value, comfort, and appeal of your home without spending huge sums of money.
You will soon be an expert on The Power Efficiency Guide. The information here will give you a head start in the world of The Power Efficiency Guide. Take it slow and you will be a winner.
