Well, you’ve decided to improve your home. Good for you! However, there is so much information that you may not have a clue where to begin. Don’t worry, home improvement tips are here! Listed below are some tips that will help you get started and organized so that you can become a home improvement expert.
When renovating your home, you should always stay close to the home’s original character. If your street is lined with Victorian-era tudors and you choose to turn your home into a glass-fronted homage to modern architecture, it will stick out uncomfortably and annoy your neighbors. Also, the more you differ from the home’s original structure, the higher the cost of the renovation and the less your chance of getting a return on investment.
Before you commit to a new paint color for the exterior of your home, spend some time driving around and looking at homes that you like the look and color scheme of. Paint chips are too hard to envision, so seeing it in person can help you make a better decision.
When you are installing new cabinets yourself. Start with the top set first. This way you will have plenty of room underneath to stand and navigate as you hang the top ones. The bottom set are much easier to install as there is no holding up a heavy cabinet while it gets screwed in.
Before you begin your next home improvement project, take the time to assess the current state of your home. Walking through the residence and figuring out what projects are necessities will help you plan your time and allow you to be more efficient with your work. Any projects that aren’t immediately necessary can be saved for a later date.
If the cabinets in your kitchen are out of date or in bad shape, consider replacing them or resurfacing them before you attempt to sell your home. Kitchen remodels, such as replacing cabinets, normally offer a 100 percent return on what you spend. Kitchens are a big selling point when someone is looking to purchase a home.
Repainting your dingy old garage door can boost the curb appeal of any home. Many garage doors look worn because of the elements. Fresh paint can make your entire home seem more newer, and makes it more valuable. Use a more fitting color for your garage door rather than a standard color.
If you love art, don’t keep it hidden in the house. Weatherproof canvas and aluminum is made to withstand rain, sun, heat, and freezing temperatures, and many online dealers like art.com have entire sections of outdoor artwork. This allows you to extend your artistic atmosphere beyond the front door of your home and makes a great statement.
If your toilet has a leak, you can fix it yourself. You do not have to worry about spending ridiculous amounts of money on a plumber. Most of the tools that you need, such as a wrench, are tools that you already have or that can easily be purchased at a hardware store.
Motion detecting lights not only make your home more secure, they also improve your home’s exterior. Instead of lights staying on, motion detecting lights activate only when nearby movement occurs. Of course, if an intruder is trying to sneak onto your property, being hit with the sudden burst of light will send them running away.
It is very important that the contractor estimates you get are all based on the exact same work to be done. Have a list of projects, including repairs and replacements, ready to go before you contact the first contractor. Show that same list to every contractor you consult. If you keep changing what you want done, you will never be able to figure out which contractor is going to give you the best price.
If you’re planning a major addition to your home, consider the cost of insurance before starting construction. Wood is always more expensive to insure because it is highly flammable. Steel and cement framed structures will cost less to insure because they are highly flame retardant. A conversation with your insurance agent before you begin to build could save you thousands.
If you’re painting your home, you should make sure that you paint the trim last. Moldings can actually be cut to size and painted before you place them on with a finish nailer in order to avoid any drips, but you should always wait until the end. Painting these first will result in you having to go back over them.
For a unique look in the kitchen, plus extra counter space, consider converting an old dresser into an island. The drawers make excellent storage for utensils and tools, and the top can be covered with granite, marble, butcher block or laminate, to match or coordinate with your existing counter tops. Add casters to the legs for a mobile work space that can tuck against a wall if needed.
When starting a home improvement project, never underestimate a certain project. You can never know how the project will go, and it’s good to be aware of any potential problems that may crop up. The better prepared you are at the beginning of a task, the better you can handle surprises that may occur.
Whenever you are taking on a home improvement project in the bathroom or the kitchen, be sure to turn off the water first. Any time you work near water pipes, an accident can happen resulting in a leak. You want to take steps to minimize the damage so that you do not end up with a flooded room. Be sure to know where your water shutoff valves are, and turn the water off before beginning your work.
You should feel better after reading those tips when it comes to home improvement. That was a lot to think and read through, but at least you should have an idea of what to do and where to begin with improving your home safer and smarter. In addition, you can always come back to this list.