by Ted

Creative Ideas For A Variety Of Home Improvement Project

It has been said that all home improvement projects are a hassle, but that is only the case if you aren’t doing them the right way. Like most things, having the advice you need can make all the difference. This article has many tips to help with your next project.

Consider your home and your neighborhood’s character when deciding on updates and improvements. Adding classic Victorian details to your home would look out of place in a neighborhood with Cape Cod homes. If you plan with your neighborhood in mind, your home will better fit in and it will be easier to sell when it comes time to move.

When buying a home, always set up a home inspection by a professional. This can help you get a much more accurate sense of what type of fixing up may be needed. A third party professional who offers a completely objective view will ensure that everything that needs to be fixed is found.

TIP! Use a porch light with a motion sensor to cut down on your electric bill. It can be switched on manually and the sensitivity can be adjusted on several models.

There is no need to get rid of worn doors. Remove the door from its frame, then sand it down until you expose bare wood. Then buy any oil paint you like and paint the door with the paint roller. You can replace the knob to modernize the door if you’d like.

Putting in another bathroom will add a great deal of value to your home. A second bathroom, particularly if it is on a different floor from the first bathroom, is really helpful for family and guests. It seems there are never enough bathrooms for the number of people who need to use them.

Lampshades with simple designs give no life to the room. You can spice up your lamp shades by painting them using stencils. This helps add personality to your rooms and really enhances a plain lamp shade.

TIP! Always look around for greater deals when purchasing products for your renovation. Replacing the flooring in your home, for example, can be very expensive, so it pays to shop around.

Turn off water if you are doing kitchen or bathroom home improvement projects. Make sure you know where the shutoff valve is for your water pipes so you don’t have a flooding problem once you start the project. This will make sure you don’t flood your house.

Bugs can wreak havoc on your home, and cracks in the wall or gaps in the window can cause bills to skyrocket. Make sure you seal all those little cracks and gaps in the house to save money and to avoid infestation. Seal any holes around windows, baseboards and other areas using caulk. This will not only keep the bugs out but will also take care of any drafts you have in your home.

Prudent advance planning is the key to successful home improvement work. If you wait until you start, you can run into a disaster because you did not plan. Your project will stay on time and on budget if you plan it out in advance.

TIP! If you are going for a serene atmosphere in your home, the color scheme should focus on light colors, including lighter shades of blue, purple, and green. Instead of heavy or dark fabrics, choose cotton or linen fabric.

Sealant Strips

Contents

To keep air from leaving through the doors, get some sealant strips and draft excluders. You put draft excluders under your door, and they help stop cold air from coming in and hot air from going out. Sealant strips provide a similar function when they are fitted tightly around a door’s frame. You can usually get them at hardware stores.

Either tie or cut the ends of blind cords. Long or dangling cords pose a safety risk to small children and pets, who may become ensnared. Leave an adequate amount of cord so that it is still functional and nothing more. Shorten it by tying or cutting before an accident occurs.

TIP! Many older homes are carpeted throughout, but decades of wear and tear, often leaves a stained, outdated mess. Wooden floors are classic and will last considerably longer than even the most plush carpet.

You should always maintain good records whenever you hire a professional contractor. Don’t assume that your contractor will do this for you. Save all the contracts and invoices that have anything to do with your project. This helps everyone involved stay focused on the current task.

Motion Detectors

Consider the “age-in-place” method when making a major renovation. Age-in-place is a design philosophy which considers the homeowner’s age over the amount of time they own the home. When you are making changes to a home you want to keep forever, or even one you hope to sell, additions that are age-in-place increase the safety, value and comfort of the house.

TIP! There are few home renovations that can take you as far as a finished basement. A finished basement acts as more room for your home, whether it’s storage or living space.

Install motion detectors in front of the entrance of your house. By turning the light on only when it is needed, they will save you money on your electricity bill. A lighting system that uses motion detectors to illuminate the exterior of your home can be a useful theft-deterrent.

Theft can be a big issue when it comes to doing home improvements, as building supplies are a hot commodity and easy for people to steal and re-sell. When there is no work going on, building supplies need to be put somewhere secure. You can leave the supplies in the home if it has locks on its windows and doors. If the home has no lock, then a storage bin with a lock will help.

Consider mounting your TV on the wall. Wall mounts can relieve you from having to use a TV stand or entertainment center, thus opening up the room a bit more. This project does not take much time, either.

TIP! When you replace your windows with energy efficient ones, you are conserving energy as well as money. This is a very rewarding home improvement project.

When considering replacement cabinets for your home, look into solid wood cabinets. In addition to be being durable, they are able to survive pretty much anything. Some of the more common woods for cabinetry include maple, oak and cherry. If you want a different color, they are all easily stained.

Consider a wall mount for your TV. It frees up floor space if you remove the stand the TV previously sat on, or if you need the stand, it gives you some additional space. If you follow the directions, this will take a minimal amount of time.

Are you looking for a way to reduce your summer heating bill? If that is the case, you should consider tinting your windows. This is a fairly easy process that most people can do on their own. You’ll also spend less money to cool your home in the summer.

TIP! The best time to invest in home improvement projects is when real estate is in a slump. You can often save a lot of money during these times, as many building professionals such as contractors are desperate for work.

As you have seen, home improvement goes more smoothly with the right advice. By knowing the steps to take, the whole job will be much easier. Utilize the tips within this article to finish your home remodeling project.