Tips To Make Your Home A Better Place To Live

As any homeowner knows, owning a home is not only expensive, but takes work! Annual home improvements can typically cost up to 3% of the home’s value. Of course, smart people will figure out how to spend less so read on to get the best bang for your buck.

Does your porch need a new paint job? Make sure you apply a high quality exterior paint product. Make sure that you use similarly based paints together, such as putting a new oil-based paint over an old one. Likewise, match water-based or latex paints together when putting a new coat over an old one. Oil paints work work well for trim because of its durability. However, oil-based paints are slick and slippery, so they are not good for walking areas.

You can easily make your ceiling look higher. Paint your walls or add a floor lamp. When you do that to your rooms, there is an optical illusion your eyes must follow. Eyes will follow these lines and make the ceilings look higher than they are.

Boring, simple lampshades have no personality. A basic and available source for personalizing your shades is a combination of stencils and paint; use them in a creative way to make your own designs directly onto the shade. You could literally create any design you can think of and give more personality to your home.

If you are looking for issues, rotting wood, peeling paint, and water damage are all tip offs that a house has not been properly maintained. In other cases, like HVAC problems, electrical faults, structural damage, or roofing problems, you may need to employ someone with a trained, professional eye. Invest some money prior to purchasing a home and save a lot of money in the future on repairs.

When a lock needs replaced, try replacing the whole assembly or just the cylinder. The is the part that actually locks the door. If you lose keys or want to change locks, it is possible; just replace the cylinder. If you want to install an upgrade, then revamp the entire unit.

When you put your house up for sale, be sure that each space has a purpose that is well-defined. A family room should have appropriate furniture and accessories, as should an office. This helps buyers visualize themselves better in the space. This gives them a good idea on how to use it. Homes with well defined spaces are more attractive and make for faster sales.

Luggage Rack

An outdated luggage rack can add an interesting twist to a room if you turn it into a fun, new side table. Secure glass from a big picture frame onto your luggage rack by using permanent adhesive. Then, by simply stacking a lamp and some books, you have created a sophisticated side table for your living room.

It is a good idea to plan ahead for your home improvement projects. Set aside a certain amount of money for your home each year. Dedicating some money to maintaining your home each year will help it stay in better shape in the long run. Place this money into a savings account specifically used for home repairs, and use it in the future.

A smart homeowner focuses on adding new fixtures to a home before obtaining new furniture. When the selling process of a home is complete, furnishings and decor go with the homeowner. Fixtures stay with the home and can increase its value.

If low ceilings make you feel claustrophobic, try updating your windows in order to create the illusion of having more space. You will also be able to add color that can change with the seasons. You can make your ceilings seem higher by positioning your window treatment a good distance above the windows.

If you want to paint your house, use no-VOC paints. These paints help reduce indoor contaminants from the paint you’re using for your home improvement. In addition to labels indicating that paint is non-toxic, the no-VOC or low-VOC label is popular with those who are looking to go green because the reduction of specific chemical fumes is good for the environment as well as your health. These are as good as regular paint, they might cost a little more.

Plant mature flowers to provide instant curb appeal. Mature plants can create instant vibrancy and color to your homes exterior. It can take a while for seedlings to grow big enough to be noticeable. You want the home buyer to feel that he does not need to put in any extra work to make the yard look nice.

Check for insurance before you hire any contractor to do work on your home. If they aren’t and they damage your home, you can not be sure they will repair their damages. If you want to know whether or not a contractor has insurance, just ask them for visual proof.

Popcorn Ceiling

If you have a popcorn ceiling that needs to be removed, be sure to have a professional test it for asbestos first. Asbestos is a dangerous substance that needs to be removed and disposed of with care. However, the only time it causes issues is when it’s disturbed. If your popcorn ceiling does have asbestos in it, you will have to find a licensed company to remove it for you.

Consider investing in dormer windows if you want to make better use of the space. Besides increasing the usable footage in your attic, well-built dormer windows will make your house more attractive from the outside. With the added charm and increased space, you will significantly raise the value of the home for a minimal investment.

An inside home improvement project may seem bothersome to those that dwell in the home. To avoid potential problems, announce the times you’ll be working on your project, or save the work for when others aren’t at home. This can prevent added stress when you are already dealing with the project at hand.

The tips contained in this article will give you the information you need to keep your next trip from breaking the bank. You can make your home a beautiful place to live in, while still saving a lot of money.

Lapo is a smart home and technology writer, as well as a health and fitness enthusiast. If he’s not on tour, you’ll find him in New York with his wife and pet parrot hanging out at the park.

Follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

What’s Next?
MaxVirusProtection.com
CryptoCurrencyAccess.com
TopHobbyDrone.com
PublicSpeakingInfo.com
InstaDigitalPhotography.com
VeryGreenTea.com
WeddingMonitor.com
SmartHomeDiscovery.com