The thrill of being a home owner is difficult to explain until it has been experienced firsthand. The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from owning a home is a feeling unto its own. One of the first things that homeowners often immediately do after moving into their home is personalize it with their own furniture and wall art. Even before all their boxes from moving day are unpacked, new homeowners are contemplating furnishing and home improvement projects that they would like to undertake.
For many, home improvement means building a swimming pool in the backyard, including a gazebo, or adding additional rooms to the home. For others, turning a house into a home may mean undergoing a massive outdoor landscaping project or perhaps even remodeling the kitchen. Often, focusing on such large undertakings can overshadow other smaller yet equally important projects that help to make everyday life a richer experience. Before diving head first into massive renovation projects, consider the following useful home improvement tips for first time homeowners:
Start Small
With an entire house and yard to serve as a canvas, the options are seemingly limitless when it comes to home improvement projects. Too often though, the small and unique details that make life enjoyable are sadly overlooked, that is, until they begin to cause problems. For example, consider the annoyance caused by pests.
Insects and rodents can be found anywhere whether your first home is older or is new construction. Ants are the most common pest problem in households across the US. While exterminators offering high price services will try to convince you that treating your home every six weeks is the only way to rid them from your home, a household insecticide such as a liquid ant killer should do the trick for a fraction of the cost. An ultrasonic repellent is also a great pest control solution if you have children or pets, as they do not rely on harsh or dangerous chemicals. As an added bonus, ultrasonic repellents also keep away rodents, cockroaches, and spiders, which is something especially important if you live in an area where there is continual construction.
Save Money
Since first time homeowners are, in many cases, used to paying utility bills associated with apartment-style living, the first set of bills can be a massive shock. Windows, often an overlooked area, are one of the ways in which homeowners can minimize the amount of money that they spend on electricity monthly.
Many people wrongly assume that solar screens are the only way to prevent household heat loss and air leakage. While solar screens do cut down on electricity usage, they are extremely costly to install inside of your home. The easiest way to save money and make both your home and life more energy efficient is to tint your windows. Vinyl window tinting film is a permanent and inexpensive solution that can be applied to your existing windows. In the time that it would take to schedule a solar screen consultation, every window in the home could be tinted and forgotten about. The best part about tinting your windows at home is that if you later on decide to go for the pricey solar screens, it is very easy to remove the tint.
Increase Value
Many first time homeowners become so caught up in the excitement of owning their first home that they often forget just what a shrewd investment they have made. Like all investments, there are several steps that one can take to increase the value with relative ease. Again, most people look at landscape and swimming pools when they are considering home improvement, but kitchen improvements are what actually raise the value of a home the most.
Unfortunately, kitchen remodeling is also a costly project to undertake. Appliances, tile floors, new paint and cabinets can all add up to dizzying heights and an even more towering cost. Rather than being talked into debt-inducing remodeling projects at your local home improvement store, take stock of your kitchen and consider what really needs to be updated the most. Rather than sanding and painting or purchasing replacements, use this low cost cabinet make-over that no home improvement store will ever tell you about.
In stores you can now find PVC sheets in wood grain patterns that are available in a variety of shades. Simply cut the sheets to fit your tired, cracked or chipped cabinets and affix it in place. In less time than it takes to find the tools needed to refinish cabinets, your kitchen will look refreshed for pennies on the dollar and will look great.
Watch the video related to home improvement tips
Cheap remodeling ideas include repainting the walls and furniture, refinishing the floors or cabinets, replacing small fixtures and switching out the cabinet hardware. Look for inexpensive ways to make a big change in a room withadvice from a licensed remodeling contractor in this free video on home maintenance. Expert: Tim Gipson Contact: www.inhisstepsremodeling.com Bio: Tim Gipson is a home repair specialist and remodeling contractor in Franklin, Tenn. Filmmaker: Tim Brown
Help answer the question about home improvement tips
Easy home improvements to speed up the sale of my home?I am planning on listing my home later this month, are there any tips to make my home seem more appealing? I was thinking about getting some flower baskets by the front door.
A simple answer would be to turn off the offending appliance. I for one am happy the government is acknowledging energy efficiency.
all you need for this is a small amount of olive oil, add a small drop to the joints of the bed and it will stop squeaking. Just remember to put an old rag under the part you are oiling so it does´t drip on your floor or carpet
Good Garden Videos! See ny indoor video tips!
good advice you might know your stuff. dont waste water!
I quickly glanced over the sites you listed..I think the second one would be most helpful for the average person and the first and third are useless…the last one..well..you can get this advice here from people..I don't think looking for a site that offers both home improvement and decorating is realistic as these are two very different subjects. If you want professional advice, then hire a professional..you get what you pay for. Being a freelance writer, I think you should be able to draw upon your own views.
1) Box up anything smaller than a football you don't absolutely, positively have to use on a day to day basis.
Remove window screens that aren't needed daily to flood your rooms with natural light. Update lampshades and bulbs to make your rooms shine even brighter.
2) Replace worn, dated flooring. Including carpeting and linoleum. Buyer's can not imagine what it will look like, they need to see what it IS like, right now.
3) PAINT everything a neutral color. A lot of buyer's are turned off if their furnishings don't go with the paint colors you have right now. Not to mention, fresh paint kills any odors that you might not even realize you have in the house.
4) Pull up area rugs!! They break up the space, draw too much attention, and make buyer's wonder what you're hiding.
5) Update old lighting fixtures. They will help your house compete with newer homes on the market and they are a cheap and easy do-it-yourself fix.
6) Edit your furnishings down to only what you absolutely need. Arrange furniture at least 8 inches from the walls and angle some for visual interst.
7) Keep in mind, buyer's walk through most listings in about 10 minutes the first time around, so make sure the features of your home come into focus as soon as they walk in the door. That means accessorizing to draw the eye directly to them without overpowering them. IE: Bright greenery on top of a mantel with a couple of shiny candlesticks will serve you better than some eye-popping artwork.
9) Make sure the house is HOSPITAL CLEAN, especially kitchens and bathrooms. Just avoid the hospital smell. Fresh citrus cleaners are better than pine-based solutions.
10) Fresh mulch can boost your curb appeal 100%!! Makes your place look freshly landscaped.
11) Paint your front door a glossy fresh color! Add a bright brass kick plate for added sass. And a bright pot of mature annuals is always a welcoming touch.
I thought he was shilling for Lowes.
Just be honest. Tell your supervisor you feel like you've earned an increase in pay. If you need to, offer to take on added responsibilities or move to a different job position that comes with an increase in pay. Good luck!!!!!
Just buy them some donuts and coffee every now and then. Let the contractor handle the money. Tipping is not usually associated with construction.
And why start something that can get out of control. You can at the end of construction have a wrap party.
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Everything, try ans do with every thing, it will pay of.
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