You can significantly increase the value of your house by taking on a few small home improvement projects. In fact, with some renovations, the resale value of your home can increase significantly. Here are some tips for home improvement ideas which can get you off to a good start.
Consider converting unused rooms in your house. Before you spend too much money adding an extra room or two to your home, seriously look at what you have to work with. Are you getting much use out of that exercise room or office? Even storage spaces like attics can be transformed into something useful, like a bedroom.
Small rooms are often gloomy, but you can change that! Look for ways to make the room appear lighter and more airy. Open the curtains and clean the windows until they gleam! If you make the most of natural lighting, any room will seem bigger. Choose pale colors for the walls, and keep the room clutter-free. Your tiny room won’t seem all that tiny anymore.
A great way to reduce your chance of mold growth in your household is by making sure your bathroom is well ventilated. Bathrooms that don’t have a window or some sort of vent usually get steamy, but are unable to be rid of the humidity. Eventually this humidity contributes to extensive mold growth.
Give your home furnishings and accessories a thorough dusting weekly. Dust bunnies can start creeping up after a few days, and that encourages allergens to interfere with your life. Besides keeping everything as clean and beautiful as it should be, when you dust regularly you’re in an excellent position to observe the first signs of damage, wear, or pest infestations in your home.
Which room do you want to work on first? When you take on a single room it will take less time and money to see the results you want. Plan in advance and be watchful of sales. Planning ahead always helps you anticipate issues and save money.
Prior to working on your house, attend a few open houses near you. You will see the colors and styles and better understand how your house could look, more so than in the hardware store. Most model homes are decorated and include window treatments and furniture to stage the home, so you can choose the look you prefer and avoid the trial and error of updating your home.
Pile your home improvement lumber behind your couch! Don’t have a place to store your long pieces of lumber while you’re working on a project? Just pile it neatly behind your couch and no one will ever know it’s there. You’ll keep it dry, safe, and ready for the next time you are inspired!
These days, there is something new that needs to be considered when doing projects. Avoid buying drywall (i.e. wall board, sheet rock) manufactured in China. Starting in 2005, the United States began importing a large amount of drywall from China. There is poor quality control in China which can end up causing problems. There have been extreme situations in which the drywall has released harmful gases that have a drastic, negative impact on wiring in walls.
When your home improvement or renovation project is big enough, you will likely be working with a general contractor, who will have sub-contractors working for him in turn. If problems arise on the job, your general contractor may blame his subs. As the homeowner, you are the boss. Be sympathetic but firm in reminding the general contractor that he is ultimately responsible for his subs’ work.
As you’ve read, home improvement jobs don’t always have to be hard. If you allow yourself the time for proper planning, it will be a much better process. Try some of the things you’ve just learned to increase your home’s value.