October 27th, 2008 — Bathroom, Bathtub, Cabinets, Dishwasher, House Paint, House Value, Kitchen, Refrigerator, Seal/Stain, Shower
With the recent economic crisis, a lot of individuals are worried about property values in light of the current events. While nothing can be said to predict just how everything can pan out, there are steps that you can perform to raise the value of your home and give yourself some wealth during these turbulent times.
The number one place to improve the value of your home is the kitchen. Renovations there are going to be worth and additional 92.9 percent of what you put in. Bathroom improvements are a close second at 90.1 percent. Additionally, improvements elsewhere in the home (and on the outside) will increase the value of the home and give you something that will be a great asset for you.
Paint the Cabinets -
Replacing the cabinets can be a costly endeavor, so it is much cheaper to paint the cabinets or re-stain them. It is wise to pick neutral colors that are not black or white. A color near the middle of bright and dark is good and for extra protection and ease of cleaning, pick a paint that is mild, matte finished and weather proof.
Improvements by Replacing all old Appliances -
Your cabinets could be stellar, everything looks perfect, but the value of the furniture lessens the appeal of a kitchen. The cheap way to get them replaced is to visit a scratch and ding facility, with most appliances 50 to 70% off. They are likely guaranteed to look new compared to the old furniture, and that raises the potential value greatly.
Improve Bathtub and Shower Fixture Improvements
One way to increase the apparent size of a bathroom is to replace a shower curtain with a glass door, and by replacing the shower head with one more luxurious, you have turned a small bathroom into a lavish getaway. The glass door lets light in, and allows the viewer to see past the edge of the shower and see a larger space.
Paint Improvements -
This is the easiest thing that one can do to make the house more inviting is to freshen up the pain in all of the rooms. Pick neutral colors, since a colors are personal and a more bold look could make the house worth lesser than before.
Conclusion -
The value of your home is a measure of what a potential buyer will pay for the abode. The key to successfully raising the value of a home is the anticipation of what will and will not be desirable enough. One of the best ways to do this is to think of a change and consider what would cause the change to fail for you. Then you’ll think of the appropriate and safe colors to use, and enough to make the environment one that is welcoming and will make the new tenets feel like they are getting a new home.
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October 3rd, 2008 — Book Review, Handy Man
If you have ever looked at a sink, a lamp or anything in your house and wondered how does that work this book has your answers. Any homeowner can benefit from learning more about how specific appliances and fixtures work, but there are not many resources that put it all into one easy to read format. The book, How Your House Work has changed all that and we were very excited to get a chance to review this book.
By far, this is the most exhaustive resource we have ever come across on the interior of a house and everything in it. The first chapter covers the plumbing system of a home, discussing everything from your basic drain, toilets and showers. Every imaginable kind of drain is covered, and just about every fixture you could have in your house as well. The illustrations do a great job of making all the instructions very clear and they were very easy to follow.
The second chapter on wiring demystifies your home’s electrical system and explains in easy to understand terms how everything is powered in your home. From light switches to the circuit box, you’ll have a clearer understanding of just what goes on when you flip that switch and how power gets back to the lamp. We found this section absolutely fascinating.
Chapters three and four cover home heating and cooling, and offer rare insight into how everything works together for climate control. The chapter on air quality is also a must read and provides life saving information on how to tell when your home’s air quality may be compromised. Chapter six goes into detail on every home appliance known to man and was worth the cost of the book alone. Whether you consistently have trouble with your appliances or just want to know more about what goes on inside, this is truly the best guide.
Chapter seven and eight get into more structural items in your home, such as doors, windows, framing and foundations. You’ll be learning a ton about how your house holds itself up, how to find problem areas in your foundation and many other valuable tips. While it may not be a book that everyone would sit down and read in one sitting, it is a great reference tool and is perfect for the curious.
We highly recommend How Your House Works not only to homeowners, but also to renters that are interested in keeping their properties well maintained and maybe one day getting into home ownership. It’s easy to feel like an expert after you read this book and you’ll find plenty of ways to impress friends and family with your newly acquired knowledge. From the top notch illustrations to the way everything was presented, this is the absolute best book we have read on the subject. Makes a great housewarming gift, but don’t forget to get a copy for yourself. This is one book that really should be read.
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September 23rd, 2008 — Low Budget, Refresh, Renovate
If you are thinking about completely remodeling your home, but your budget is pretty small, you may want to think about refreshing it instead. There are some definite benefits to both types of home renewal, but there are some downsides as well. Let’s take a closer look at both types of renovation and see what you can expect.
Refreshing
Pros – This is a very cheap alternative to completely remodeling your home. It will allow you to retain certain features such as built-ins or other permanent fixtures in your home. With the right techniques, refreshing can be done in as little as a week and often gives similar results.
This is perfect for homeowners that need to sell their properties quickly and do not have the time to do a complete remodel. You can essentially make the home look almost brand new and you won’t have to worry about it taking months to get to completion. This is also a good alternative for those who prefer to do the work on their own, but may not have the time to dedicate to a complete remodel.
The main benefit is of course the price. Refreshing a home will cost thousands less than a remodel, and can produce almost comparable results in many cases.
Cons – The biggest con for refreshing is that you are not really addressing problem areas in the home. For example, you are not replacing older appliances that may be past their prime, nor are you fixing issues regarding flow, fixtures that no longer work or areas that are completely rundown. Basically, refreshing is best for homes that still have a lot of life in them and only need cosmetic assistance.
Remodeling
Pros – Remodeling your home can greatly increase its overall value. This is vital if you are trying to recoup equity in your home or sell it in a down market. The results are usually more dramatic and can make the entire home feel like new. Problem areas can be addressed and newer features can be added that will make the home more workable.
If you have been considering moving, but aren’t really committed to it, remodeling your home can make it feel brand new. Whether you are creating larger rooms, making your kitchen more functional or just improving the existing space, remodeling is usually the best answer.
Remodeling may be necessary in many cases, especially if a home is severely dilapidated to the point where refreshing will not help.
Cons – The cost of remodeling makes it prohibitive for many homeowners. It can easily run into the tens of thousands, especially if your home needs a lot of help. This may require a home improvement loan, which can eat into your home’s equity.
Another major obstacle is the fact that a remodel can take months to complete. If you are remodeling areas such as the kitchen or bedrooms, this can significantly impact the way you live for a long period of time. You may need to stay in a hotel or with friends, and costs can really mount up over time.
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June 9th, 2008 — Cheap Alternative, Dishwasher, Handy Man, Kitchen, Refresh, Refrigerator, Repair
If you’re stuck with some aging appliances and replacing them isn’t in your budget, there are a few tricks that you can use to give them a facelift and make them more energy efficient, on the cheap. For this article, we’re going to focus on refreshing your refrigerator and dishwasher, but these tips will work for just about any large appliance you have in your home.
Let’s start with the refrigerator. Chances are it could use a top to bottom scrubbing and a defrost if it’s an older model. Completely remove all the food and scrub the entire surface inside and out with a good cleaner that’s safe to use around food. Get into every nook and cranny until it’s sparkling. If you’ve got a common refrigerator, you may be able to find replacement shelves that will make it easier to store your food. Before you shut those doors though, there are two more steps you’re going to need to take.
Grab an old toothbrush and dunk it in your cleaner. Locate the rubber gasket on the inside of the door and get scrubbing. It’s most likely pretty gunky unless you’ve been cleaning it on a regular basis. If your refrigerator is old, you should replace the gasket. This will make your appliance more efficient. These gaskets can be found at any hardware store. Measure the old one or take a section in to help make it easier to find the replacement. Replace both gaskets and shut the door.
Scrub the outside of the doors until they are sparkling clean. Now, you’ve got an option. You can leave it as is, or you can try a technique that will make it look like you’ve spent a couple thousand dollars on a new appliance. Get some stainless steel contact paper – yes, contact paper, and carefully apply it to your door. You’re going to want to make sure that there are no broken or crooked edges. Completely coat the appliance with the contact paper, smoothing out any bubbles as you go. When you’re done, your refrigerator will look fantastic. It’s important to find contact paper that’s meant for this type of use. You can usually find it in most home improvement stores or online.
Now, let’s move onto to the dishwasher. Repeat the same processes above, making sure that it is completely cleaned out. You can also add the same contact paper to this appliance so that you have a uniform look for your appliances. You may need to replace the gasket on the dishwasher if it is old and worn out. These wear out pretty quickly since the area inside is so hot and humid. Again, you’ll be saving money on energy costs by taking the time to install a new gasket.
Make sure that you follow the proper care instructions for your newly contact-papered appliances. Most come with special instructions, but you can use a damp cloth with dish soap to clean it. Make sure that the cloth is not too wet.
Your kitchen should now look brand new and you’ve only spent a few hours and a couple dollars!
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Read more tips and advice on home cleaning at Merry Maids.
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