December 25th, 2008 — Bathroom, Bathtub, Clean, Dishwasher, Flooring, Handy Man, Hardware, House Value, Kitchen, Low Budget, Project, Refresh, Shower, Sink, Storage, Toilet, carpet, electrical system, plumbing
Fixing up the home is a task all of us have on our lists, but they never get done due to high costs for materials and labor. Home improvements do not have to blow the budget, however, and by doing it yourself, you can save even more. Here are seven tips that will demonstrate how a little can go a long way.
1. Revamp the appearance of the kitchen.
Despite the prevalence of the fast food and restaurant culture, the kitchen is still the life center of the home. Home buyers will head straight for the kitchen when they check out a house, and small, visual improvements here will go far in your renovations. For around a couple hundred dollars, the hardware in the kitchen; cabinet handles, lighting, faucets; can all be replaced with newer, more modern looking pieces. Lighting can also get replaced with more energy efficient fixtures to make things more environmentally friendly.
2. Improve the appearance of your appliances.
Appliances which appear to be part of a matching set look more high class and vastly improves the value of the kitchen. Ordering new face plates for the kitchen appliance set can go a long way. It may even surprise you with a couple of free fixes. Items like dishwashers, with a sheet panel exterior, may have the alternate color on the back side.
3. Attack the bathroom.
This is the room which should get the revamp after the kitchen. The bathroom can be improved along the same lines as the kitchen. Buying a new toilet seat, a pedestal sink, new hardware, all of these are simple tasks for the home owner. The floor can get a renewal with new vinyl tiles that are simple to install, even without removing the old floor. The tub can also get a similar revamp, saving the cost of installing new tiling or refinishing the tub.
4. Create new storage spaces.
Adding new fixtures such as wire or wooden closet systems are easy to install yourself and expand the storage available in the home. A lack of storage space can be a deal breaker for home buyers. There are many brands of closet organizers that will greatly improve the space available to you in your closet.
5. Turn a room into a bedroom.
If you have a room like a den, then by adding what is needed such as closet space, then you can turn the room into a bedroom, greatly increasing the value of the home while requiring little work.
6. Give the mechanics their run of the place.
It can help to hire a handyman or two, such as plumbers or electricians, to fine tune the systems in your home. Fixing little things all around the home can add up really quickly and make the home more polished.
7. Clean the carpet.
The carpeting all throughout the home is always in sight, and giving it a thorough cleaning will give the home a drastically improved appearance. Little spots of wear, like at the entrances or the foot of the stairs, can get covered by small area rugs. If need be, then replacing the carpet should be considered.
These are a few ideas for increasing the value of your home.
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December 17th, 2008 — Flooring, Handy Man, Heating
Even though winter is the farthest thing from many minds right now, this is the perfect time to start thinking about your heating options. As heating oil and propane costs skyrocket, many homeowners are starting to think about different ways that they can save money on their heating costs. Here is a quick overview of the different options that are now available.
1. Wood stoves -
The old standard, but they still work. A wood stove should not be confused with a fireplace. These stoves are stand alone and must be vented through a pipe in the wall. They are incredibly efficient and can put out quite a lot of heat. Many are also made of materials that hold in the heat, making it last even longer. They do however require a lot of wood, which can be expensive and cumbersome to deal with. This option is best for those with plenty of storage space.
2. Corn stoves -
This is a new take on the old wood stove and it uses corn pellets to create heat. However, the popularity of ethanol has driven up the price of corn, and the weather may cause a great deal of shortages this coming winter. These stoves also have a tendency to leave a lot of black soot in the area and are not recommended for people with breathing disorders
3. Radiant floor heating -
This type of heating system utilizes small tubes that are placed in the flooring. Hot water is run through them on a constant basis, heating the room. These are pretty efficient, but very expensive to install. They are usually worth the effort, until one tube breaks and you have to rip up the flooring to replace it. This is usually best reserved for new home builds or those that are completely renovating their homes.
4. Electric baseboard or alcove heating -
These little heaters actually work pretty well and with the right installation, they can heat a whole room. There are still some complaints about cold pockets however with many of these heaters. The main downside is that they are usually not very energy efficient and can cause quite a drain on your wallet.
5. Central electric heating -
Right now, this may be the most economical choice for many homeowners. These furnaces are usually pretty efficient and run cleanly. You will need to change out the filters occasionally, but they are a great alternative if you’ve got a propane furnace that you need to replace.
6. Central propane heating -
As mentioned previously, propane prices are still quite high and these furnaces range from being very efficient to being very costly. Overall, they are probably the easiest to deal with, but right now, they are not the most economical. Until gas prices dip, many homeowners are just not willing to make the jump to switching to propane and with good reason. However, if your electric bills could already choke a horse, you may actually be able to save money in the long run with one of these furnaces.
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Originally posted 2008-08-18 05:57:35. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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