HOME IMPROVEMENT IDEAS

 

 A house truly becomes your own not when you sign the deed, but after you customize it to your unique lifestyle. Our home improvement tips help you rock those upcoming remodeling. It’s all about increasing your home’s value, functionality, and happiness quotient.   If you’ve just purchased a home, you’re likely still reeling from the long list of initial costs that come along with home ownership. While you’re focusing on replenishing your savings account and getting accustomed to paying a mortgage, you might not be ready to gut your kitchen and bathrooms and take on a major home overhaul. However, if you have some cash left over after closing, a few simple, inexpensive home improvements can add value to your home and bring it more in line with your tastes. Consider making these updates home ownership

•    Make basic repairs. Don’t let that torn screen door or leaky window drive you crazy for years. Go ahead and fix things that are broken before or shortly after you move into your home. You’ll thank yourself later 
•  Update your home's entrance.The look of your front door and entrance play heavily into the overall curb appeal of your home. As visitors enter, the front door serves as the transition into your home and is part of their first impression. Entry doors are architectural components that should complement your home's overall design, not detract from it. If your existing front door isn't up to par, head down to your local home improvement store for a more energy-efficient and attractive replacement. Whether you choose a solid wood door or one with decorative stained or cut glass panels, a welcoming entrance will definitely improve your home's bottom line. 
•  Paint. Painting is one of the simplest, most cost-effective home improvements out there. If you plan to live in your home for a long time, feel free to go wild with color. Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated and that spells value. When selecting paint colors, keep in mind that neutrals appeal to the greatest number of people, therefore making your home more desirable. On average, a gallon of paint costs around $25, leaving you plenty of money to buy rollers, painter's tape, drop cloths and brushes. So buy a few gallons and get busy!
• Install new floors. If your home has carpeting or linoleum that still looks dingy even after a thorough cleaning, new floors could be a great investment. When it comes to resale, hardwood is a timeless option that appeals to most buyers, but it can be expensive. If you want the look of hardwood for less, laminate flooring is a great alternative. And there’s also cork, carpet tiles, vinyl and many other options to suit all tastes and budgets.
• Spruce up your ceilings. Popcorn ceilings were once all the rage, but these days, they make a home look outdated. Fortunately, popcorn ceilings can be remedied. Just visit a local hardware store for a solution to soften the texture, and then scrape the popcorn away. It'll bring your house into the new millennium with minimal cost and effort.Removing a popcorn ceiling may not seem like a big change but one of the keys for adding value to your home is to repair, replace or remove anything that could turn buyers away.
• Update fixtures and hardware. Lighting, faucets and doorknobs may seem like details that only the most nitpick of homeowners would notice, but outdated or cheap fixtures can really affect the overall look of a home. If your home’s brass chandeliers make you feel like you’re stuck in the '80s, replace them. Even inexpensive options can give your home a much more contemporary look.
•   Add low-cost landscaping. Shrubs and colorful plants add beauty and value to your home, but maintaining a landscaped lawn can seem daunting. When you’re shopping at the local garden center, purchase plants that are native to your region or water-conserving, drought-tolerant vegetation. These require less water and maintenance, which means you'll save time and have a little more green in your yard and your wallet. 
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•  Any kitchen update equals added value.The same rule applies in the kitchen. You don't have to start from scratch to create a winning recipe. For maximizing your home's value, kitchen updates are key. Start by swapping out just one item, such as a stained sink or ancient microwave for shiny new stainless models. Also don’t think of paint as something that’s just for walls. Have outdated, dark wood cabinets? Roll a coat of crisp, white paint on them for an instant kitchen update. Even small kitchen updates will add big value to your home. 
•  Keep up with regular maintenance and repairs.
  Walk around your home and make a list of all the little things that are broken or in need of repair. Individually, small repairs might not seem important, but if every room has just one thing wrong, those small things will add up to create the impression that your home has been neglected. If you don't feel comfortable tackling the repairs yourself, hire a handyman for a day and watch your "to do" list disappear. Staying on top of maintenance today eliminates problems down the road should you decide to sell.
•  Bathroom updates
  Bathroom updates are always a smart move. Even if you can't afford a full remodel, small changes such as replacing dated wallpaper with a faux or textured finish and replacing old lighting will update the room without denting your wallet. 
•   Consult a design pro. If you're unsure of which design style or paint color to use, hire a designer. They'll use discriminating taste and a trained eye to help with making the big decisions. Also, remodeling your home with a cohesive plan in mind makes all of your choices easier and ensures a pulled-together finished look. So, when you get the right mix of time or money, you'll know exactly which project to take on next 
•  Inspect it.
  Not every home improvement is cosmetic. Deteriorating roofs, termite infestation or outdated electrical systems — you can't fix it if you don't know it's broken. Hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you don't normally see. They may discover hidden problems that could negatively impact your home's value. Small problems (such as a hidden water leak) can become big, expensive problems quickly; the longer you put off repairs, the more expensive those repairs will be.