What Do You Want and What Can You Afford?
There are several good reasons for wanting to redecorate or remodel
your home. If your residence no longer reflects your changing tastes and lifestyle
but you don’t want to leave a desirable neighborhood, maybe all you need to do is
make one or two basic changes. Altering a color scheme, converting a bedroom into a
home office, or upgrading the kitchen and bathroom are practical improvements that add
esthetic appeal and financial value. If a move is in the future, you want home
improvement projects that will give you the biggest bang for your buck when it’s time
to sell.
Whatever your motives for improving your home, make a wish list with
three categories:
- Must have
- Would like to have
- Dreams can come true
When your list is complete, consider the amount of money you have
available or are prepared to borrow. Unless you have unlimited funds, make a
realistic estimate of what you can afford. Are you planning major renovations that
will require the services of an architect or a contractor? Will you need an
electrician, a plumber, a carpenter, a painter, or all four? How much work can you
do yourself? All these factors must be taken into account as you pare down your list
into affordable home improvement projects.
How Do You Begin?
Every project starts with a plan. Itemize everything you want and
think you can afford, and include a design of rooms to be remodeled. If you are
going to require professional help, now is the time to talk to contractors, plumbers, and
other tradesmen, and to ask for estimates. Comparison-shopping is a must. If
you are an accomplished do-it-yourselfer, price materials and tools needed. If you
can’t afford to do everything on your list, reassess your prime needs and make a new
plan.
What Projects Are Key?
The best projects for improving the value of your home are, happily,
the most affordable and the easiest to do yourself, even if you are a super klutz. Ask any
real estate agent for tips on how to prepare a home for resale and you will be told that
the house and yard should be cleaned and all clutter removed. Creating suitable home
storage facilities and cleaning and painting the interior and exterior of your house,
therefore, are the jobs that top the list of desirable improvements. The premium
projects that usually require professional help are kitchen remodeling first and bathroom
remodeling second. These particular upgrades will provide the best return for your
money, and the real estate industry has statistics to prove it.
Clean Everything in Sight
Cleaning your home and yard is a great improvement project, and if you
are remodeling, it will be the final step after the dust has settled. You will need
something heavy-duty like tri-sodium phosphate or its equivalent to wash most surfaces
inside and outside the house. There are also special cleaners for glass, tile,
porcelain, stainless steel, and wood, and for getting rid of unpleasant molds and mildew.
Visit your friendly hardware store and read labels. There are cleaners
for almost every material and for solving almost every cleaning problem. Make sure
rooms are well ventilated whenever you are cleaning, carefully follow directions, and wear
gloves and a mask.
Removing clutter is another worthwhile project and requires adequate
home storage with a combination of cabinets, shelves and bins, and sufficient strength of
mind to discard all junk, no matter how much you love it. You can buy
easy-to-assemble shelving and cabinets in a great variety of sizes and materials at
affordable prices. Small, decorative containers can be used to organize and conceal
the ongoing accumulations of such items as incoming mail. In the yard, removing
clutter means getting rid of dead trees, dead branches, broken slabs and stones in patios
and walkways, and tidying up the garden and lawn. When faced with clutter,
ruthlessly throw it out, recycle it, hold a garage sale, donate it to the charity of your
choice – get rid of it.
Interior painting and exterior painting should be next on your list of
preferred home improvement projects. Fresh paint helps make your home look clean,
bright, and spacious. When selecting colors for the exterior, don’t forget to
do something about that bland front door. Have fun! Fresh, harmonious colors
add beauty and personality to your home both inside and out.
Put Kitchen and Bathroom Remodeling High on the List
Although remodeling a kitchen seems like a daunting task, a complete
overhaul pays great dividends if and when you sell your home. Purchasing new
cabinets and appliances are worthy goals, but you can also make minor changes that will
create impact. If you can’t replace the kitchen cabinets, replace the cabinet
doors at least. If that is also beyond your means, add molding to the cabinet doors,
paint them, and replace the hardware. It’s not that difficult or expensive to
replace an outdated sink, and if you can’t afford a new stove, fridge and dishwasher,
don’t hang on to those gold or avocado monstrosities – buy attractive
reconditioned replacements.
Bathroom
remodeling is the next most important improvement and the biggest dividends come from
installing a new sink, bathtub, toilet, and shower stall, as well as attractive tiles and
custom cabinets. Again, if you can’t manage a complete makeover, replace the
tired old taps, faucets and showerhead; add shelves; and paint and redecorate the
cabinets.
Other Projects to Consider
After you have decided on and planned for the most important home
improvement projects, new window covering and upgraded flooring should receive your
attention. You can choose from a large array of window dressings and styles, or
simply buy fabric, turn hems with iron-on tape, and dramatically drape the material over
attractive curtain rods. Shutters are another possibility and lend themselves to
many different decorating styles.
Your choice of flooring is limited only by your taste and budget.
Rip up the old carpet and replace it with contemporary hardwood flooring or
laminate flooring. If you already have hardwood, simply sanding and re-staining it
or giving it a clear finish may give your rooms the lift they need. Other flooring
replacements that can transform a room include tile, vinyl, linoleum, or textured rubber.
Finally, save a little energy and money to improve the appearance of
your yard. Maybe all you have to do to improve the garden
is trim, mow, weed, and then plant a few flowers. Adding or upgrading an existing
patio, deck, or walkway can also be very worthwhile.
Choosing the best modeling and redecorating projects will not only
increase the long-term value of your home, they will also provide satisfaction and
pleasure for you, the smart homeowner. |
