For many of us, our home represents our greatest financial asset. Although many people believe that home repair is something that only trained professionals are capable of doing, that is often far from the case. Many home repair jobs can easily be done by the average person, with just a little guidance.
Flooring can be a relatively simple home improvement project even for a novice. Focus on putting tile in your kitchen and bathrooms and replace your carpet with hardwood flooring. Home improvement stores have a wealth of information about how to make this process easy for you to complete.
If you have a small bathroom, consider finding ways to save space as your next home improvement project. It is easy to use an adjacent closet or to reformat an old kitchen cabinet into a new storage facility for your bathroom. Always make sure not to remove any structural support that the room has.
Many home improvement stores offer classes and training sessions on different areas of home remodeling. You can sign up for these classes, often for free, and get great advice and tips on things like painting, simple plumbing, changing light fixtures, gardening and home decorating. It can give you not only the skills to do the job, but also ideas for your next project.
If your home has clear glass windows, you may be losing as much as twenty percent of the heat and cool air indoors. If you add some glaze to big windows you might cut back on this by half, your energy bills will be less and you will be more comfy when it is really hot outside.
Start your kitchen cabinet install with the top cabinets. It will make it easier for you to get nice and close to the wall so you do not have to stretch to reach the wall to put the screws into place. You should also start with the corner cabinet and line the rest of them up to that one; but be sure to use a level.
If you have repairs that need to be done on your apartment, and your landlord is not doing them, you can withhold your rent. While you do not have to pay rent for those months, you do have to place the money in an escrow account and write a certified letter to your landlord explaining why.
If you are buying tools and equipment for a home improvement project, don’t cheap out on the essentials. For example, a cheaply-built ladder will often fall apart while being used and low-quality paintbrushes may shed bristles into the paint, leaving ugly marks on the walls. Aim for middle-grade equipment if you are on a budget, otherwise, you may be in for some nasty accidents.
Remodel on a small scale for bathrooms. Just because you are not spending a lot does not mean your bathroom has to look cheap. Change out the towel bar and cabinet pulls, along with the wall mirror. A new coat of paint could make a big difference too. Your bathroom is going to look like new without making you broke in the process.
Assess the condition of the paint on the exterior of your home. Old paint that is peeling can make a house look run down, driving down its value. In this case, it would be worth the investment to repaint. New exterior paint can give an old house new life and add value to the house so that you can justify a higher offer from the buyer.
Your home is one of your most valuable financial assets, and it is the place where you spend a majority of your time. So the next time you spot something that could use a little maintenance, you owe it to yourself, and to your wallet, to try your hand at fixing up your home!
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