As any homeowner knows, owning a home is not only expensive, but takes work! Some estimate that up to three percent of a home’s value is spent in annual maintenance costs. However, there are ways to cut back on cost, so here are some tips to help you save money and still be able to improve and upkeep the home you love.
It is very important to change air filters. This will bring in healthier air and keep your air conditioners and heaters running efficiently. Many of the service calls that these repairmen face are due to build up that has gotten into the machine from dirty filters.
If you are looking to reduce you energy costs, you could change your lighting system to operate on motion sensors. The light can still be turned on manually, and you can adjust the sensitivity on most models.
When planning to make changes to the exterior of your home, you should make considerations for the overall look and feel of the neighborhood and surrounding homes. A Victorian house is going to stand out blaringly on a block that only has saltbox cottages. If your exterior home remodel blends well with other homes on your street, you have a much better chance of finding a buyer quickly when you are ready to move.
Before you begin renovating, devise a firm and detailed plan. If you want to stay withing your budget, you have to have a plan. If you make changes during the project, you can increase the price and the time. Your contractors will appreciate and be ready to begin, if you know what you are looking for before the project starts.
Bleach is a great tool for cleaning toilets. Bleaching the toilet bowl not only keeps it clean but also kills germs and bacteria. Reduce the unpleasant odor by selecting a scented bleach.
Shut off your house’s water supply when your home improvement work takes you into the kitchen or the bathroom. Whenever you are dealing with pipes, fittings, or fixtures, finding and turning the shutoff valve should be step number one. This step will help you prevent a flood.
Sealant Strips
Weather stripping is a great way to keep drafts out. Draft excluders slide under the door to keep air in and out. Find sealant strips that go around the door frames. Sealant strips can be purchased at most hardware stores.
If you want to resell your home, you should focus on the bathroom. Other living spaces, like living rooms and bedrooms, are easily given a new look by the buyers, but a bathroom needs to be in tip top condition. If the shower or sink is not in good condition, replace it. If you have linoleum floors, switch to tile.
It is important to invest in supplies and tools that are of high quality. It may seem more costly at first, but you will be happy you made the choice when the tools are still working at the end of your project. Cheap tools and materials can break or wear down quickly. Tools, while expensive, won’t have to be replaced often.
Natural Materials
If it’s in your budget, use natural materials over synthetic ones. Choosing genuine materials such as fine wood, stone and ceramic are usually much preferable to the man-made counterparts. They are also stronger and more attractive. Although you may not want to spend the extra money to purchase natural materials, it can actually save you money over time because you’ll have to replace synthetic materials more often.
Consider installing a shower if there is not one in your home already. Not only is a shower more convenient than a tub, but it also more cost effective. You can save 75% of your normal bathtub water by taking a five minute shower instead.
Individual solar lights may not be the best possible investment for your home. If you require real lighting that can brighten up a path on a dark night, you should spend the money on electric lights. These may cost more but they work better.
When you use the information for home improvement provided by this article, you will find any future trips to your local home improvement store will not break the bank. If you are saving money and making improvements you will enjoy your living space and add some money to your pocket.