Home Improvements Guide: Save Before You Start!

One of the common home improvement mistakes is when people start their home improvements and then realise they haven't enough money to see through the operation from start to finish. This is why i recommend saving money to make sure you can cover the home improvement costs and see the job through to completion. There is nothing worse than a half-finished job, and by following this home improvements guide you can be sure to make the job a success.

Home improvements are pretty much essential for any home. You're not likely to buy a new home and find it exactly to your liking, so that's why you have to be prepared to spend a little cash on getting it looking just right. Whether you can do it yourself or need to call a contractor in, the financial implications are such that you'll want to make sure you have enough money before you start the work. Naturally, a contractor will cost more, so bear this in mind.

Do you enjoy home improving?

There are many people that cant abide doing any sort of home improving. Just the thought of working on their home can fill them with dread. That's why some people avoid it altogether, but other people like to go full steam ahead and crack on with the home improvements. Some people actually find that they need to be doing home improvements in order to have something to occupy them - my mum is very much like this. She likes to have a home improvement goal that she can work to.

If you enjoy home improving, then there is no reason why you cant let your imagination run wild and do something really great with your home improvements.

Have you got areas for improvement in your home?

Many of us leave our home improvements and put them off until we really do have to do something about it. So, have you got areas for improvement in your home?

Areas for improvement can be anything from dining rooms to kitchens, but there might only be small improvements that need to take place, and you tell yourself you'll get round to it when you can. The thing is, many home improvements get put off and then they can worsen over time.

For example, that patch of damp on the ceiling - don't put it off much longer, get i sorted before its too late and you will have to spend a lot more money at the later stages of home improvements.

Areas for improvement are in everyone's homes, so check them out today.

Do A New Year Spring Clean!

There is no greater feeling than giving your house a spring clean at the start of a new year - and getting rid of the dirt and grime will make your house look brand new, like you've just moved in!

So, you've let the dirt build up for a year, but don't panic- just do a full on clean and get it sorted in the New Year. A bit like doing a New Year's Resolution, except with cleaning instead lol.

A New Year Spring Clean is a great idea if you are wanting to get our house in order again. With dogs, kids and other things, your house can get messed up very quickly. But don't despair, do a spring clean!

Improve Your Bathroom Today

Have you thought about improving your bathroom but don't know where to start? Well, i think it is important that you do improve the bathroom, as it is an area often forgotten about. However, if you ever want to sell your house, then you want it to look the best.

Bathrooms are important to potential home buyers; they don't want to be faced with ripping out a bathroom and starting again, so it is worth investing a bit of time and money into getting a really attractive bathroom. Outdated furnishings and colours will only be off-putting to the visitor.

In these credit crunch times, it is even more important to potential buyers that they don't feel like they have to spend more money on improving the bathroom. Small changes are fine, but the cost of a new bathroom could leave someone faced with a bill of around £2000. If you improve your bathroom yourself, you wont have this cost, so tidy it up and replace the necessities to give the impression that your bathroom is spick and span for when people walk in.

Home Improvements: Tips and Tricks

Home improvements are remodeling projects undertaken by homeowners to improve their home not only aesthetically or as living quarters but as an investment. They expect to get the returns on their invest ment when they sell their house. According to sources, home improvements, home improvements are a major investment exercise by American homeowners.
Home improvements projects are many. You can undertake the remodeling of any aspect of your house. Be it you kitchen, bathroom, or your whole house. Home improvements can be technically defined as changing the existing structure of a person’s house either using the same footprint or by making additions. There are two ways in which you can do home improvements. Mostly a professional contractor is hired for these purposes, however, sometimes; smaller scale easy projects are attempted by the homeowners themselves.

In the professional method, you recruit a general contractor, who is responsible for the whole project involving home improvements. On the other hand if you attempt to do it yourself (DIY) you will need to deal directly with the contractor and the technicians.

There a lot of home improvements you could do. For the walls, they could be papered or papered or wood paneled. The flooring could be made new by installing linoleum, hard wood and tiling... the kitchen fixtures and hard ware such as sinks, cabinets, and pipes can be replaced. If you have some electrical systems and pipes that have become outdated, it’s time to tick them off in your home improvements check list .you could work in a similar way with the other aspects of the home improvements such as the upgrading the air conditioning and heating systems.


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Essential Home Improvements! Improve Your Kitchen & Bathroom

When it comes to home improvements, i think the 2 most important rooms to carry out any work are:

• The Kitchen


• The Bathroom

Why? Because these are quite often the most stressful to renovate. Imagine not being able to use your kitchen for a week at least while you have it redesigned and refitted. The thought of ripping out a kitchen fills prospective buyers with horror, and if your kitchen requires more than just the cupboard doors replacing, you might want to seriously think abut investing time and money on getting a brand new kitchen and saving future buyers the hassle. You want the best price for your home? Let the buyer feel like there is nothing to do to the house when they walk in. A lick of paint is easy, but replacing the kitchen will be a nightmare for them.

As for the bathroom, this goes without saying. If you've let our bathroom get a bit shabby over the years, you might not have considered any home improvements, simply because you think you're the only person that sees it, therefore there isn't any need to improve it. Wrong! When buyers walk into your house, they will be looking at how clean it is. With patchy walls and mould in the bathroom, you won't be impressing anyone. Just like if there is mould on the ceiling caused by damp. Now is the time to do something about it. Again, people don't want to be faced with refitting a new bathroom suite etc. If your bathroom suite looks like it just stepped out of the 1960s, then you may have lived with it so long you haven't thought anything of it, but trust me - buyers will.

Doing home improvements is all about giving the house a new lease of life and letting buyers or just general visitors see what a beautiful home you keep. In turn, you will feel better too.

All Your Windows Needs!

When it comes to your windows, you might be wondering just how to go about getting your windows replaced and who to contact. Or maybe you want your windows double glazed and you feel less than inclined to use the pushy salesmen that call round and phone you trying to get a sale. Cold calling puts me straight off that company and i would always look for other options.

There are many companies offering their services for windows, such as Safestyle, Anglian Home Improvements and Everest. Using a well-known company will mean there are more customers that have used them and can give you their verdict. Chances are, someone on your street has used a well known windows company, so go round and see what kind of job they have done.

I recommend Franklin Windows for their efficiency when my parents had a conservatory built. I would like to think their superb service extends to all your windows needs, so be sure to give them a call and see what they can do for you.

If you just want window cleaning services, well this is a less costly option! There will no doubt be a regular window cleaning company that does your street and you can pop over when they next turn up and ask if they will do your windows there and then. There is bound to be someone with a good recommendation.

Cheap Kitchens - Think About It

You might be thinking about redesigning your home and focusing on the kitchen this time. Cheap kitchens may be the cost effective solution, but they will not necessarily be the best structurally.

If you are going to look at cheap kitchens, take into account just what you will get for your money. It may be that by paying just that little bit more you can get a really stunning kitchen. My friend had her kitchen re-done and managed to make it cost £500. Admittedly, it was a small space that was being redesigned, but she literally just had the unit doors and worktop surface replaced and this made her kitchen look brand new. In a larger space, however, you are going to need to splash the cash a little bit because there are likely to be more things that need changing / rectifying.

I recommend going to look at friends' kitchens and seeing what they have done with the space that they have. You will get ideas and then you can go to your kitchen design company and tell them how you would like it and what exactly you want changing, rather than have them persuade you that you need a full re-design, which could cost around £10,000 for a really good kitchen.

Cheap kitchens might sound appealing but they are not always the best option.

Bathroom Improvements...Tips

If you are considering any sort of bathroom improvements, you are probably wondering how exactly to go about it. If ripping out your bathroom and starting again fills you with dread, panic not - there is definitely an easier option.

Bathroom improvements can range from the simple and effective to the well-thought out and stunning, but it all depends on how much you want to spend. Set yourself a budget to start with. Take into consideration the size of the bathroom and outline exactly what it is that needs sorting out. Is it the toilet handle that is playing up? Or the sink not draining water properly? Perhaps its the aesthetic things that really need improving, like the carpet or tiles. Make a list and stick to it.

If it is just general decor that needs sorting, you can head down to your local DIY store and pick up the relevant bits and pieces. If it is something that requires a bit more expertise, get your local plumber in to sort things out.

Bathroom improvements are quite important. From watching countless home improvement programmes i can always see that any bathrooms not up to scratch really do let the rest of the house down. It can feel like too much hassle to redesign the whole bathroom sometimes, so some simple home improvements should help.

Home Improvement Stores: Advice

If you are wanting to do a spot of 'home improvement' in your residence, then why not check out some really good home improvement stores that will help make the process so much easier. We've all got a hammer, a screwdriver etc, but there are other items that we just need to visit the home improvement stores for.

So which stores are there?

Well, there's the obvious ones such as B&Q, Homebase and Wickes. These stores are large enough to hold pretty much everything you could need. Personally, i have had the best experience with Homebase. They have a great selection for any home improvements you might want to be doing. If DIY stores don't sound like your idea of fun, then there's always the handy plumber, electrician or 'handyman'. Check your local newspaper for some adverts from local tradesmen who can help you out. Handymen are still big business since most people wont trust themselves to do home improvements and get the job done right!

The elderly will often require the services of a tradesman, but if you are a relative of theirs, always try and help them out instead with any work they may need doing so they don't get overcharged by bad tradesmen.

There are other home improvement stores that you may be able to pick up some bits from, so always check out your local hardware store if you don't want to travel to the larger stores. There are home improvement stores online too, and then you can order from the comfort of your home, saving on petrol costs! Obviously you will need to take into account the delivery costs but some stores deliver for FREE if you spend over a certain amount.

Perform Regular Home Maintenance

To really make your home sparkle, make sure you do regular home maintenance. Then - when the time comes to sell - your home is looking really great and buyers will see that you have really invested time and attention into your home.
Many people neglect any sort of home maintenance. They just think it is 'pointless'. Trust me, any work you do will help in the saleability of your home.

My ex partner's parents lived in a large house in a sought after location. They had lived there for about 15 years and had done very little - if any - work to the house. The kitchen was small and had 1970s appliances. The living room was dated and the carpets were old. When they decided to sell their house, the estate agent actually told them that if they had done some regular maintenance to the house, the valuation would have been much higher. It seems crazy, but even things like one of the bedroom doors not having a door handle and just a 'hole' to open and close it with really did decrease the valuation of the house, which is a shame. So why didn't they go round and attend to these things before selling? Well, the point was that they simply couldn't be bothered. I think it had got to the stage where they thought that any sort of home maintenance didn't really matter and they were quite happy selling the house with the state it was in, despite getting a lower price than they could have had.

I think it is more important than ever to keep on top of your home and do regular maintenance checks. You need to appeal to as many buyers as possible and you cant expect a decent price for the house and yet leave it in disarray.

It is more important than ever to get the best price for your home, so make sure you do regular home maintenance.

Home Extensions - The Conservatory

Home extensions can take on many different forms. I think the best extension you can have is a conservatory.

These days, i know a lot of people that look for a conservatory on the house that they intend to buy. My parents wanted one on they house they bought a while ago so they decided to invest in one.

But does it add value?

Well, people on the Channel 4 forums seem to think you only really get a return of what you paid for it. So if you have a £10,000 conservatory built, you are likely to only see a £10,000 increase in the value of your home. I think it really boils down to if you really want a home extension. Its not worth it if it is going to be too much hassle and if the rewards at the end aren't likely to fill you with any kind of satisfaction.

Plus, some houses just don't look right with conservatories. Draw up a sketch of your home and think about the best place to put your extension. You don't want it to look like an eyesore. It has to be a certain size, in relation to the house, and will usually be erected at the rear of the house. This is mainly for privacy reasons, i think, but if you have a large enough garden you could put it the extension at the side and make your house look larger.

Plus, remember that conservatories are expensive. If you want a good one, anyway. My parents chose Franklin Windows and they can't recommend them highly enough. Very efficient and the quality is excellent. Always choose a reputable company and ask around for recommendations.

Home extensions are usually valuable assets, but think carefully about how you go about it.

For more information about extensions, see My View of Construction Companies

Make Your Home Look Fabulous...

It is important to remember that as soon as you own a home it becomes your responsibility to maintain and look after it, almost 'nurture' it, because it when it comes to the time to sell, you want to get the best price for it. Don't let it fall be the wayside, with peeling wallpaper and shabby exterior. You want to make it look appealing to the buyers and make it easy for them to picture themselves living there. De-clutter! Aim to have a regular spring clean every couple of months and throw away any "dust collectors" that you have accumulated. Not only will this be a great home improvement but it will inevitably make you feel better about yourself once you've binned the unnecessary clutter. It will give you a sense of 'release'!

When it comes to the exterior of the house, make sure you give it a lick of paint every once in a while to keep it looking fab. Painting timber windows and doors will help protect them from the rotting effects of rainwater. Equally, the sun can also dry up the wood and cause cracking. But remember, home improvements can even extend to just getting the window cleaners round to make them look sparkling.

Once you've got the exterior sorted, you can concentrate on the interior home improvements.

Doing BIG Home Improvements - A Few Tips

If you think you're going to need to call in the contractor, then here are a few ways to ensure that your home improvement plans run smoothly:

• Instead of paying for the work before the contractor has started, arrange to pay in installments so you can monitor the work as it progresses. If something has been done wrong, you have more control over the contractor and can refuse to pay any more money until the problem has been rectified. By doing this, the end result should be one that you are both happy with, and then the contractor gets his money.
  


• Keep track of all expenditure and any extra materials that may be required as the work progresses. A good tip is to set up an Excel spreadsheet on the computer detailing all the proposed plans, with an outline of relevant costs etc. This will help to ensure your plans run smoothly.
  


• It's not a bad idea to get a contract signed. You can always refer back to it then for proof of what was agreed. Also, if something goes wrong, you will find the contract invaluable.

When Home Improvements Go Wrong!

Okay, so i thought i would post some examples of home improvements gone wrong. Its a nightmare scenario, but it could happen to any one of us, so be careful!

This is a photo from Boing Boing.net showing a rain gutter sealed on both ends. You have to question the common sense of some people!




Here's a great blog showing more home improvement ideas that have turned out rather unfortunate: Home Improvement - Bad Ideas Gone Badder

My Guide to Home Improvements

Home Improvements - What You Need To Know

If you are considering doing some home improvements, i recommend taking one step at a time. Don't rush in there all guns blazing, only to realise you don't have a large enough budget or you've come unstuck with your ideas.

A friend of mine once said "improving your home may not necessarily improve your life" and i think this is important to remember. Some people think that by doing a vast amount of home improvements, they will be happier with the end result, yet one should never rule out the subsequent stresses and strains home improvements can incur. Problems with workmen and costly unexpected necessities can all make the experience of improving your home a rather undesired one!

Surprisingly, many people still go ahead with the arduous task of undertaking radical home improvements, as confirmed by Yell.com this year. UK adults can spend around one year of their lives just doing home improvements. Interestingly, from this figure, 29% of people have admitted to undertaking a job that they simply are not equipped to do and therefore cannot complete it.
(Source: http://www.yellgroup.com/english/media-pressreleases-2008-determineddiyersadisasterwaitingtohappen)

Then you can opt for the contractor route; the costly alternative. If you've ever seen Homes From Hell or suchlike, you will no doubt recall the problems innocent homeowners face with bad workmen doing 'shabby' jobs. To avoid this, try using a workman recommended by a friend, or simply one you have heard is good by word of mouth.

My 3 top tips for home improvements:

1) Plan

2) Budget

3) Only do what is necessary!

Happy home improving!

For more Home Improvements, please take a look at my other blogs about Home Furnishings and Home Construction.