Some prospective homeowners have home improvement needs even before they close on a property. Perhaps your dream house needs a few structural repairs to make it safe for your family to live in. Or maybe you've found an older home that has great potential but needs your special touch. In many instances, it is easier to undertake home remodeling and improvement projects before you move in or during the first few months of homeownership. This way you can work through the disruption and mess before you unpack all the boxes and get too comfortable in your new home.
There are several good reasons for wanting to remodel or redecorate your home. If your home 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 to your home. Altering a color scheme, converting a bedroom into a home office, or upgrading the kitchen and bathroom are practical home improvement projects that add esthetic appeal and really pay off. 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 for the home
- Would like to have for the home
- Dream home improvements
When your list is complete, consider the amount of money you have available or are prepared to borrow to complete your home improvement projects. Unless you have unlimited funds, make a realistic estimate of what you can afford. Are you planning major home 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.
The best projects for improving the value of your home are, happily, the most affordable and the easiest to do yourself. 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 home, therefore, are the jobs that top the list of desirable home improvements. The premium projects that usually require professional help are kitchen remodeling first and bathroom remodeling second. These particular home upgrades will provide the best return for your money, and the real estate industry has statistics to prove it.
Cleaning your home and yard is a great home 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 home. Removing clutter around your home 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. 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.
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 home exterior, don't forget to do something about that bland front door; fresh, harmonious colors add beauty and personality to your home both inside and out.
Choosing the best home improvement projects will not only increase the long-term value of your home, they will also provide satisfaction and pleasure for you, the homeowner.
