Have you ever watched one of those home improvement shows where the guys craft awesome furniture from scratch and lay tile like it’s an easy thing to do? Yeah, they’re enough to make you angry. The truth is that a lot of projects are very difficult, even though the experts make them look easy. So it’s important that you use tips like these to assist in the improvement process.
If your home is filled with old-style brown wooden doors, do not try to brighten them up with paint. The effort involved will not be worth it. It could take three or four coats of paint to cover the brown wood. You’re better off simply buying a new white door instead.
Put fire extinguishers in several rooms of your home. Fire extinguishers are particularly important in the kitchen, but they would be a wise investment for practically every room. Fires can break out in electrical wiring, where a chimney passes through a ceiling, and practically anywhere. Be prepared!
Excess blind cords can be cut off or tied. Children and pets have both been known to become tangled in these dangling cords, sometimes leading to strangulation. Make sure you leave sufficient cord to operate the blinds, but get rid of excess, unnecessary length. Give it a snip or tie it off to avoid accidents.
In this tough economy, do major remodeling only if you have a reason. Selling your home, welcoming a new member to your family, or improving your living arrangements are good reasons to remodel. However, changing your home on a whim, when you don’t have the budget, can put you at a real disadvantage.
An unsightly air conditioning unit may be less than attractive, but in many parts of the country it is a necessity. Consider using a trellis or small fence to cover the equipment and make your yard look more beautiful. You could also try some tall, aesthetic grass, such as pampas grass. It’s important, though, to leave at least a foot between the plant’s roots and the unit.
Are you tired of looking at the worn down bushes in front of your house? Why not give them a new breath of life by trimming them down and shaping them. When you take the time to trim your bushes and shape them, they look much cleaner and add a nice touch to your home.
When home renovations become part of your real estate plan, always pad cost estimates. No matter how expert the person is who gives you the estimate, you must include a safety margin. Even a contractor’s overall estimate – which usually comes with its own contingency factor – should have a second margin put on top of it. Renovations almost never come in on-budget, so you should try to be prepared.
As you read up top, professionals are making these projects look easy when they’re really not. A lot of what you can do around the home is relatively simple, but you will need the right amount of knowledge for any type of repair or upgrade. Employ the tactics you’ve learned here to make your improvements easier.