Home improvement is a popular concept now, especially with a poor economy. Most people can only afford to make updates in their home if they do some or all of the work themselves. When the home owner has some experience in the basics, a do-it-yourself project can be a wise choice. This article will help guide you to make your home improvement project a success.

Putting in another bathroom will add a great deal of value to your home. In practical terms, having another bathroom is very useful, especially if it is on a different floor than an existing bathroom. It is common for more than one person to need in the bathroom at one time.

If you are hiring someone to perform your home improvement work, never pay more than 10% down or $1000, whichever sum is less. Legally, a contractor is not able to accept more than this figure. If he asks for additional funds, it is a sign that the person you hired may not be very reputable.

Replacing the light switch covers in your home is an easy and quick way to brighten up a room. For about $20, you can replace all of the switch covers in an average-sized home with nice clean white ones. They will match just about any decor style. Since most people look for a switch when they enter a room, a clean switchplate appears to clean up the whole room.

Making sure that your basement is weatherproof is the first step to creating a living space in there. If your basement is dry and never leaks or floods, it is a great way to save money on your renovation. However, if your basement is perennially flooded or damp, it not only makes way for mold, but also makes the space uninhabitable. Make sure to weatherproof your basement before beginning your remodeling project.

Bold prints will certainly liven up any space. Leopard or zebra are good choices, but keep the design small to avoid overwhelming your space. Use it on some throw pillows, a decorative vase, or your wall art for instance.

Spice up your mantelpiece by decorating it with similarly grouped items. Collect objects that are similar in nature such as wood items, only items with letters on them, items that are old fashioned or different sized decorative paper boxes. They create an interesting focal point near your fireplace and can prove to be conversation pieces.

Few things brighten up a house like a well-maintained flower bed. Before you undertake a major makeover, however, do your homework. Find out which flowers are best suited to your home’s climate, soil type, and shaded areas. This will ensure that you do not waste your time or money by planting blooms that are not compatible.

There are times when a home owner will take on a project which is beyond their ability. In this case do-it-yourself home improvement can end up costing more than a contractor would have charged in the first place. As this article helped you see it is always wise to do some research and get professional advice before taking on a home improvement project.…

Getting rid of pests inside your home can be pretty daunting. While it may seem like they will never go away, there are several methods that you should consider. The following article is full of tips that will help you take your home back from all of the pests that have been living there.

If your home has a problem with brown recluse spiders, use sticky traps to catch them. They can hide very well and they are hard to kill with pesticides. At night they search for food. Put these traps along your walls as well as behind your furniture so you can trap them.

Use an outside perimeter spray to prevent indoor insects. Windows, doors, foundations and steps should all be treated with the product. Always spray the pesticides in the cracks that you see. Use caulk or another type of filler to seal the open areas.

You can prevent most pest infestations by keeping your home clean. Do not leave any food scrapes on your table or in the kitchen sink and make sure you tightly seal garbage bags. Get rid of your garbage on a regular basis and do not hesitate to store garbage bags in your garage until you can get rid of them.

Borax powder is known as a natural pest control. It can be used to rid your home and yard of many different kinds of insects, including roaches and ants. Avoid using borax around children and pets. Instead, place borax along baseboards and under cabinets to quickly rid your home of these pests.

If you live in an apartment complex or multi-unit condo complex, unite with your neighbors. Anything you try to do to control pests in your own unit will be unsuccessful if all the other units in your building are infested. Get together with the residents of your building and schedule pest control for the entire building to deal with the problem.

When you put bushes around your house, put them about 12 inches away from your home at minimum. Bushes make a great home for many different insects and rodents. If bushes are near your windows or any other point of entrance, bugs will come off the bushes into your house.

If you have children, explain to them the rules around the house for eating. Make sure that you designate only one area of the home for eating to help reduce any infestations that you may have. If all members of the house are responsible for what they do, you will have less of a pest problem.

Do a little research on the rodents or insects that have made your house their home. Determine why they are there based on the things they are attracted to. A plan designed for your specific pest program is the best approach.

While you may have been living with pests in your home for quite some time, there are ways that you can get rid of them. It may take a little trial and error to finally get rid of them, but it can work. The tips here will help you take your home back.…