|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Home ImprovementHome Improvement is an art that most women have imbibed in them. Home Improvement increases the worth of the family residing in it. Also By maintaining it and improving it, you'll ensure it continues to increase in value.Maintaining Your Home Taking regular care of your appliances and checking plumbing and heating/cooling systems regularly can save on costly repairs or even more costly replacements. Review your home inspector's report to help you prioritize tasks. It is worthwhile to consult a professional for anything you have a hard time fixing or inspecting. Some professionals may charge a fee. Cosmetic Changes vs. remodeling you have visions of color and comfort. The back porch could use a fresh coat of paint. The kitchen cabinets need to be updated. When do cosmetic changes (paint, window treatments) turn into major remodeling and renovation projects? To keep the cost of remodeling from increasing dramatically it's best to set a budget first and work to maximize the features you want within that budget. This may also help set the limit between cosmetic and major improvements Many homeowners believe that any improvement will automatically increase the value of their property. Appraisers offer a more cautious perspective.. In other words, if you live on a street of modest two- and three-bedroom bungalows, don't turn your home into a six-bedroom mansion. Cosmetic changes such as new paint, flooring and window treatments are considered matters of personal style and therefore, add the least amount of value to a home. Your home is your greatest financial asset. Take proper care of it and most likely, it will do the same for you. Planning takes time and includes lots of mundane tasks such as getting permits and financing. But the benefits are immeasurable both in time and money saved. Individual plans will vary depending on the scope of the project. Steps overlap and sometimes changing in one aspect of your plan forces changes in others. But almost every plan will include at least these five steps. 1. Dream It Make sure your concept for the addition blends with the existing houses materials and design. For example: Adding on a Cape Cod family room to a 50s ranch style home would look silly at best. Do a quick sketch of the addition you're planning even before consulting with a builder or designer. 2. Design It If your plans require the removal or alteration of a supporting wall, contact a building engineer or architect to learn if your idea will affect the strength of the existing structure. Major structural changes may increase the time and cost of your project. A consultation may provide you with alternatives. 3. Paying for It Establish a budget for this project and determine where the money is coming from. The money available will impact the scope of the project. Remember that anything not included in the original contract will cost extra. It's tempting to start making changes and expanding the original plan. Try to control yourself or you might be adding hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars that will shatter your budget and your time line. 4. Permits and Codes If you've hired a local contractor or architect, he should be able to tell you if your idea will pass the building inspection. A professional should be able to handle the entire permit process, from drawing up plans, applying for the permit and scheduling inspections. If you're doing it yourself, visit your planning department and research the codes that pertain to your project. If the agency requires certified plans, you may still have to consult with an architect or engineer who can provide them. 5. Timing Establish a time frame for the project. Much of an addition is exterior work and will need to be accomplished according to the seasons. Your start date should be the date you actually beginning construction, so make sure your financing is in place before this date. Your time frame needs to take into account who is doing the work. If this is a do-it-yourself project, your time will probably be more limited because of job and family. If the job takes eight full days to complete, and you can only work weekends, it will take you four weeks. Consider if the money saved by doing it yourself is worth the extra time. About the author: For more information on Home Improvement please visit the Home Improvement resource center at http://www.home-inprovement-guide.info Circulated by Article Emporium When Fire Strikes: Get Out! Stay Out! (ARA) - It's late at night and you and your family are sound asleep. Suddenly, you are awakened by the piercing signal of the smoke alarm and you realize there is a fire in your home. Do you know what to do to survive? According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection A... The Ultimate Yard Sale Guide for Home Decorators We all have perfectly good furniture and art pieces that no longer fit with our d�cor and yard sales are a good way to get rid of them while earning enough to buy something new that really fits. And visiting those sales is one of the most inexpensive ways to add new life to your ... Home Fire Safety Home Fire Safety By Erby Crofutt, B4U Close Home Inspections www.b4uclose.com Is your home as Fire Safe as you can make it? The answers to these questions will help determine if your home is as safe as you can make it. * Do you have the right... 9 Simple Strategies for Home Organization Home organization means being able to find your stuff when you need it, not after an hour or more of searching. But home organization doesn't necessarily mean you're neat or clean. It doesn't even mean you're not a pack rat. Home organization just means everything has a place and y... Using a feng shui compass By Jakob Jelling http://www.fengshuicrazy.com What should you look for in a feng shui compass and how should you use it? A feng shui compass is a very helpful element when it comes to finding out the location and orientation of a house or building. It will all... A Guide to Platform Bed Plans - Do you want to try your hand at building a platform bed? For those of you who don't yet know what a platform bed is, it's an exciting, old way of sleeping that incorporates a simple, elegant frame and a single mattress. Its lines have been used in Europe, Scandinavia, and Japan for... Looking For A Fur Rug? Are you looking for a fur rug? Fur rugs add a distinct look to any area whether home or office. A fur rug is a great investment though if you choose to purchase a real fur rug. Finding the right type and style for you, is important though. Not just any fur rug will do. Of ... How to Care for Laminate Flooring It's hard to damage and easy to care for laminate floors. Here are some tips on how to properly maintain them: 1. Carefully read the warranty and care instructions provided for your flooring. Follow them as much as you can and refer to them if a problem develops.... 10 Ways to Keep Your Fitness Plan on Track During the Holidays (ARA) - The average American does a little too much celebrating at this time of year. Between Thanksgiving and the New Year, most of us will gain seven pounds as a result of indulging in extra helpings, snacking on holiday treats, having an extra glass of wine and exercising less. ... Teak Patio Furniture Use And Care When the weather gets colder, many homeowners face a dilemma: to keep their patio furniture outside, with proper weatherproofing, or take it inside and try to accommodate in a basement or garage. But with teak patio furniture, you will no longer want to stash the patio set in the b... Using Color To Change The Size Of Your Bedroom Did you ever wish your bedroom was bigger or smaller? Well if you don't have enough money to change the actual size of the room, then you can use paint to make the bedroom seem bigger or smaller. Paint is well known as one of the least expensive and easiest ways to change the ... Con Artist Prevention Tips The con artist's philosophy is "the gullible were put on this earth to be gulled." In the past, con artists were usually referred to as con men. This is no longer the case as more and more women have become involved in con games and numerous variations of con games. Before we proce... Are You Ready for The Greatest Digital Switchover in the World? Starts in the UK in 2008 In the UK the great digital switchover starts in 2008 and is due to finish in 2012. The analogue TV signal will be switched off leaving millions of televisions, video players and equipment obsolete. Tessa Jowell, the Minister for Cultur... Home Improvement Home Improvement is an art that most women have imbibed in them. Home Improvement increases the worth of the family residing in it. Also By maintaining it and improving it, you'll ensure it continues to increase in value. Maintaining Your Home Taking regular care of you... A Guide to Wine Picnic Baskets - Wine picnic baskets are just the ticket for two, four, or more people. When it's just too nice to spend the day indoors, why not go for a hike in your garden, in the woods, along the beach, or up on a mountainside? The great outdoors beckon. But you know you're going to ne...
|
|
|||||
|
||||||