Tag: home improvement

5 Home Improvement Projects That Are Easy and Affordable

Posted in Money magazineTagged , ,

There’s a good chance you’ve recently rolled up your sleeves and taken on a home improvement yourself.

Eight out of 10 homeowners have tackled at least one DIY project since the start of the pandemic, an Angi survey found. Furthermore, spending for home improvements and repairs is expected to peak this year, according to a study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. In 2019, the most recent year JCHS has data for, homeowners spent an average of $3,300 on improvements and $820 on maintenance.

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10 important maintenance tasks that experts say many homeowners miss

Posted in The Washington PostTagged , ,

If you pride yourself on keeping your home in tiptop shape, you’re the kind of homeowner who takes the necessary steps to keep your house running like a well-oiled machine — or at least you think you’re taking all of the right steps. The hard truth, though, is that many people overlook a number of important home maintenance tasks.

“There is so much many homeowners just don’t know to do,” says Melissa Mitchell, director of operations at GrayWolf Residential Services, a preventive home maintenance company based in Beachwood, Ohio.

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Demolition Daze: 7 Ways to Botch Renovating a Home

Posted in Realtor.comTagged , ,

“Renovating my house was a piece of cake,” said no one ever. Indeed, even seemingly simple projects, like installing a screen door, staining hardwood floors, or refacing kitchen cabinets, can surprise homeowners with unexpected challenges and ever-escalating costs. And the problems multiply if you make certain all-too-common mistakes.

We’re not trying to discourage you from renovating your house, but if you’re planning to give your house a face-lift, be sure to avoid these seven renovation fumbles.

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10 tools every new homeowner should own — and 3 they shouldn’t

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Ah, the joys — and burdens — of toolboxbecoming a homeowner.

Buying a home is an exciting milestone, but after you’ve completed the purchase and moved in, you’re responsible for maintenance. In other words, you no longer have a landlord to fix that running toilet or leaky faucet.

The upside? Having a few essentials in your toolbox can help you make some common repairs yourself. Being your own jack-of-all-trades can also help you save money, as repair people typically charge about $60 to $65 an hour, according to HomeAdvisor. But you don’t want to cheap out on tools, home improvement expert Bob Vila says.

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How to set your budget for a big home improvement project

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No matter what we’re shopping for, home remodelingfew of us like sticking to a budget. But when you’re doing a major home remodeling project, knowing precisely how much money you have to spend and staying within that budget is crucial.

“As contractors, we design our projects to our clients’ budgets,” says J.P. Ward, architect and vice president of business development at Anthony Wilder Design/Build in Cabin John, Md. “Homeowners need to know what their budget is upfront and be realistic about what they can afford.”

Considering a big home renovation? Here’s how to set your priorities, establish a spending limit and stick to your budget.

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Winter drafts can drive up your energy bill. Here’s how to keep the cold out.

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On frigid winter days, sometimes you winter draftsjust want to hunker down at home and stay warm. Sounds cozy, right? Well, good luck doing that in a house full of drafts.

Drafts, or air leaks, can be a homeowner’s worst nightmare. In addition to making your space uncomfortable, drafts can drive up your energy bills — as your heating system goes into overdrive to keep your home warm — and even create health risks.

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7 questions to ask yourself before taking on a DIY home project

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Think you’re ready to tackle DIY homesa home-improvement project yourself? Deciding whether you’re up to the challenge or whether you should hire a professional can be tricky.

On one hand, choosing to DIY a home renovation can help you save money, as home improvement spending increases nationwide. From February 2016 to February 2017, U.S. homeowners shelled out an average of $5,157 on home projects — an increase of $1,869 over the previous 12 months, HomeAdvisor’s 2017 True Cost Survey found.

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