4 Types of House Renovations
Different people renovate their homes for different reasons. Some do it to improve the functionality and appeal of the house while others do it to improve the house’s value. Are you looking to renovate your home but not sure the type of renovation you should go for? Here are four types of renovations you should consider as given by home remodeling architects: Basic renovations This is where you renovate the basic features of the house that everybody and anybody can see. The cool thing with basic renovations is you can do them without hiring a highly experienced contractor. You also don’t need to spend an astronomical amount of money on them. At the end of the basic renovation project, you should have functioning gutters, a roof that doesn’t leak, a dry basement, a solid floor, a reliable furnace, working retaining walls, and walls in top condition. You should note that you don’t have to replace the amenities. Simply focus on regular maintenance and if you have to upgrade the units, don’t spend a lot of money on them. If you are making the renovations to flip the house, make them in such a way that your house stands out from the competition but don’t make any unwarranted upgrades that will excessively exceed the other properties in the area. This is because this will scare off potential buyers and at the same time lead to you losing money. Curb appeal renovations These are renovations that people don’t focus too much on, but can significantly improve the selling of your house. We can say these renovations improve the appeal of the house and help the prospective buyer make the buying decision quicker. Some of the renovations of this nature that you can make include: applying a fresh layer of paint, cleaning the carpets, mowing the lawn, and replacing worn-out appliances. While you might be looking to significantly improve the appeal of your curb, be cautious of the additions you make. For example, this is not the time to incorporate bold designs into the décor. You also should be cautious of the lights you install. As a rule of thumb, don’t overdo the lights as you can break the bank or overrun your home circuitry. For an affordable and modern-looking house, install LED or recessed lights. If you are having a problem with this, consult an interior decorating professional. Value-added renovations From their name, these are renovations that add the most value to the house and at the same time give you maximum returns. These renovations as given by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) include new siding, new windows, and kitchen renovations. When done right, these renovations will help you recoup up to 80% or more of the costs. Other high-return renovations include: refurbished decks, upgraded bathrooms, and energy-saving improvements. Personal preference renovations From the name, these are renovations you make because you love or need them. If you are looking to sell the house, some of your potential buyers might not like the renovations, but you love having them. The most popular of these are: tennis courts, wine cellars, swimming pools, […]
Read more
Can I Build My Own Addition?
If you are asking, can I build my own addition? You must be thinking about adding another room in your house, but you don’t have money to hire a home addition builder, right? Well, the good news is that you can build an additional house if you have the necessary skills. You only need to follow the right procedure. Step 1: Draft the house plan. This is the first thing to do. Come up with a plan for the house you are looking to build. Of course, you should have the plan done by an expert. An ideal plan should include the shape, size, architectural points, floor layout, and other room aspects. When getting the plan, be specific about what you are looking for. How many square feet do you want the house addition to be? Do you want the room addition to have a bathtub or walk-in shower? Be specific about it to help the architect come up with a perfect plan. Being specific will also help you come up with a more accurate estimate. Step 2: Get the necessary building permits. Most states require you have building permits for every house you are putting up. To avoid being on the wrong side of the law, check with your local zoning board on the requirements you need to meet. Depending on your state, a building inspector may visit your property to check on the progress, so follow the plans closely and stay within the local authorities’ parameters. Step 3: Sink the foundation. Once you have the plan and the necessary permits, now it’s time to begin the construction work. Mark the areas that you need to dig and proceed with the work. When digging the foundation, ensure the new foundation is as close to your existing house as much as possible. The size and depth of the foundation vary depending on the size and height of your home addition. Step 4: Put up the walls. With the foundation in place, now it’s time to put up the walls. Since you are simply building a home addition and not a full-scale house, it won’t take you a long time to construct the house’s frame. After you have constructed the frame, begin erecting the walls. If you are constructing a small house, you can save money and time by getting prefabricated walls from your local store. Step 5: Install the roof. As soon as the walls are in place, install the roof to protect the walls from the harsh weather elements. For a uniform look, ensure that your room’s roofing style is similar to that of the main house. If you have roofing skills, you can install the roof by yourself but if you have never done it before, let a roofing professional do it so that the new roofing lines up with the existing roof. Step 6: Complete the electrical work. Are the walls and roof in place, and you are satisfied with them? Now it’s time to do some electrical wiring and HVAC system work. Since you will be dealing with electricity and ductwork, it’s wise you have an […]
Read more
4 Outstanding Room Addition Ideas For Small Homes
Imagine this. You have a small house, your family is growing fast, and you don’t have money to move, so you feel trapped and out of options. Are you doomed to live in this little cramped house your entire life? Absolutely not, as you can hire a home addition builder and put these room addition ideas for small homes to work: Create a storage space Did you know you can give your house the perception of space by simply getting rid of the things lying around? If you have no use for these things, you can throw them away, but if you still need them, you should create a storage space for them. Some of the best places to create the space area around your front and back door, garage wall, and back porch room. When designing the extra space, pay close attention to whom will be using it and how they will use it. If you are creating the space for your kids to drop their belongings instead of scattering them around the living room, have easy to reach cubbies and hooks. As you create this additional space, give it its own texture and look so that it feels like it belongs. Create a home office with additional functionalities Due to COVID-19, over 42% of the U.S. labor force is working remotely. If you are also working remotely, you need to be comfortable and a great place to start is by having a home office. Unfortunately, since you have a small house, you can’t style the office like other people—you need to be creative. As you are designing the office, work on maximizing functionality. For example, design the office to have custom built-ins and floating shelves. For the keyboard and printer, build sliding trays to tuck them out of sight when you aren’t working. You also should furnish the space to serve as storage. For example, you can place an upholstered storage bench under your window or corner reading chair. Avoid filing the shelf space with unnecessary items. Instead, place your best books and decorative items there. For the office supplies, store them in the designated wall organizers. You should note that when working with small spaces, illusion is of major importance. To create the illusion of a higher ceiling, hang the curtains at ceiling height instead of directly above the window frame. Work on drawing the eye up with decorative wall sconces. To complete the look, anchor the room with a colorful area rug. Remove a wall to add a dining area. Who said you should have a large house to have a dining room? If you have always wanted to have a dining room but have been limited by space, you can extend your kitchen’s usable space by knocking down the wall or adding on with a bump-out. Doing this not only makes your house feel bigger, but it also brings in a strong return on investments when it comes to selling, as over 86% of homeowners prefer houses with partially or completely connected kitchen and dining areas. Even if you have got the dining room you […]
Read more
6 Home Renovation Ideas on a Budget
Every homeowner would want to hire the best home remodeling architects and give their home a complete overhaul, but there is the issue of money. You might not have enough. While this is the case, does it mean you should give up on your dream of a better-looking house? Absolutely not! Even if you have limited funds, you can do several renovations and give your house a new look. To help you out, 6 home renovation ideas on a budget: Install full-length curtains Full-length curtains are usually 0.5mm longer than normal curtains, and they are beautiful and more elegant looking. The cool thing is when you use the right color and install them properly, they create a fantastic and positive atmosphere that makes your home feel and look new. For a great look, go for quality, unique curtains with an inviting color. You can also transform the look of your sofa or chair using slipcovers. Toss a few new, cheap throw pillows on the furniture, and you have a completely fresh look. For the dining room and kitchen, place a new tablecloth. If you are crafty, get a few cheap fabric remnants from the craft store and make new pillows and window treatments. Rearrange the furniture Did you know a simple act as rearranging the furniture can completely change your house’s look and feel? Since you don’t have a lot of money, you can’t afford to hire an interior designer, but you can afford a few home design magazines. Go through the magazines and make use of the brilliant ideas you come across. You can also borrow your creative niece or cousin on a lazy Sunday and ask them to help you come up with creative furniture arrangement ideas. Refresh your rooms with paint Sometimes all your washed-out walls want is a burst of new color and the beauty is that paint doesn’t cost much. You also don’t have to hire a professional to do the work. Simply watch a few videos, and you will transform your home. Paint all the dull-looking areas both outside and inside the house. The only trick you have to pay attention to is to ensure that you choose the right color for the different rooms. Restore the old tiles If your house tiles are old, ugly, and losing their functionality, it’s time to restore them. Head to your local stores and buy new, modern tiles and install them. When you are in the stores, bargain and get the best deal possible. This calls for you to avoid stores in the upmarket. You also should avoid rare tiles. When it comes to installation, you can take time and learn installation techniques, but you can hire a professional to help with the installation if you have some money left. Replace your area rug Sometimes your house might be looking old and out of condition simply because the area rug is worn out. To revamp the house, get a new rug. When buying the new rug, pay attention to the textures and finishes and ensure they match the house’s design. You should note that certain rugs such […]
Read more
How to Make an Extra Bedroom in Your House
Often, when homeowners buy or build their houses, they plan enough rooms to accommodate their family members and sometimes an extra bedroom for the guests. So it gets tricky when you have to accommodate another person living with you for a long time. To restore sanity to your house, you need to have another bedroom. Luckily, you don’t have to buy or build a new house. Instead, work with home addition companies and come up with ways to create an extra bedroom. To help you out, here are ideas on how to make an extra bedroom in your house. Expand the house Do you have enough space on your property? You can go the old school way and add a multi-room structure attached to the main house. You can add the house on the side or the back. The cool thing with this option is it allows you to add more rooms, not just the one-bedroom that you are in immediate need of. And as a result, you have extra rooms for the future. You should note that while this option is great, it’s the most expensive so when planning it, ensure you have enough money for the project. Bump out When you bump out a room, you just add the extra bedroom you are looking for. You contact house designers and come up with a plan for the extra bedroom. Since you put up only one room, you don’t need a lot of money for the project. Convert the garage, basement, or attic Many homeowners use attics, basements, and garages as makeshift storage areas, but when you are in urgent need of an extra bedroom, and you don’t have money to construct a new one, you can easily convert them to the extra room you are interested in. The cool thing is that since most of them are complete, you don’t need to do much to make them livable. In most cases, all you need to do is some re-arranging and de-cluttering. Due to their location, attics are expensive to convert, and garages are often used for tool storage, parking space, or workshop. Due to this, most homeowners opt to convert their basements. If you are also going this route, don’t hire just any contractor—hire a technician specializing in basement remodels. Divide your living room Are you one of the lucky people that have a large living room? You can divide it into an extra bedroom. While this option is cheaper as all you need is to place partitions, you need to get your timing right. Have the construction when you don’t need to use the living room, as it won’t be available as the contractors are building the walls. Avoid dividing during the festive season when you are more likely to have guests over. Build a standalone room If you have a large backyard and don’t want to tamper with your house’s original design, you can construct a standalone room at a different part of your property. Depending on the size and the design of the stand-alone room, this option can be more expensive than bumping out an […]
Read more
Building an Outdoor Fireplace: A Great Home Addition In Time for the Winter Season
It’s that time of the year again. Time to decorate the house with Christmas décor, sport that “ugly sweater”, cook for the family, and spend the holidays with loved ones. However, the much-awaited Holiday season might take a different turn this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Nonetheless, there should be no reason not to celebrate Christmas even if it means spending it at home. Cozy up, cuddle with a loved one, and gather everyone in front of the warm fireplace. Or if you have a budget and extra outdoor space at home, why not create your own outdoor fireplace? Hire a trusted home additions builder for your home improvement needs, including adding an outdoor fireplace. Getting started Having an outdoor fireplace is a good idea especially if you live in a cold climate area. An outdoor fireplace is a great place to chill (pun intended) with friends and family on a cold evening. There are DIY outdoor fireplace kits you can buy in home improvement centers near you. Or hire outdoor remodeling personnel for building a home addition such as an outdoor fireplace. But before building an outdoor fireplace, you should consider a lot of things. For one, you need to check any local ordinances that can affect your outdoor fireplace project. Determine what kind of permits will you need and the amount of money you need to shell out. What to consider before building an outdoor fireplace Aside from the paperwork, you should also look for a trusted home addition builder. Also, you should check out the following. Will the outdoor home addition design affect your home insurance? It is a good idea to check with your home insurance agent if building an outdoor fireplace will affect your premium payments. Knowing these can help you save money and get rid of unnecessary stress and frustration. Where should you build your outdoor fireplace? If you have a large backyard space, you should not have a problem building that outdoor fireplace. However, you should also consider your home’s safety and ensure a safe distance from your house, shed, or garage. Also, check for any overhanging branches or any vegetation that could be prone to catching fire. What will you need to build an outdoor fireplace? As mentioned, there are DIY outdoor fireplace building kits you can assemble by yourself. Or you can also hire home addition companies to help you build a customized outdoor fireplace according to your budget and preference. Printed plans are also available to guide you on the fireplace construction. The materials will also depend on the type of outdoor fireplace you are planning to build. What type of outdoor fireplace do you want? Outdoor fireplaces come in different designs and styles. It can also be powered by gas or wood. For the former, you should consider hiring a contractor as they need to install gas lines in the fireplace system. There are poolside fireplaces, outdoor kitchens with a built-in fireplace, an outdoor deck with a fireplace, and so on. Why you should have your own outdoor fireplace When it comes to home improvement projects, it’s […]
Read more
Planning to Sell Your Home? Do These Improvements to Increase Home Value
Home improvement – such a big word, but a must for every home. Especially if you are planning to sell your house soon. Home improvement should not necessarily be something extravagant or expensive. It can be as simple as rearranging furniture or adding a fresh coat of paint on the interior and exterior walls. But before starting a home improvement project, you should consider a lot of things. Do you need a simple home improvement or home addition? If it is the latter, make sure to hire a reputable home additions builder for your home addition needs. Getting started Are you ready to put your house on sale? For one thing, preparing your home for sale can be an overwhelming task. You need to know specific home improvement tasks that can increase your house’s value. Then again, home improvement should not only enhance your house’s look but also improve the home buyer’s quality of living. Before selling your home, determine what kind of improvement your home needs. Take note that not all home improvement projects can increase your house’s value. For example, repainting chipped walls or replacing broken tiles won’t increase your home’s value. After all, it is necessary to do repairs before you sell anything. On the other hand, some home improvements can increase home value. This includes installing a solar panel, a home remodel (ex. kitchen or bathroom remodeling), or an outdoor remodeling project (ex. adding a patio area or converting your garage into an additional living space). Nonetheless, a home improvement project should not only be for aesthetic purposes. It should also help in improving the homeowner’s quality of life. Not to mention it will also help sell the property faster with a higher value. Easy home improvement tasks before selling your home Want to sell your home faster? You can hire home remodeling architects for a home remodeling or addition project. Or you can do these easy home improvement tips before putting your house in the real estate market. Paint your home. A nice, fresh coat of paint is a cheap but effective way to improve the overall look of your home. Popular paint colors you can use in your interior and exterior walls include beige, gray, pale yellow, light blue, among a few. Avoid trendy wallpaper as it may go out of style soon quickly, or any paint colors that could turn off potential home buyers. Improve your bathroom. A lot of people are very particular when it comes to bathrooms. That is why you should consider making improvements in your bathroom area before putting it up for sale. It could be as simple as updating the tiles, re-caulking the shower or tub area, replacing broken shower heads, or replacing the countertop. There is no need to create a luxury bathroom (with the Jacuzzi and all), those are unnecessary and expensive. Make your home energy-efficient. This includes adding insulation, installing solar panels, and replacing appliances with energy-efficient ones. Not only can these reduce your electric bills but also increase your house’s resale value. A home addition, renovation, or remodel? These terms are often used interchangeably […]
Read more
How to Make Your Home Safe and Secure
Apart from aesthetic and functionality, safety should also be among homeowners’ priorities when it comes to maintaining their real estate property. We cannot be certain of the present times, so it won’t hurt to be extra careful these days. Not only with our health (due to the threat of COVID-19) but also your and your family’s safety at home. If you are also planning to build a home addition, you should also include safety and security measures. Of course, you should also contact the best home addition companies if you want to add a new room to your current home. Home remodeling architects can also help you plan a home addition design that will ensure your household’s safety and make it aesthetic and functional as well. Keeping your home safe and secured Safety is one of the most important things that a lot of homeowners tend to forget in a home improvement project. If you look around, there are some houses in several neighborhoods that don’t have a fence or some kind of protective gate in front of their properties. As mentioned, times are uncertain nowadays. Some things might happen unexpectedly that can compromise you and your loved ones’ safety. Not to mention you might not realize that your home’s safety is already compromised because of an open window and other household habits and things that can potentially attract burglars. And then Christmas is already coming which means we need to secure our real estate properties. Burglaries and other similar things also don’t only happen at night. It can even happen in broad daylight. That is why you should always keep your home well-guarded and secured no matter the time of the day. Tips on securing your home Like how you plan a home remodeling addition, you should also consider how you will keep your home safe and secured. Here are important tips to keep your home safe and secured. Pay attention to your lighting. Not only can it highlight your beautiful home especially at night but also deter burglars from intruding on your property. Because burglars wouldn’t want the limelight (literally and figuratively) and see what they are about to do. Make sure to invest in a high-quality night-time lighting system installed outside your home. You can also install motion sensor security lights as well as adding a gravel driveway to catch attention. Make sure not to forget locking windows and doors. This is surely the easiest thing to do, but so often almost always forgotten. That is why you should keep your windows and doors locked all the time, even when you are at home. You can also invest in coded locks if there is one available. Don’t post on social media. People cannot help but be constantly connected to social media, posting things about their everyday lives. However, doing so can potentially compromise your, your family, and your home’s safety. Best not to mention any out-of-town plans on your social media accounts. Not even posting that you are having coffee in a downtown coffee shop as of this moment. Decide how high your hedges/fences will be. This […]
Read more
How to Let Natural Light Come Into Your Home
Most homeowners often take natural light for granted. Instead, they would often splurge on expensive lighting fixtures to enhance the beauty of their interiors. However, most people often do not realize how natural light can do wonders to their house interiors. If you are planning a home remodeling addition, you might want to include ways to let natural light into the home addition design. Why your home should embrace natural light A survey conducted by Origin Global found that about 26 percent of homeowners would love to have natural light in their homes. Other “must-haves”, according to the survey, include having a large garden area and dining area/kitchen. No wonder people still prefer natural over artificial light. For one thing, daylight exposure can help improve our mood. Likewise, it can make your interiors look bigger, brighter, lighter, and more welcoming. Letting natural light can also save you electricity as you don’t have to turn on the lights during the day. Natural light can also freshen the air circulating inside the house. There are also studies stating that natural lighting lessens the tendency to overeat and oversleep and improves energy levels. Natural light can even improve your work productivity and lessen the risk of depression and other mental health issues. In other words, natural light can do wonders to our health and our usual daily routines. How to let natural light in your home If you are in a process of building a home addition, it is better to consider how you are going to let natural light into your home. A home addition design that includes natural light can help you save electricity and uplift your mood. Here are tips you should consider if you want to bathe your home with nature-given light. Use light-colored paint on your walls. Ditch the flowery, Grandma-style wallpaper and opt for lighter shades of paint. Home improvement experts suggest using white as the safest bet if you want natural light to come into your home. Lighter shades of paint will make the room look bigger and brighter. On the contrary, dark paint can make a room look constricting and hotter. When using white paint, you can opt to use off-white hues for a warmer and calmer effect. Avoid using pure white or brilliant white as it can make the room look cold and boring. Also, consider using paint with a satin finish so that light will bounce better in the room. Place mirrors or any shiny tiles. Make your kitchen or dining area look bigger by installing reflective tiles or backsplashes. Mirrors can also do wonders in your room, hallway, or living room areas. These can make your room look more spacious and brighter as well. Relocate your furniture. Your bulky furniture might be blocking your windows, so make sure not to block them with any furniture or décor. Use sheer or light-colored curtains, or opt for blinds so you can also control the amount of light coming into the house (not to mention add privacy as well). Turning green to brighten your home Did you know that plants can also brighten up your […]
Read more
Winter is Coming: How to Prepare Your Home for the Winter Season
Our homes are like our bodies: we need to take care of it. Or else, it will deteriorate if we do not take care of it well enough. More so, homeowners should be preparing their homes for the upcoming winter. It might also be a good idea to have a home remodel in time for the winter season. Planning a home addition design is a good investment for your home. More so, a home addition project should be planned well. Whether it’s a bathroom remodel or a living space addition, make sure to hire home additional companies offering affordable home additions. Getting started Preparing your home for the upcoming winter is important if you don’t want to be shivering under the comforters. In fact, you should already know this if you lived in a snowy area for a long time. If you are planning for a home addition project, make sure it is winter-proof as well. By winter-proofing your home, which means you don’t have to wait before the snow starts to fall. The best time to winterize your home is now. Winterizing your home would need a lot of things aside from protecting the house from the cold. This also includes preparing your pipes and gutters, trees in your backyard, and other nook and cranny of your home. Keep your indoors warm and cozy Here are the necessary steps that you should do to keep you and your loved one warm and cozy this winter season. Check the airconditioning and heating system of your house. Your heating system should be working its best, especially during the cold winter weather. Usually, heating and air conditioning systems should last you up to 15 years. Even more than that, if you regularly maintain the systems. Make sure to do the maintenance and repairs (as needed) in time for the cold season. Best to hire a trusted professional HVAC contractor to do the job. Check your pipes. The best thing to do is to insulate your pipes before winter arrives. Otherwise, the water flowing in the pipes might freeze and result in pipe burst when it gets too cold. There are pipe insulations available in most hardware stores. Then, cut the insulation to fit on the pipe and secure using duct tape. Prevent your door locks from getting frozen. This can also be a problem if you live in a cold climate area. So to prevent your locks from being frozen, spray some lubricant into the lock where you insert the keys into. Schedule cleaning for the fireplace. If you have a wood-burning fireplace that you use often, make sure to have it cleaned and inspected. Even if you use a gas-powered fireplace, you still need to clean and have it inspected once every three years according to experts. Keep your outdoors safe and sound Aside from indoors, you should also check your house exteriors and see if it’s winter-ready. Whether it’s a condo remodeling or a home remodel, you should make sure that your home is ready for the winter, inside and out. Check your trees for falling branches, twigs, etc. If […]
Read more