Home Renovation

Top Home Renovations To Consider Before Selling Your House

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Before putting your home on the market, you want to make sure it is in its best shape so you can count on high offers from potential buyers. Many people decide to complete some renovations before selling their homes, especially if the market is challenging for sellers. If you are thinking about making some changes to your home before you sell, it’s wise to figure out which projects will offer the best results in terms of appearance and increased resale value.

1. Kitchen Renovation

Most real estate experts agree that the kitchen is one of the biggest selling points in a home. A nice kitchen can make a sale, so you want to make sure yours looks as good as possible. If your kitchen is in fairly good shape, you may just want to freshen the paint or upgrade the cabinet hardware. If the room is outdated, however, you may want to consider hiring a cabinetry contractor Tampa to complete a full renovation.

2. New Siding

Your home’s curb appeal is essential when it’s on the market. If the siding on your home is faded, cracked, warped, or worn, it can significantly reduce a buyer’s interest. Siding problems can also cause issues during an inspection, so you may want to take proactive steps by replacing the siding before listing your home.

3. Finished Basement

A seasoned realtor may be able to provide guidance on whether you should complete an unfinished basement before listing your home. In some cases, leaving it unfinished can help draw in buyers who want a DIY project. On the other hand, if you finish the space, you can increase the square footage of your home in the listing, which can potentially improve the sale price.

Getting your home in shape before selling it may take more than just giving it a good cleaning and rearranging the furniture. If you want the chance to increase the resale value, you could consider some larger projects, such as a kitchen renovation or a siding upgrade.

After Disaster Strikes: Your Household Guide

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Floods, fires, earthquakes and other natural disasters can occur at almost any time. In many cases, the disaster must run its course as first responders try to curtail the damage. Once the situation calms down, you can look over the damage and respond to it with recovery efforts. Consider these tips as your guide to an improved home after any disaster.

Drain the Water

If there’s any water associated with your disaster, start your recovery process by draining it out. Open up the doors, and force the water out with squeegees, shovels and other tools. Be mindful of your movements so that you don’t hurt yourself. Wearing galoshes and protective gear might be useful too. Any standing water creates health problems as bacteria and pests find the areas perfect for replication.

Remove Soiled Items

It’s a fact that many structural items are porous by nature. Carpet and drywall are good examples of materials that will soak up water, dirt and debris. These items must be entirely removed from the home. They cannot be repaired, dried or altered. Mold and mildew set in without removal processes. Many people perform this project on their own, or they contact professionals for major renovations.

Assess the Exterior

Natural disasters don’t isolate themselves to your home’s interior spaces either. Your property’s exterior is often impacted by the event. Power lines might be down. Stay away from any loose wires in your yard. The local authorities must replace wood poles when utility lines become damaged. If the utilities are in good shape, survey the rest of your yard. Document any damages to the lawn, porches or walkways for insurance purposes.

Contact Insurance Companies

Most homeowners have some form of insurance on their property. It’s time to contact them after a disaster. Claims adjusters visit the property so that they can determine a price that’s fair for your needs. Ideally, take photos of the property throughout the adjuster’s visit. Their repair estimate should match your photos. Discuss any discrepancies with the adjuster so that the work can be completed in a timely manner.

Don’t try to fix or repair the home all on your own. Professionals will be necessary in most cases. Be aware that any repairs will take some investment in the structure. Try to work with the professionals to come up with a reasonable plan that works for your budget. A professionally repaired home can stand for decades without any problems afterward.

Tips On Keeping Your Basement Dry

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Modern basements hold everything from expensive home theatres to spectacular recreation rooms. Once you have spent the time and money to create one of these elegant living spaces, the last thing that you want is for it to become plagued by flood or mold. In order to prevent water damage in your home’s below-ground level, it’s best to plan ahead and waterproof your basement.

Inspect For Moisture
Keeping your basement dry begins with an excess moisture inspection. Search for cracks, leaks, ground settling, visible water leaks, or moisture discoloration. Once needed repairs have been made, running a dehumidifier will help to dry out your basement. Additionally, it’s best that you regularly inspect your basement for waterproofing so that you can prevent future flooding and protect your investment.

Add A Sump Pump
Frequent leaking in your basement may require the installation of a sump pump. There are several types available to choose from. However, submersible style pump will prevent damp air from circulating throughout your home.

Install A French Drain
Keeping your basement bone dry may require the installation of a French drain. An interior or exterior French drain can be installed along the inner or outer perimeter of your basement and then connected to your sump pump system. In order to install the French drain, you may need to disturb some of the basement’s existing floor system. If you have a French drain in place but are in need of some repairs to your system, call a professional in your local area. For example, for French drain repair Erie Pennsylvania home owners can count on, they should enlist the help of an Erie French drain specialist.

Follow These Guidelines
A finished basement is a great way to get the extra living space you crave for a fraction of the price of an above-ground addition. The extra space that you create when finishing your basement adds value to your property and creates a wonderful space for you to enjoy. Before you finish your basement, consider the possibility of future moisture problems and plan ahead with the addition of a sump pump and French drain. If you already have these systems in place, check them regularly to ensure that they are working. If you are having problems with your French drain, enlist the help of a local professional to fix the issue. Follow these guidelines, and your basement is sure to stay dry for years to come.

3 Tips To Achieving Success With Your Home Renovations

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Best Home Improvement Plans

When You starting your home rennovations project, You are making important decisions that will totally transform the value of your home. How well if you can enjoy it, which can be stressful but it’s also galvanizing to see all of these changes being made.

The stakes are particularly high when it comes to changing out your countertops. Here are some strategies for staying on top of it all.

  1. Staying Organized

You have to know where you are in relation to the larger project at all times, both temporally and financially. It’s important to stay organized so that you can stay on schedule and remain as effective as possible. Organization means knowing your budget and it also means knowing exactly what your contractor is up to at any given time which brings us to our next point.

  1. Choosing The Right Professional

If you want things to go well than you have to be sure that you are working with a great professional contractor. Ultimately, the majority of home renovation jobs require special skills and acumen that most people don’t have. But hiring a contractor does not have to be a frustrating or difficult process, as long as you are working with someone who is committed to quality.

  1. Success At Countertops

One of the most important aspects of your renovation is going to be the countertops that you install in your kitchen and in your bathroom. In the kitchen especially, it’s hard to overstate how often you are going to be using this part of your home, and your counters are going to play a role in how you do so. This means you’ll have to spend extra time, and stay away from any impulsive decisions when selecting a new countertop.

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