Tag Archives: Improve

Why Now Is the Perfect Time To Improve Your Home

If you’ve been planning a major home renovation or home improvement then you should strongly consider starting your home project sooner rather than later. There’s never been a better time to start a home improvement project and here are some of the reasons why:

The housing market is in a slump: If you’re a homeowner in the United States then you’ve almost certainly watched the bad news pour in over the past year as your home value and the value of all the homes in your area dipped as the results of banks issuing foolish sub prime mortgages slowly take their toll. The real estate market went from being a seller’s market to a buyer’s market almost overnight and now people who were seeing double digit jumps in their home value are slowly watching much of that value erode away. This means several things, but one of the biggest advantages for you if you do still have some equity in your home is that many home improvement contractors and renovation companies are no longer nearly as busy as they once were. This means they will be willing to cut their prices in order to get a job and it means that as a homeowner you can solicit several different quotes from contractors for home improvements and have them each try to give you the lowest bid.

September is almost here: The fall season is typically one of the slowest times for large home improvement projects to be planned. Many contractors and home improvement companies end up laying off workers and slashing prices on jobs just to survive until the winter. What happens during the winter months? Christmas bonuses and tax return money starts being distributed and people begin planning home improvement jobs for the spring and summer. Now is the perfect time to shop around for some of those larger home improvement projects like installing an in ground pool, replacing roofing or siding or even adding an addition to your home.

The big home improvement stores are suffering: Both Lowe’s and The Home Depot have been sagging under slowing sales as home equity and tax refunds from the spring dry up. Both stores are now aggressively slashing prices, offering sales and even special incentives on lines of credit. Now is probably the perfect time to take advantage of their generosity and consider starting that home improvement project with their help.

A combination of market forces are coming together to help make this a great time for planning out those large home improvement projects that may require a loan or some sort of special financing. The slowing housing market, the season of the year and the misfortunes of those big box hardware stores all make it a definite buyer’s market for anyone who is thinking about improving or adding onto their home in the upcoming year.

Visit the HomeImprovementFinancingSite.com for more information about obtaining a home improvement loan even if you have bad credit. You can also save some money by tackling some of those home improvement projects by yourself.

Improve Your Home – Tips For Preparing a Home Improvement Project

Many of us want to improve our homes, but simply don’t know how. Some know that there’s not enough room for all the kids, yet haven’t figured out how to make more room.

Others yet see the need to reduce monthly electrical bills, but don’t have any practical idea where to start. Another example is people who want to spruce up their homes for sale, but don’t have sufficient background or skills to get started.

Knowing you want to improve your home and finally getting started are two very different things. If you’re looking for easy home improvement solutions that are doable, keep reading for some great tips on ways to do so.

First, identify the problem areas. If your kitchen is sorely out-of-date, then you’ll want this to be your focus area. It could be a simple fix like retiling the floors, painting the walls and bringing in new appliances.

Or, you may prefer to do a full kitchen renovation and install contemporary countertops and cabinetry. Depending on the scale of your project and your own skill limits, hiring an experienced contractor could turn out to be your best option.

While you’re probably capable of painting the kitchen and buying a new stove, you may want a plumber to install a new sink, an electrician to update the wiring or a tile installer to position them on your new countertops. Before hiring any home improvement professional, always check their references and ask to see a photo portfolio of their work.

Next, look for quick fixes. Sometimes all a home needs is a little freshening and a bit of “love” to bring it up-to-date. If you’re prepping a home for sale or just want to spruce it up, try adding a fresh coat of paint or updating the fixtures. Simple fixes like adding new window treatments or having the carpets professionally cleaned can take your home from sad and tired to new and clean in just a few hours.

Quick fixes shouldn’t be used to mask major problems, but they are a great way to add value to your home without breaking the bank. For example, installing new faucets in your bathroom sink and tub can modernize a bathroom instantly and make it seem fresh and new.

Start looking for design ideas. Buy a few magazines, browse some relevant web sites and tune into popular home improvement television shows. Before you know it, you’ll be brimming with home improvement inspiration.

Once you determine the work you would like to do, develop a full plan for your project. For example, prior to making that drive to the home hardware store, put together a folder with all your measurements and a complete list of everything you intend to buy, right down to the last nail.

People get excited about projects and don’t want to get right to it instead of “wasting” time planning. However, by planning you’ll make fewer mistakes, be less likely to waste materials and time, and much more likely to stay on budget. In the end, you’ll be glad you did!

To help meet your home improvement needs, such as for beautiful replacement windows, great flooring options, home improvement loans, and much more, please visit www.home-improvement-needs.com for insightful information.