Great DIY Remodeling Ideas to Help Sell a Home
Selling a home can be exciting: but listing an unfinished home can leave you receiving far less money than you deserve. Instead, consider updating the home in small ways that can add up to a huge payout. These are some of the best remodeling ideas that will help you sell your home! Updating Your Windows Without Replacing Them We all want brand new-looking windows, but we don’t always necessarily need to replace them. If your windows are still in good condition, and you want to make sure they look great when you list your home: consider a window sash replacement! Your window sash is the part of your window that allows it to move up and down. These can quickly yellow or look rough over time, so replacing them can allow your whole window to look fresh and new. Although you can definitely replace the entire window if you feel the need to, it’s not always necessary: and this step can save you some money, allowing for a higher return on investment. Make The Master Bathroom Paradise What’s the master bathroom of the home look like? If it’s not gorgeous, it’s time to make it gorgeous. Put in the work to create a bathroom where buyers will picture themselves luxuriating and enjoying the soothing atmosphere. You can do this by adding a larger tub if there’s room, repainting, and replacing fixtures with more stylish ones. Remember to use materials that can handle a large amount of moisture in the air. Adding Better Water Drainage Water is one of the most corrosive materials on Earth, so it’s vital that you don’t allow too much of it to come into contact with your home. One of the best ways to do this is to complete a trench drain install. These trenches divert water away from your home, pulling it to a better area off of your property that won’t leave it damaged and at risk of flooding. If you’re not sure where to lead it to, check your local property lines and make sure you’re not diverting it into a neighbor’s lawn. Beautify Your Driveway Our driveway is our first and last point of contact with our homes: don’t allow this to come stained. Instead, look into how to remove oil stains from driveways. You can do this by using cat litter and chemical cleaners or any other absorbent material and a power washer. These will get the oil up and out and will allow you to deep clean the driveway without damaging it. If you want to take it further while you’re renting a power washer, take the time to powerwash any brick or stone on the exterior of your home. You can power wash siding, but it’s vital that you aim the nozzle downwards when you do to ensure that you don’t spray upwards into your insulation and damage your home. Let Nature Help Add Intrigue If your home sits on a lot of nothing but grass, you’re going to struggle to find people who feel inspired by that lawn. Lawn work is the cheapest way to add value and interest to your home while demanding you put in extra time and work. To add intrigue with plants, add flower beds at least six inches away from your home’s exterior walls and add features like shrubberies and flowering bushes. If you live in a climate that doesn’t allow for these: use plants that are native to your area instead. Use Great Stain to Touch Up Your Interior Photo: HGTV.com The interior of your home needs to flow naturally and feel like it’s unified without having to try too hard. One of the best ways to do this is to find the best stain for interior wood and allow your home to match thoroughly. It’s okay if there are one or two variances, but you should try for one main texture or stain. If you’re touching up your interior’s stain, take the time to remove previous stains or paint, sand it down, and prep the area correctly. This will allow the color to be applied in the smoothest way possible. Create Exterior Seating and Lounging Areas More people are looking for outdoor spaces for lounging than ever before. Thanks to so many people feeling cramped and stuck inside from 2020 to 2021; countless house hunters are looking for private outdoor areas where they can sit, enjoy the company of loved ones, and get in some fresh air. To do this, you can either lay down a concrete slab porch, create a gorgeous brick patio, or even build a deck if you can get the supplies for cheap enough while not wavering on quality. Make this a space where people will be excited to live. Every Property Can Sell if Well Planned Whether you’re selling your first home or you’re flipping a property and want to get the most out of it: consider these updates! Not only will they get more buyers in the door, but they’ll also inspire higher payments! – Sam Willis Sam Willis is a contributor to Innovative Building Materials. He is a blogger and content writer. Sam is focused on helping fellow homeowners, contractors, and architects discover materials and methods of construction that increase property value, maximize energy savings, and turn houses into homes.
How the Right Kind of Lighting Can Transform Your Home
The right lighting can totally change the aesthetics of any room. In fact, the right kind can liven up a room, making it exciting and extremely eye-pleasing. It is important that you use reliable and good-quality electrical wires and cables while installing the lights. Let us learn more about lighting and how it can change the appearance of any room. Key Lighting Design Factors Area and size of the room Your preferences Height and shape of the ceiling Color of the walls, furniture and accessories Shadows and reflections in the room Daylight integrations Energy efficiency Level of illumination (lux) Electrical codes, documentation, and specifications 3 Types of Lighting General or Ambient Lighting This type of lighting is simply used to make an interior space visible. Ambient lighting is soft and allows you to function without a harsh glare. Use the right type of home wiring while installing these lights. Task Lighting Task lighting is concentrated, smaller lighting. It is meant to help you see clearly when you do activities like reading or sewing. It works well only when it is used as a contrasting light. Accent Lighting The primary objection of accent lighting is to draw the eye to its focal point. You can use it to add style and even drama to a room. Ensure house wiring is of high quality while installing these lights. How to Light Different Rooms of a House Entryways The entryways should be well-lit. One of the best lighting options for entryways is ceiling fixtures. Avoid downlights as they can create high contrast shadows. You can also use track lighting if you want to create a wall wash. Make sure the electrical cables are not visible when you fix the lights in the entryway. Stairs and Hallways There should be enough lighting in stairs and hallways to provide a safe passage for those using them. Install a light fixture every 4 – 6 feet. If you use the right type of lighting, you can make the area seem more spacious. You can use different light sources like wash lights or wall fixtures. Utility Rooms and Garages In these areas, you need plenty of ambient and recessed lighting. Utility rooms like the laundry area would require task lighting. Do not place the lights directly over the vehicles in the garage. Installing moisture-proof fluorescent lighting would be ideal. Go over the house electrical wiring to determine which would be the best spots to install lights. Living Rooms A living room is where you spend most of your waking hours. This is where you would gather with your family, host guests, watch television, read, or work. Multiple light layers, along with dimmable lights would look great. You can also use a combination of accent lighting and ambient lighting. Kitchens This is undoubtedly one of the most functional areas of the house. You don’t just cook in the kitchen, but also eat, hang out or even work. This means you need plenty of ambient light along with task lighting in the kitchen. Under-cabinet lighting can provide task lighting for the counters. Consider using energy-efficient lighting since you would use this space a lot. Dining Room Install beautiful light fixtures like chandeliers or pendant lighting above the dining table. You can also use track lighting and dimmers to create a more relaxed or romantic ambience. If you want to use recessed lighting, then aim the light toward the walls as it will create ambient light. Ensure that the home electrical wiring supports the installation of these lights. Bedroom Bedrooms should be relaxing and help you wind down after a long and tiring day. Moreover, the lighting should help you fall asleep. Ambient lighting, along with dimmer controls, will help you achieve that. Accent lighting will give the room a more decorative look. Don’t install any light directly above the bed. Bathrooms Bathrooms are all about function, safety, and aesthetics. You must have bright, even light that is shadow-free. Use recessed lighting as it would help free up space and offer a glare-free look. Choose a neutral light that is directed toward your face when you look at the mirror. To Conclude Remember that you must pay attention to the home electrical wiring system when you install the lights of your choice. Choose the right type of lighting, and you will see your home transform into a relaxing, comfortable and stunning place. – Jesson Pitt
Renovating Your Floor? Consider these 5 Things First!
The flooring of your home plays a vital role in setting the tone for your interior. Whether it be a new home or renovation, flooring makes a significant impact on the overall design theme of any space. As the floor is the most exposed part of your interior and goes through regular wear and tear, the practicality and durability of the flooring material also has a crucial function. Such factors make selecting an appropriate flooring material a highly essential task. Consider These Things First! Before you get started with your floor renovation, here are a few things that you should keep in mind. Don’t Replace – Fix It! While completely getting rid of the damaged floors seems appealing, you should first try to replace the damaged areas without getting rid of the good parts. Besides helping you save time, money, and energy, this will also prove beneficial for the environment. For example, single floor tiles that are easy to replace and can be switched out without damaging neighboring tiles. You can also clean up and re-grout old tiles to breathe a new life in them. Explore All The Options First Several flooring options, like carpets, vinyl, tiles, etc., are available in the market. However, vinyl flooring has recorded a rise in demand due to its durability and the variety of available design options. Quick research will show you that materials like tiles and hardwood floors are more expensive options. The bottom line is that if you stay open-minded about the products and their varieties, you can discover many flooring options that you may not have even initially considered. Durability The durability of flooring material, often overlooked, is very important while installing floors. Vinyl, hardwood floors, laminates, and adequately installed tiles can prove durable options for your home. However, before installing your flooring, you have to consider the related features for durability, such as ensuring that the subfloor is smooth and flat. An uneven subfloor can negatively impact the durability of your flooring, with tiles laid on such surfaces often cracking or breaking easily. Resale Value Installing the correct type of flooring can enhance the resale value of your home. While hardwood floors have the most significant impact on the resale value, other flooring materials can also help increase it. Tiles also prove relevant tools here. If installed correctly and with a trendy aesthetic, tiles significantly increase the resale value besides contributing to your home’s functionality and visual appeal. 5 Simple Ways You Can Renovate Your Floors On A Budget Here are 5 material choices that you can use to enhance your home’s quality while remaining within the budget. Tile Tiles are one of the oldest, most popular, and most commonly used types of flooring. These are available in various materials, like ceramic, vitrified, porcelain, etc. They are also available in different finishes like glossy, super glossy, matte, and multiple sizes, shapes and patterned tiles as well. Tile is well-known as a fantastic flooring option for a variety of reasons. The first reason is because it is inexpensive. In addition, the tile is waterproof, which is ideal for areas such as kitchens and bathrooms. Concrete Concrete flooring, while slightly expensive, is an excellent flooring option. Highly functional, the flooring is super robust and suitable for various areas. It is primarily used for the basement, which often has water seeping through the floor or walls. However, similar to tiles, concrete is a cold-flooring option and fails to retain most of the heat. Hardwood floors You can never go wrong with wooden flooring. Pair it up with wood wall tiles, and you have a warm and inviting space waiting for you! All hardwood floors have unmatched beauty and go well with all decors. While these floors are a bit expensive, their durability makes up for it and makes them one of the best choices in the category. The only major drawback is they get damaged easily and require considerable maintenance. Laminate The usage of laminate flooring has increased exponentially over the past few years. Their ease of installation and low-cost material are the two main reasons for increased demand. However, the biggest drawback of this flooring is that if it gets damaged, the whole flooring needs to be replaced, which puts them on the costly side of the flooring spectrum. Vinyl Vinyl, an affordable flooring option, is apt for use in all the parts of your home. It replicates the look of stone or hardwood flooring and augments the visual of the house. However, vinyl can also be torn and dented easily, making it essential to take care of them. It is imperative to choose the correct flooring for your space, considering the aesthetic, durability and cost of the flooring in mind. What works for one room may not work for another. Thus, it is best to complete your own research before investing in a flooring option, as you are going in for a long-.term investment. – Isha Tandon Isha has worked within the architecture and interior design industry as a flooring consultant expert – specializing in tiles, stones, and terrazzo. She has worked with Orientbell Limited, a leading tile manufacturer in India, as a product development manager in the design team and has recently joined the marketing team as their digital content expert. Her experience comes in handy in understanding the audience as she creates value-driven functional & informational content for the readers. She creates lifestyle pieces that focus on interior design products, trends, and processes. She loves to travel to historic places with rich architecture.