Remodeling your home is a huge undertaking. You’ve probably been saving for years so you could build your dream kitchen or bathroom. Now that the time is finally here, you’re eager to start knocking down walls and demolishing cabinets. However, before you begin altering your space, use a pre-remodeling checklist to keep your project on track.
Nov 11, 2020 · A good rule of thumb is to budget between one and three percent of your home's purchase price each year to cover typical homeowner maintenance. If you're considering renovation, or if your home is an older one, it's best to err on the side of caution and set aside three percent each year. For a $100,000 home, that's about $3,000.
Maintain Your Home Keeping your home and property in good condition is good for you and your family and contributes to the attractiveness of your neighborhood. In fact, regular maintenance can help prevent costly problems. Once you move into your home, it is essential that you set aside part of your time and budget to maintain and improve your ...
The topics in House Keys cover everything from scary inspectionstories to hot water systems to custom home building, ways to sell your home faster,ways to make all your appliances and home systems last longer, how to downsize,and how to organize and clean in shortcuts that don't overwhelm you. Throw inproduct reviews, advice on warranties, home automation, and staying …
Organizing Your Kitchen with SORT and Succeed: Five Simple Steps to Declutter Your Kitchen and Pantry Shelves, Save Money and Clean Your Kitchen Countertops
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Organizing Your Kitchen with SORT and Succeed: Five Simple Steps to Declutter Your Kitchen and Pantry Shelves, Save Money and Clean Your Kitchen Countertops
A skilled labor shortage that makes it increasingly difficult to find a reliable handyman is what drove Mary McCabe to take a series of home repair classes at the New York City College of Technology, at the City University of New York.
John Rearick, a high school English teacher, took two home repair classes through Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn, a community development corporation with locations in East Flatbush and Canarsie. Mr. Rearick said he took his first class almost 10 years ago after hearing about it from a friend.
His instructor, Mark Whittingham, a licensed general contractor, owner of M.W. Enterprise and project manager at Thor Helical USA, a masonry restoration firm, taught him how to build things and then take them apart.
The Home Depot also offers free classes in several Manhattan, New Jersey and Long Island locations. Just as learning how to save for and finance a home is important to financial literacy, educating yourself on how to maintain your home will not only give you a sense of mastery, but can also help you save money on repairs.
Cracks in the foundation of your home can reduce its value by as much as 15%, and taking care of these issues as you see them will ensure less costly repairs in the future.
Taking care of roof issues will also help the heating and cooling systems of the home operate more efficiently, and prevent leaks in the roof that lead to water damage.
Whether you have grout or caulk as a filler between your tiles in the bathroom, it will exhibit signs of wear and tear over time. If you notice any crumbling, peeling, or mildew, it’s probably time for a touch-up.
Clean out exhaust fans to prevent mold. Fans in your home help clean out smells and moisture, but if they can’t do their job efficiently, you run the risk of growing mold in your home. Once a year, take the time to remove and clean your bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans.
If downspouts become detached or faulty, water will not get directed away from the home and can lead to water intrusion or even foundation issues.
Homeowners can’t fake a well-maintained HVAC unit. “It’s nice to walk into a basement and see the list of every single time the HVAC was serviced because that’s when you know, people are doing it because they care for their house, not just because they’re trying to sell,” says Spaniak.
When the weather starts to heat up, take a look at your driveway, patio, or sidewalk for cracks in the concrete. Small cracks start to look unappealing, and resurfacing cracks the moment you find them means fewer large repairs on outdoor surfaces down the line.
Remodeling your entire house is a huge project. It can take anywhere from four months to a year. To keep the process moving, always update your timeline and stay in touch with contractors, designers, and other professionals to ensure everything is moving forward.
Create a timeline and stick to it. The best way to reduce your stress during the remodeling project is to create a timeline. Without one, home remodeling could take years. You may run out of time yourself and just never get the chance to finish up the project.
For large construction projects, you may want to consider builder’s risk insurance, primarily to cover property loss due to natural disasters, theft, and vandalism. And check your homeowner’s policy first to see what they will cover and then decide if you need any additional coverage.
If you have enough money, you could hire contractors to conduct your home remodel. This works great if you don’t have time to do the project yourself. The last option is to conduct the whole home remodel entirely by yourself. This is possible if you have the time and are willing to learn new things.
Some home remodeling projects require a permit. Structural changes, footprint changes, new windows, and plumbing or electrical modifications are the most common home improvements that require a permit. Smaller projects like replacing flooring and painting do not require any permit.
Ideally, you won’t have to overestimate the budget for your house renovation. You’ll get it exactly right or within a few hundred dollars. But this isn’t always possible and is not very realistic. No matter how much you plan, you’re bound to encounter some bumps in the road that cost a few hundred dollars here and there.
Most people struggle to afford to remodel their entire house all at once . They also want to save as much money as possible. If this sounds like you, first decide which parts of the remodel you can do yourself and which you need a contractor to do.