Article written by-Richmond Pilgaard

If you want to maintain and increase your home's value, a little home improvement work can make a big difference. Of course, maintaining your home is also another good reason to do home improvements. While some jobs are more difficult than others, there are lots of things you can do yourself to make your home nicer. Find some valuable advice in the article below.

Venetian blinds can be vacuumed but at some point, they need to be washed. One way to wash them is to put them in the bathtub and use a brush and solvent to clean off the accumulation of dust. An easier way, may be to wash them while still hanging. Put a plastic drop cloth underneath to keep water off the floor.

You want a flourishing lawn and plants in your yard. One of the best ways to attain this is to fertilize them in the fall, before the first frost. This will give them a boost when they start to grow again in the spring. This extra feeding will bring rewards all of the next summer.

When it comes to home improvement, be sure to weigh the cost of purchasing CFL bulbs for your home. While they do save energy because of lower wattage usage, the upfront cost is higher than regular bulbs. Also, they may pose a health hazard to you if ever broken due to the amount of mercury used inside the bulb.

Many people may see dark paneling in their rooms as a curse. However, it can be really simple to spice up your panels to make them suitable and stylish. Lightly sand your panels and paint over it with a primer. Then just apply a coat of paint in the color of your choice. This will give new life to your room as well as your dark paneling.

In http://jonathon42isaiah.pointblog.net/Easy-Tips-From-One-Handyman-To-Another-28070887 to attach PVC pipes, you need PVC primer and cement. These exact items must be used, as other types of adhesives are likely to leak. Make sure the surface of the pipes is dry when you begin.

Change your shower curtain once a month. Showering produces excessive humidity in a bathroom that in turn causes shower curtains to develop mold and mildew. To keep your space fresh and healthy, replace your curtains. Don't buy expensive plastic curtains with hard to find designs, and you won't feel bad about replacing it.







In any given room if you have hate the feeling of a cramped space, install some long floor-length mirrors. Mirrors make a room appear wider and taller giving your space more definition. Another added benefit is that mirrors create a feeling of more light in a room, as well as, help you select the right outfit to wear!

New wallpaper can transform a room. Before you add wallpaper, you need to find out what type of wall is under the existing wallpaper. Usually walls are either drywall or plaster smoothed over lath. You can figure out what kind of wall you are dealing with by feeling the wall, plaster is harder, smoother, and colder than drywall. You can also try tapping the wall, drywall sounds hollow while plaster does not.

If you are improving your home to increase its sale value, focus on the important portions first. Trying to renovate the whole home will become overly expensive and provide a diminishing return on investment. Items such as exterior siding, plumbing fixtures, lighting, and kitchen appliances, however, will be universally appealing as you try to sell the home.

Choose wallpaper patterns carefully. Avoid using overpowering patterns in small spaces; conversely, using a bold design in a very large room will make it appear cozier. Never use a patterned wallpaper if you have patterned carpet or window coverings. For a room full of awkward corners and recesses, pick a wallpaper with a random design that the eye doesn't tend to follow. This will help to disguise any imperfections in the walls.

For a personalized and one-of-a-kind wall covering, consider designing and ordering your own customized wallpaper online or through a local design studio. New websites offer a variety of options for wallpaper design, including enlarged photographs, murals, or even your children's artwork delivered to your door in a matter of weeks.

If you are replacing your exterior lighting, you may want to consider installing outdoor motion detectors in strategic areas. These lights operate only when activated and can alert you to an intruder. In addition to the added security these lights offer, they also help lower your outdoor energy usage.

A basement is a great space to convert into a playroom, home office or gym. If your basement has at least 7 feet of head room and remains dry, the remodel should be relatively straightforward. If dampness is a problem, consult a professional to correct the issue before you begin your project.

If you are selecting a home improvement contractor, be sure to watch out for scams. http://matt3debora.tinyblogging.com/How-To-Diy-On-A-Home-Enhancement-Job-29320437 will not solicit door-to-door but will wait for you to come to them. Also, while you will be expected to pay something up front, in most cases a reputable contractor will not expect full payment until the job is completed.

When doing upgrades on your home, make sure you do not invest much into an upgrade that cannot possibly get you a return when you sell it. For natural gas stove fireplace , do not pay $30,000 to upgrade a kitchen in a home that you paid $90,000 for if most houses in the area only sell for around $100,000.

For an inexpensive update to your bathroom, replace your old or worn toilet seat. Removing the old seat and installing a new one takes less than five minutes and adds cosmetic appeal to your bathroom. Wooden seats are sturdy and basic, or choose a whimsical resin seat with embedded bubbles or fish for your kids' bathroom.

If you are trying to decide what home improvement projects to take on to prepare your home for resale, then remember the old real estate adage, "Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes." If you only have funds to improve a couple rooms, then start with your kitchens and bathrooms to see the biggest improvement in your asking price.

The above smart tips will get you looking at home improvements like a professional, so your projects will all sail straight for success instead of taking a more expensive, roundabout way to getting where you ultimately want to be. With the right attitude and mental preparation, you can transform your home into a dream home.