Before you get carried away making these smaller cosmetic adjustments, spend some time looking at your home’s basic needs — are all the big things in working order? Buyers have certain expectations, and that includes getting a house that has been well maintained and is safe and livable. “In other words, if you’re contemplating a kitchen remodel but your roof is leaking like a sieve, you need to address the roof issues first before indulging in any updates,” says Matke. The outside of your house is a buyer’s first impression when they pull up. Anything that’s dead should be removed, and anything that’s overgrown should be cut back.
- The choices seem endless when you start to look around.
- The Taylor house has a few personal details but it could easily be anyone’s home, a key part of making the series relatable to audiences.
- “A good, sturdy garden rake can tidy up the borders, and instead of renting a lawn edger, a sharp, heavy-duty putty knife works just as well,” Matke says.
- Seems like an interesting little problem, doesn’t it?
Professional home improvement is ancient and goes back to the beginning of recorded civilization. One example is Sergius Orata, who in the 1st century B.C. Is said by the writer Vitruvius to have invented the hypocaust. The hypocaust is an underfloor heating system that was used throughout the Roman Empire in villas of the wealthy.
Raise an Adjustable Entry Door Threshold
So next time you renovate your home, take time to look at what’s behind the walls. Improving the things you can’t see could be even more valuable than just making the place look better. No one likes being disturbed by someone else’s music or TV. Yet modern life involves enjoying high-quality audio from increasingly sophisticated sound systems. Add good acoustic insulation when you renovate, and it’s easier to have peace and quiet in one part of the house when there’s noise in another.
Remove a Popcorn Ceiling
A well-made light fixture looks better, lasts longer, and gives clearer light, so inspect your fixture’s construction the way you would a piece of furniture. It’s even easier to add a new light fixture into ceilings connected to attic space, says Daryl Berg, a journeyman electrician in Longview, Washington. “Just cut the hole for the fixture and run the wires through the ceiling joists to a new circuit.”
Twenty-three percent of homeowners want to spend the colder months taking care of home renovations. The survey found that homeowners would rather complete home renovations during the fall/winter so they can travel in the spring/summer. Simple upgrades like adding a new light fixture, such as the semi-flush sputnik chandelier, to your foyer can make a bold statement. After sealing the attic bypasses, push the insulation back into place with an old broom handle or a stick as you back out of the attic. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self-sticking foam weatherstrip. You may have to add new wood stops to provide a better surface for the weatherstrip and enough room for hook-and-eye fasteners.
A relatively small investment can pay back quickly, and add to the value of your home when you choose to sell. Contractors who work on the exterior of your home know not to leave ladder scratches and dents behind. They purchase special ladder bumpers and stabilizers to protect your property. Ensure the ladder is stable and won’t slip or move before climbing up. Earlier, we talked about repairing your own plumbing. Part of the trick in plumbing is to avoid scratching fragile chrome or brushed nickel finishes on faucets or exposed drain parts.
Equity Requirements
I tried a lot of other service companies and none hold a candle to House Doctor… Countertops can be a tell-tale sign of a dated house. Participants of a Maytag survey prioritized upgrading their countertops to something more on-trend. If your laminate kitchen countertops are worn but still sound, give them a fresh, new look by resurfacing them.
While you have the painting supplies out, brighten trim with a light-colored, high-gloss paint. The set designers set out to make the home as normal as possible. It needed to be as middle of the road as possible to appear to be the house of a middle class family living in a suburb during that era. The Taylor house has a few personal details but it could easily be anyone’s home, a key part of making the series relatable to audiences.