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Why should I take care of my house and do home improvements or repairs?Since 2000, the real estate market (especially on the east and west coasts) has been stronger than ever, meaning your home is now worth in some cases twice as much as you paid for it. It's only natural then to take better care of such a huge asset in your life. Home equity lines are easy to get from banks since your house now has more equity built up and you can finally do all those home improvements you wanted to. Start with a simple house remodel or just touch up rooms with small things. If you are really ambitious, you can get a house design or house remodel plan software and see what the opportunities are with your home. As you will read below, there are certain things you can do that retain value in your home more than others. A home renovation project can be fun and exciting as you watch your new home unfold before your eyes. One thing to remember is that you don't want to overbuild when remodeling your home or doing home improvements if your house is already one of the more expensive ones in your neighborhood. The old notion that you buy the cheapest house in a good neighborhood always holds true. That way if you decide to do a home improvement project, you will be bringing your home value up to the rest in the neighborhood, but if you already own the most expensive house on the block, then a remodel job may not add much more value to the house. At the bare minimum, you should at least maintain your house condition so that it doesn't deteriorate.
What are the best house remodeling projects to take on?Any remodeling project that you plan for your home should be able to stand a "resale and return" test if you have any intention of selling the house in the next few years. Some projects (i.e. a kitchen remodeling project) have exceptional return while others (installing an in-ground pool) have little or no return on your investment. Below is a list of return on remodeling projects listed in Today's Homeowner:
Best stores for home improvement supplies?Just look at the stock prices for stores like Lowes or HomeDepot over the last 5 years. With the real estate boom in many parts of the country, people have flocked to take out equity and remodel or improve their homes with all that extra cash. I prefer Lowes (customer service is better), but HomeDepot seems to offer more selection which is also nice. It's always intimidating to walk into one of these giant home improvement stores and not have a clue as to what isle to look down or if they will even carry what you are looking for. Usually you end up needing to ask a technical question about a part or piece you are buying and it's always nice to have store clerks available and knowledgeable on the topic. I have found the crew at Lowes to be excellent and patient in answering all my questions. The one thing I do like about HomeDepot is there home improvement and home repair courses they offer on decking, floors, gardening, simple electrical projects, tile work, and so on. The day classes are informative and offer all the pitfalls that many a homeowner comes across while doing it themselves.
"How to Guide" websites and getting supplies at Wholesale prices:Home repairs and remodeling have become easier with "how to guides" online and informative classes offered at local home improvement stores. If you go online you can find dozens of sites that offer pointers and step by setp instructions on how to do that home repair project you've been putting off for years. We suggest starting with Oldhouseweb.com, they offer how to advice, guides to wholesale supplies, design ideas, and garden solutions. They have buying guides on topics like thermostats and table saws with expert advice on which products work like they should and which ones did poorly.
Home Design Software and Architectural PlansWith the advanced graphics supplied by computer these days, home improvement and design software is actually easy to use and convenient for the average homeowner. We suggest Punchsoftware.com for all your home remodel, landscaping, or home repair needs. They offer software titles like Master Landscape Pro, Architectural Series, Interior Design Suite, and Ultimate Deck. The can download many of the software products as a free trial to test them out and see if they offer what you want. Their Home Design Architectural Series 4000 costs $249.99 and the Landscape Pro goes for $79.99.
Do you have a quality site or product that belongs in this guide? We are always happy to evaluate or review new products and websites. Feel free to contact us at the email address below and let us know about you. If you have a demo product you'd like us to look at, please contact us before sending anything. Thank you.
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