Home Improvement is an art that most women have
imbibed in them. Home Improvement increases the worth
of the family residing in it. Also By maintaining it and
improving it, you¡¯ll ensure it continues to increase in value.
Maintaining Your Home
Taking regular care of your appliances and checking
plumbing and heating/cooling systems regularly can save
on costly repairs or even more costly replacements.
Review your home inspector¡¯s report to help you prioritize
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tasks. It is worthwhile to consult a professional for anything
you have a hard time fixing or inspecting. Some
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Jerry's Home Improvement Center - Home Page::
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professionals may charge a fee.
Cosmetic Changes vs. remodeling
you have visions of color and comfort. The back porch
could use a fresh coat of paint. The kitchen cabinets need
to be updated. When do cosmetic changes (paint, window
treatments) turn into major remodeling and renovation
projects?
To keep the cost of remodeling from increasing
dramatically it¡¯s best to set a budget first and work to
maximize the features you want within that budget. This
may also help set the limit between cosmetic and major
improvements
Many homeowners believe that any improvement will
automatically increase the value of their property.
Appraisers offer a more cautious perspective.. In other
words, if you live on a street of modest two- and three-
bedroom bungalows, don¡¯t turn your home into a six-
bedroom mansion.
Cosmetic changes such as new paint, flooring and window
treatments are considered matters of personal style and
therefore, add the least amount of value to a home.
Your home is your greatest financial asset. Take proper
care of it and most likely, it will do the same for you.
Planning takes time and includes lots of mundane tasks
such as getting permits and financing. But the benefits are
immeasurable both in time and money saved.
Individual plans will vary depending on the scope of the
project. Steps overlap and sometimes changing in one
aspect of your plan forces changes in others. But almost
every plan will include at least these five steps.
1. Dream It
Make sure your concept for the addition blends with the
existing houses materials and design. For example:
Adding on a Cape Cod family room to a 50s ranch style
home would look silly at best.
Do a quick sketch of the addition youre planning even
before consulting with a builder or designer.
2. Design It
If your plans require the removal or alteration of a
supporting wall, contact a building engineer or architect to
learn if your idea will affect the strength of the existing
structure. Major structural changes may increase the time
and cost of your project. A consultation may provide you
with alternatives.
3. Paying for It
Establish a budget for this project and determine where the
money is coming from. The money available will impact
the scope of the project.
Remember that anything not included in the original
contract will cost extra. Its tempting to start making
changes and expanding the original plan. Try to control
yourself or you might be adding hundreds, maybe
thousands, of dollars that will shatter your budget and your
time line.
4. Permits and Codes
If youve hired a local contractor or architect, he should be
able to tell you if your idea will pass the building
inspection. A professional should be able to handle the
entire permit process, from drawing up plans, applying for
the permit and scheduling inspections.
If youre doing it yourself, visit your planning department
and research the codes that pertain to your project. If the
agency requires certified plans, you may still have to
consult with an architect or engineer who can provide
them.
5. Timing
Establish a time frame for the project. Much of an addition
is exterior work and will need to be accomplished
according to the seasons. Your start date should be the
date you actually beginning construction, so make sure
your financing is in place before this date.
Your time frame needs to take into account who is doing
the work. If this is a do-it-yourself project, your time will
probably be more limited because of job and family. If the
job takes eight full days to complete, and you can only
work weekends, it will take you four weeks. Consider if the
money saved by doing it yourself is worth the extra time.
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