Tag: Home Sweet Home Improvement

Remodeling Tips for New Homeowners

Remodeling Tips for New Homeowners

Everyone has their reason for embarking on a home remodeling project, but the thrill remains the same, especially as a new homeowner. Perhaps, you want to improve the value of your home or want it to fit your style? Regardless, it's an exciting project that comes with a lot of work— sometimes more than bargained. It can be devastating to embark on a remodeling project only to realize halfway that it's unachievable. So, whether you will be getting the assistance of a remodeling company or you'll be handling this project alone, here are five tips you should know before starting. 1. Try to ask for help: It takes more than a pair of jeans and a well-equipped toolbox to produce quality work on a renovation project. First off, as an amateur, certain tools aren't suitable for you. Secondly, YouTube tutorials may not always have all the answers and solutions you need. So, except remodeling is something you have years of experience in, don't shy away from asking for help. A simple Google search should come in handy in this respect. For example, if you live in Houston, Texas, a quick search for Houston, Tx remodeling company should deliver some viable results. 2. Make a priority list: While some people can afford to stay in hotels during home renovations, you may not have that luxury and will have to keep living in your home during the renovation. The best way to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the home renovation process is to tackle time-sensitive projects first, like water damage or a leaking roof. Additionally, areas of the house you use frequently should be a top priority. That way, you can still go about your daily life even though your home is under renovation. 3. Set a budget: Contrary to what some TV shows make us believe, remodeling a house can run your account dry, especially if you don't have an accurate budget. So, the next step after drawing out a plan would be to determine your budget and financing. Although budgeting isn't the most fun thing to do (as it requires you to find a balance between the available finance and your dream design), it's an essential part of the remodeling process because it helps you gauge your expectations. Your budget should ideally include everything from the costs for permits to building materials, labor, painting, and cosmetic touch. It's easier to stick to your budget if it's accurate. So, make sure you get a contractor to review it or request cost estimates from professionals. You can look up companies in the Houston area that offer free estimate and consultation services to save costs here. 4. Remember the big picture: When taking up a remodel project, it's essential always to keep the big picture in mind. Remember that energy costs, water bills, and repair expenses can add up quickly in the future. So, make sure you include them all in your plan. Furthermore, since you're remodeling, you may want to invest in sustainable appliances that respect resources and support sustainable living. This is especially vital for a bathroom renovation. This area of the home can spike up your future heating and water costs. In a nutshell, you need to consider ways to save money both now and in the future; your bank account will thank you for these decisions in years to come. 5. Don't focus solely on design: Sure, many of us have a design that fits our style in mind before embarking on a remodel project. Perhaps, it's your kitchen, bedroom, or study that concerns you. However, you'll have to find a balance between getting the design you want and maintaining functionality. Many contemporary homes now blend functionality with design. For instance, if you have a small kitchen space, you may want to consider forfeiting some fixtures like the planning desk that no one really uses. That way, you save on space and maintain functionality. Read Also: Home Improvement Hacks to Add to Your Space Ideas for Modern Flooring Designs for Home Improvement Plans 6 Interior Design Tips to Make Your House a Home

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home improvement loans

Home Sweet Home Improvement: How to Find the Best Home Improvement Loans

It's estimated that in 2018, Americans spent nearly $340 billion on home remodeling projects. Home improvement loans are one of the best ways to sort out the problem of home renovation. If you're planning to make some changes to your home, you may find that a home improvement loan is the only way you can get the job done. But finding a home improvement loans isn't easy, and sometimes it can be difficult to figure out how you can find the right loan, at the right price. Below you'll discover how you can find the best home improvement loans for your renovation project. Read on, and you'll discover how you can give your home a fresh look, without having to wreak havoc on your finances. Decide What You Want to Use the Loan For: Before taking out the loan, it's a good idea to think about how you're going to spend the money associated with the loan. In doing so, it becomes easy to work out how much you'll need to borrow. This then prevents you from over-borrowing and ending up with more debt than necessary. Now, if you don't know how much a particular home improvement project is going to cost, it's probably worth speaking to some contractors. If you can provide these contractors with an accurate representation of what you want to achieve, they should be able to give you a quote. If you can, try to speak to more than one contractor. This'll help develop a realistic average of what the project is going to cost. How Can You Fund the Home Improvement Project? There's more than one financial 'instrument' you can use to fund your home improvement project. For instance, there's the typical route of obtaining a home improvement loan. Now, home improvement loans can often sound like a good idea, but you'll find that such loans aren't always the best option. This often comes down to the fact home improvement loans tend to be unsecured, and this makes them a risky bet for lenders. This risk can also mean that the interest rates are going to be high. On top of this, you'll find lenders will offer relatively short repayment periods associated with these loans. The other option is to go for a personal loan. Again, this kind of loan is unsecured, and this can make such loans pricey. But, if you have good credit and a steady income, lenders might be willing to offer you a personal loan at a reasonable rate. One of the good things about a personal loan is that you may have a favorable payment term that gives you plenty of time to pay the money back. If you'd like to learn how you can find the best personal loans, check this out. There's also the option of funding your project using a credit card. Now, for many people, this should be considered as a last resort. This is because the interest rates on a credit card can be very high. But if you can find a credit card that offers 0% APR, this might be a worthwhile option. Speak to Many Lenders: Once you have a decent sense of how much the project is going to cost you, it's the time to approach some lenders. It's worth noting that some lenders will have different requirements to others. Often, you'll have to fill out an application, and the information you provide will determine whether you receive the loan. If you find your application is successful, you may have to approach another lender. You may also need to think about funding your project, using a different strategy. Manage Your Project Carefully: Once you receive your funds and begin remodeling, it's vital you manage your project carefully so that it doesn't go over budget. If this happens, you'll need to lend more money, and this can increase your debt burden. At the very least you need to keep a close eye on the contractors and ask them about their progress daily. Ask them to provide you with projected deadlines, and then check in with them to ensure they're going to meet these deadlines. It's essential you do this, as contractors often charge you a daily rate. If the project goes over schedule, you may end up needing to spend more than you budgeted for. Can You Reduce the Price of the Project? Before the project begins, you might want to ask your contractors if there's anything you can do to help lower the cost of the project. If you take certain cost-cutting measures, you may find that you don't need to use the entire loan. This then means you can repay the loan faster, thereby reducing the amount of money you spend on interest payments. Taking this step is important, as it can reduce the stress associated with having to find the 'perfect' home improvement loan. For instance, the contractors might say that things will work out cheaper if you source the materials needed for the project. You can then ask them what they need, and you can go to your local hardware store and order these items. You might also want to ask the contractor if there are any simple tasks that you can help them with. So, if you're looking to renovate a bedroom, there may be some closets that are 'built into' the room, of which you no longer want. If you take the time to remove these closets, the contractor doesn't need to spend their time on this task. This then lowers the amount of money they'll charge you as their workload is now reduced. Do You Know How to Find the Best Home Improvement Loans?  If you want to give your home a fresh look, home improvement loans can help you get the job done, without having to spend all your savings. That said, you want to make sure you do everything you can to limit the amount of money you actually need to borrow. You also want to make sure you speak to a broad range of lenders so that you can find an affordably priced loan. Yes, it can be scary to borrow money for a home improvement project. But if you follow the tips in this post, you should be able to minimize your stress levels. Thinking about remodeling your kitchen? Check out this post to learn about the best countertops you can use. Read Also: Lining Up For A Loan – How To Secure A Good Loan 7 Tips To Increase The Value Of Your Home Best Home Buying Tips For First Time Buyers Invest Real Estate In Detroit: 7 Things You Need To Know Before Buying Your First Investment

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