HOME UPGRADES ON A BUDGET

Are you thinking about spiffing up your home but afraid it’s going to cost you a fortune?  Well, take a look at some inexpensive ways to add value to your home without breaking the bank.

Let’s start in the kitchen as this is still considered the heart of the home:

•  Replace your kitchen faucet set
•  Add new hardware to your cabinets
•   Change out old lighting fixtures and add some new brighter, more energy-efficient ones.
•  Another great idea is if the appliances in your kitchen don’t match, for example your refrigerator is white but your dishwasher is black, many dishwashers’ panels are reversible and are white on one side and black on the other.  It can be as simple as removing a couple of screws and flipping the panel over.  If not, you can always order new panels from the manufacturer.  This is much cheaper than buying all new appliances.

Next, let’s work on the bathroom:  

•  Replace your old vanity with a new one or add a pedestal sink.  These are relatively inexpensive and are pretty easy for a homeowner to install.
• Like the kitchen, new fixtures really make your bathroom feel new and clean.  Add a new towel bar, faucet, light fixtures and even some new towels, soap dishes, etc.
•  Install new flooring using vinyl planking…easy to install and inexpensive as well.  In most cases, this can be applied directly over the existing floor.
•   Re-grout your tub/shower to help brighten it up.
• Re-paint and maybe even add some wainscot to the walls.  I did this in our guest bathroom and my wife loves the way it looks.
•  Install a pullout mirror

                                               Closets/storage areas and laundry center: 

• Add some do-it-yourself closet organizing systems to your bedroom closets, kitchen pantry, laundry center and entryway closets to create a more functional and updated storage area.

Trim and Paint:

• Paint a room with an updated color; add some new trim and even a chair rail and crown molding to really improve the look and feel of your home.

 Let there be light:

• How about a new chandelier for your dining room?
• Ceiling fan with light kit for your bedroom or family room.  If you already have one of these, but are looking for an updated version, try purchasing replacement blades to update the fixtures look.
• Don’t forget about the electrical outlets…Just add new cover plates if you want a new, cleaner look.
•  Replace your old lamp shades with new ones.

Improve the Curb Appeal of your home with these ideas:

•  New door handle and lock set to your front door
•  Consider painting an older front door and the trim around it
•   Add a decorative door knocker and/or doorbell
•   A new doormat
•   A new front porch light
•  Add a large flowering plant or two near the front door
•   A new mailbox

SPRING HOME MAINTENANCE

With warmer weather just around the corner, home and business owners alike, are dusting off their home improvement to-do lists and finding that many of their projects fell through the cracks this past year.

Here are a few tips to consider for your spring home maintenance check-list:

Inspect the outside of your home as well as other wooden structures for dry rot.  Use a screwdriver to probe areas you believe there might be wood rot.  If the tip exposes any soft or mushy areas, this should be added to your list of home maintenance chores.  Some areas to inspect include wood siding and corner trim as well as window sills and trim. 

Inspect your window and door screens.  I love fresh air which means having my doors and windows open.  Now is the time to start cleaning and making sure that your screens are free from rips and tears as well as bent frames.  You don’t want any unwelcome critters entering your home.

If you have a crawl space or basement, make sure to inspect it for standing water and/or excessive moisture.  

If you are like me, I love having fires all winter long.  Now is the time to have your fireplace or wood stove and chimney cleaned and serviced, as needed.  

Another item to include on your list is to start inspecting your deck for deterioration.  Look for loose or cracked wood.  If a deck board feels too spongy, it probably needs to be replaced.  Use the screw driver method mentioned above on the deck posts.  If there is wood rot, it’s time to get this repaired as well.  If you have handrails, make sure they feel secure and not wobbly.

Once your deck seems good to go…why not get it pressure washed as well as sealed.

Oh, the dreaded Spring Cleaning – click HERE for a downloadable list to help make your spring cleaning easier, room by room! 

Why not take your Spring Cleaning one step further and replace last years wall colors with something new or maybe have some ceiling fans installed to help circulate the fresh air.

Adding more storage to your home not only decreases clutter, but increases your home value as well.

In summary, you can do a lot of the small items on your list, but for some of the bigger things like paint, dry rot repair, etc...why not contact Steve's Handyman Service. I can save you time and energy!!

Remember...I am just a phone call away!

Updating a Room

Does your home feel plain or dull?  Do you feel that your home needs to be updated, but you don’t have a ton of money to remodel?  Have you ever considered adding molding or trim to your home?  This touch can dramatically impact the overall feel of any room – it can instantly bring a room from casual to classy. Besides enhancing the overall look of just about any room in your house, another benefit of adding molding and trim is the long term protection to the wall from damage, wood expansion, and drafts, along with concealing the connecting parts of the walls, doorways and windows.

There are many different styles to choose from.  Some of these include crown molding, casing, window and door trim, baseboard trim as well as wainscoting.  You can choose a traditional look as well as contemporary. 

Painting your trim and molding to contrast with the wall color can really make a room stand out.  I like having a lighter trim and lighter ceiling along with a darker color for the walls to really open up a room and make it look fresh.  If you are interested in learning more or getting a free estimate, please give me a call or email me.