Home Improvement Tips for First Time Homeowners
The thrill of being a home owner is difficult to explain until it has been experienced firsthand. The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from owning a home is a feeling unto its own. One of the first things that homeowners often immediately do after moving into their home is personalize it with their own furniture and wall art. Even before all their boxes from moving day are unpacked, new homeowners are contemplating furnishing and home improvement projects that they would like to undertake.
For many, home improvement means building a swimming pool in the backyard, including a gazebo, or adding additional rooms to the home. For others, turning a house into a home may mean undergoing a massive outdoor landscaping project or perhaps even remodeling the kitchen. Often, focusing on such large undertakings can overshadow other smaller yet equally important projects that help to make everyday life a richer experience. Before diving head first into massive renovation projects, consider the following useful home improvement tips for first time homeowners:
Start Small
With an entire house and yard to serve as a canvas, the options are seemingly limitless when it comes to home improvement projects. Too often though, the small and unique details that make life enjoyable are sadly overlooked, that is, until they begin to cause problems. For example, consider the annoyance caused by pests.
Insects and rodents can be found anywhere whether your first home is older or is new construction. Ants are the most common pest problem in households across the US. While exterminators offering high price services will try to convince you that treating your home every six weeks is the only way to rid them from your home, a household insecticide such as a liquid ant killer should do the trick for a fraction of the cost. An ultrasonic repellent is also a great pest control solution if you have children or pets, as they do not rely on harsh or dangerous chemicals. As an added bonus, ultrasonic repellents also keep away rodents, cockroaches, and spiders, which is something especially important if you live in an area where there is continual construction.
Save Money
Since first time homeowners are, in many cases, used to paying utility bills associated with apartment-style living, the first set of bills can be a massive shock. Windows, often an overlooked area, are one of the ways in which homeowners can minimize the amount of money that they spend on electricity monthly.
Many people wrongly assume that solar screens are the only way to prevent household heat loss and air leakage. While solar screens do cut down on electricity usage, they are extremely costly to install inside of your home. The easiest way to save money and make both your home and life more energy efficient is to tint your windows. Vinyl window tinting film is a permanent and inexpensive solution that can be applied to your existing windows. In the time that it would take to schedule a solar screen consultation, every window in the home could be tinted and forgotten about. The best part about tinting your windows at home is that if you later on decide to go for the pricey solar screens, it is very easy to remove the tint.
Increase Value
Many first time homeowners become so caught up in the excitement of owning their first home that they often forget just what a shrewd investment they have made. Like all investments, there are several steps that one can take to increase the value with relative ease. Again, most people look at landscape and swimming pools when they are considering home improvement, but kitchen improvements are what actually raise the value of a home the most.
Unfortunately, kitchen remodeling is also a costly project to undertake. Appliances, tile floors, new paint and cabinets can all add up to dizzying heights and an even more towering cost. Rather than being talked into debt-inducing remodeling projects at your local home improvement store, take stock of your kitchen and consider what really needs to be updated the most. Rather than sanding and painting or purchasing replacements, use this low cost cabinet make-over that no home improvement store will ever tell you about.
In stores you can now find PVC sheets in wood grain patterns that are available in a variety of shades. Simply cut the sheets to fit your tired, cracked or chipped cabinets and affix it in place. In less time than it takes to find the tools needed to refinish cabinets, your kitchen will look refreshed for pennies on the dollar and will look great.
Watch the video related to kitchen improvement
Modern Bath and Kitchen Designs. 11688 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City. (818) 506-9966. Importer and wholesaler of vanities, Whirlpool tubs, frameless shower doors, garage doors, wood flooring, toilets, faucetts, mirrors. Modern Bath also wholesales to builders and condominium associations, and sells at discounted prices to the public.
Help answer the question about kitchen improvement
If my parents give me a house what kind of loan do I get to make improvements?My parents are giving me their current house and building a new one. The house needs some improvements (Kitchen, Bath, Carpets, etc) what is the best loan to get? I currently rent so I don't have a mortgage. Do I get a home equity loan, first mortgage, home improvement loan? Please help.
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I figure….there are only so many things these sorts of shows can show and about only so many ways to do them, because their audience base is your average Joe, by and large.
At big box stores you can find black insulation tubes– made to insulate refrigerated air condition piping I think. I would measure the pipe length– some good idea of the diameter then get the insulation and put it on the pipe. You may need some duct tape. This is safety for you. Now, measure for the type cabinet space– go to a big box store to get the cabinet– use a jig saw to cut out the place in the shelves for the pipe.
Be sure and measure how much you need to cut out– you can use paper and make a template– or one of those metal things that give you a negative and positive of a door jamb– This is definately a DIY thing– the hardest part probably will be finding the studs the cabinet will need for attachment. Cabinets and their contents are really heavy.
good luck
The Government has created a portal to help individuals who need benefits because of life events. Visit http://www.govbenefits.gov
Use the drop down button
DO YOU NEED BENEFITS BECAUSE OF A LIFE EVENT?
Choose the life situation best applicable to you and then see if you qualify for the available government assistance.
As for grants, if you live in a rural area, you can apply with the Dept of Agriculture for Grant #10.417 VERY LOW-INCOME HOUSING REPAIR LOANS AND GRANTS http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_names=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=10.417 Here is how this grant should be used:
"USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS
Loan funds may be used to make general repairs and improvements to properties or to remove health and safety hazards. Grant funds may be used only to pay for the costs for repairs and improvements that will remove identified health and safety hazards or to repair or remodel dwellings to make them accessible for houshold members with disabilities. Loans and grants are typically used for repair or replacement of heating, plumbing or electrical services, roof or basic structure as well as water and waste disposal systems, and weatherization. Loans bear an interest rate of one percent and are repaid over a period up to 20 years. In addition to the above purpose, loan funds may be used to modernize the dwelling. Maximum loan amount cannot exceed a cumulative total of $20,000 to any eligible person and maximum lifetime grant assistance is $7,500 to any eligible person. The house must be located in an eligible rural area which does not exceed 10,000 population. Some places with populations between 10,000 and 25,000 may be eligible if not within a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). Assistance is available in States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana's and the Trust Territories of the Pacific Islands."
You can also check with HUD who are the recipients of Grant 14.181 SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_names=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=14.181 . This grant is given to non profits "to construct, rehabilitate or acquire structures to be used as supportive housing for persons with disabilities." Check if you can be a beneficiary of this grant.
You can find other home improvement grants at the the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) http://www.cfda.gov . Here is a list of home improvement grants available http://12.46.245.173/pls/portal30/CATALOG.PROGRAM_TEXT_RPT.SHOW?p_arg_names=prog_nbr&p_arg_values=14.181
To apply for grants, go to Grants.gov http://www.grants.gov . They have everything you need to apply for grants.
How extensive a "fixup" were you going to do? Check your lease first to see what you're allowed to do without prior written consent from the landlord. Most residential leases, at least in my market, limit tenant alterations to reasonable changes that can be easily restored to their original condition when the tenant leaves (e.g. painting, hanging shelving and pictures).
Major renovations, such as replacing cabinets, tile, appliances, must only be done with the landlord's consent. He'll be living with your choices long after you move out, so HE has the right to say no, or, if he says yes, to approve styles and materials. Also, all improvements belong to the landlord, so unless he's cut you a deal where you fix the place up in exchange for much lower rent, you're losing money on the deal.
That being said, there are plenty of things you can do to fix the place up. Paint is the easiest way to liven up the kitchen and bath. Even if you're not up to decorative painting, a good fresh coat of paint will brighten any room. For kitchen and bath, make sure to use a semi-gloss paint (there are some that are specifically for kitchens and baths)–this will hold up to the moisture, dirt and grease and be easier to clean.
Use baskets or boxes covered with cloth or contact paper to corral small or oddly-shaped items in kitchen and bathroom cabinets or shelves. Cheap and decorative way to increase storage space and keep the place looking neat.
If you need more cabinet space in the kitchen or bath, try to find old dressers, china hutches, bookcases or cabinets on Craigslist or your local freecycle–these can be cleaned, painted, and moved around to suit your space. I used an old 1940's metal dresser for years as a kitchen island/storage for pots and pans. Dressers with missing drawers make good deep shelving for large pots and baking sheets: just cut plywood to fit where the drawer bottoms would sit.
With your landlord’s permission, you can paint or reface existing cabinets. If not, you can usually cover objectionable cabinets with contact paper or starched fabric without permanent harm to the surface. (Contact paper has gotten a lot cooler–it now comes in all sorts of styles, including faux leather, faux granite, real cork, brushed aluminum and copper, etc.).
Also, you simply must check out Craftster! It’s not a home improvement site, as such, but it has every sort of craft and DIY project you can imagine, from what to do with old light bulbs to decorative painting, furniture design and complete room makeovers, in every style from classic to gothic and back again. And if you ask nicely, the members will often give you a free tutorial.
I would suggest the following brands:
>American Woodmark at Home Depot
>Shenandoah at Lowe's
They're actually the same product from the same firm, just branded differently for the two chains. I have them in my home and have been quite satisfied with the quality. Both also have a nice selection of finishes, trims, door styles and accessories.
Good luck with your remodel.
probably $400 or so, if you want the old sink pulled out and a new installed with a garbage disposal.
That of course does NOT include the costs of the materials.
Any expense you put into the house is an expense as it is added to the basis of the cost of the house. The house basis is what it was worth the day that you inherited it. If you put paint roof drive kitchen or anything into the unit to improve it. then it is an expense…. I doubt that you will have to worry about it being worth more now than it was worth a year ago,, Find an appraiser that will give you a high appraisal for last year, and then sell it for less will make it a loss, and no taxes paid at all. Most property is not worth what it was last year according to so many pundits on TV.
I prefer oil stain ,Two coats and usually mix whatever color that I am using (4 parts color to one part natural) with natural"clear" stain of the same brand. It seems to make the grain a little deeper. A trick an old floor refinisher showed me years ago and seems to work well.
As far as the finish. I also prefer oil polyurethane, Three coats ,sanding between #2and #3 coat. I use high gloss for my first two coats and whatever gloss is required (flat,semi,satin, or gloss) for the final coat.(The higher the gloss the more durable the finish)
Water based polly is fine for the insides of the cabinets as it is much easier to apply but tends to be a little "chalky" looking and does not hold up to cleaning solvents as well. It is great for closet built-ins , and other household furniture
Whatever you use ,take your time and be as neat as possible ,Letting each coat dry and lightly sanding with fine sandpaper between coats. Dust or vacuum constantly and use a tack cloth before coats. Your efforts will be their own reward.
Good luck.
(1) Kitchen more visible, more use
(2) Bathroom (needed especially if there are more than two in your household
(3) maybe rethink fireplace, little known fact sometimes your house insurance will go up cause of a fireplace, or you might not find an insurance that will insure a house with a fireplace