Happiness in Home Improvement

A HELOC operates like a revolving credit line, secured by the equity in your home. You borrow what you need as you go, but you’re borrowing with a variable interest rate, so costs can go up over time. You don’t need to rip out tile or add all new fixtures to give your bathroom a face-lift. In fact, 27% of sellers make improvements to the bathroom before selling, and they can be simple fixes. Window installation, whether whole-house or partial, almost always plays into a home remodel project.

• It’s even easier to add a new light fixture into ceilings connected to attic space, says Daryl Berg, a journeyman electrician in Longview, Washington.
• Like a giant sticker, peel the decorative paper off the backing and adhere it to a primed and painted wall.
• Replacing an existing entry door with a steel one has recovered anywhere from 65% to 91% at resale over the past four years, statistics show.

To get more accurate and personalized results, please call to talk to one of our mortgage experts. In most cases, you’ll need to leave some money in the home to refinance. That means $40,000 stays in the home, and you take out $25,000, minus closing costs, in cash. Refinancing is a low-interest way to get tax-free cash for remodeling your kitchen, finishing your basement or anything you choose. “Consider white tile, chrome or nickel fixtures, a white porcelain shower and tub, and efficient low-flow toilets and new piping,” says Dogan.

“If the project adds structural renovations or makes it easier for additional projects to take place, then yes, it will add value to your home,” says Steckel. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers.

For quick touch-ups on existing sinks, toilets, and tubs, consider hiring a surface-restoration company that recoats ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass fixtures so they look like shiny new porcelain. As you look around your home and wonder which updates are worth making, consider whether the project would help a buyer see your place as somewhere they want to live. House & Home Improvement Baum said because of the winter weather in her area, a paved driveway puts homes ahead of the competition. Likewise, having an outbuilding or detached garage for farm equipment, extra cars, motorcycles, or other vehicles is desirable. Buyers often ask when the HVAC was installed or replaced, as well as if the home has a tankless hot water heater, Russell says.

Maintenance and repair

Find your crowning glory.Hire a contractor to add crown molding, a chair rail, or wainscoting to a room or two — it’s a one-day job with architectural pow. Restock your linen closet.If you wouldn’t show your current bath towels and bed linens to your visiting mother-in-law, ditch ’em and start anew. Blue is as calming as the sky, silver reflects light, jewel tones are bravely bold — and just might work. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

What trends do you like best and what common features tend to pop up in your favourite inspiration images? If you’re using an architect, make sure these are questions they’re also asking. A home equity loan is a form of credit where your home is used as collateral to borrow money. You can use it to pay for major expenses, including education, medical bills, and home repairs.

A cheery front-door color and a touch of landscaping can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal and make a lasting impression on guests. Dress the door with new hardware, and add potted plants near the entrance. Consider installing outdoor lighting to enhance your home’s architecture and illuminate the walkway.

Minor bathroom remodels have a 102 percent average return at resale. A bathroom remodel can cost anywhere between $3-$15k depending on how much you are redoing, the size of the bathroom and the materials. Some homeowners will replace the toilet and sink, but leave the floor, walls and cabinetry.

If so, you’ve now fully immersed yourself in the home improvement culture. Instead of reading fashion magazines and splurging on nice cars, your dream purchase is…hard wood floors! You also have to subtract subsidies from utility companies for making energy-related home improvements or energy-efficiency tax credits you’ve received.

Make it more enticing by adding electricity, comfy seating, decorative patio heaters, and bar area. “Having an outdoor space under a roof will allow the buyer to imagine extra living area space, allowing your home to compete against bigger homes,” says Dominguez. Adding a few elements of a trendy design will add some serious “cool” to your digs, Frellick says. “Hang an antique barn-door in place of a traditional closet door, update some light fixtures with retro fixtures using Edison bulbs, or do a wall in wood or brick tiles. These kinds of home improvements are ones that almost any homeowner can tackle,” says Frellick.