• Long-Term Upgrades for Your Home

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    These homestead upgrades aren’t for the house flippers, the keeping-up-with-the-Joneses, or the downsizing empty-nesters. They’re not quick and flashy, and you can’t hammer your way through the list over a long weekend. These upgrades are for the craftsmen who love their homes and plan to stick around for awhile – a long while. They’re for the homeowner who admires clean lines and straight edges, who thinks long and hard before ever picking up a tool, and who can learn to be patient.

    Open Up Your Floor Plan

    Maybe you’re lucky and your home came with what is called an “entertainer’s floor plan.” Maybe your kitchen already opens to the dining room and primary living/family room, complete with fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and French doors to a side patio. But there’s a high probability that your home did not come this way; and so you’ve got a good project that will take you a good, long time, and once you have finished, it will feel like you’re in a completely new living space. And everyone will say, “I thought that was never going to be finished,” but they’ll be so happy they suffered through all the dust.

    Add a Second Kitchen – Outside

    This project can be as involved as you want to make it. Ideally, an outdoor kitchen is equipped with refrigeration, a sink with running water, and some kind of equipment to cook on. Your cooktop could be a traditional range or, since you’re outside, a gas grill. If you opt for a grill, you can choose between freestanding and built-in options; just remember that a built-in model will probably feel like more of an upgrade.

    Then… A Built-In Firepit

    When the evenings aren’t too warm and aren’t too cold, there’s nothing quite like spending time around a firepit. The flames mesmerize, and the camaraderie feels that much more special. As with the outdoor cooking set-up, you once again have a variety of options; you may consider gas for its ease of operation and because it does not tend to flood your backyard with smoke the way wood-burning fire pits do.

    Back Inside for a Bathroom Remodel

    A well-remodeled bathroom will bring you more joy than all the popcorn ceiling removal and all the carpet upgrades in the world. One area of primary focus should be that of reforming your showering experience into one that rivals a luxurious hotel; it’s honestly not that difficult to do. Some in your home might really appreciate updated toilets, and if you live in a colder climate, heated toilet seats may not be out of order.

    Nothing Says Pride of Ownership Quite Like Mature Landscaping

    If you plan to live in your home for a long time, begin landscaping early on with an eye to the future – the distant future. Plant trees now that might take several years to come into their own, and before you know it you’ll be happy you made that decision. Mature landscaping is not unlike an overnight success; everybody will see (and probably envy) the sudden manifestation of awesomeness, but you’ll know that it took years of hard work. 

    Update Your Fencing

    Finally, let’s look at your fencing situation. If you’re still rocking the chain link fence that came with your home, you might want to consider installing something nicer. Because fence work is hard physical labor and can be difficult to do correctly, many homeowners bring in professionals. However, if you’re willing to put in the effort, you can save money on labor and spend those savings on the materials instead; this will result in a far more enjoyable fence. Don’t rule out privacy hedges and other forms of perimeter landscaping. While it may take some time for these plants to serve their purpose, they will grow soon enough, and you’ll be happy you got a head start.

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  • 5 Things to do Before Remodeling Your Basement

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    There are tons of ideas out there for what you can turn your dingy, dark, yet huge and oddly appealing basement into. But, before you do, you need to be sure your basement is ready and up for the task. Keeping that in mind, read on below for a few of the top things you should do before your basement remodel begins to ensure it’s ready for the process.

    Whether the goal is a mother-in-law suite (zoning permitting) to a game room complete with a stereo system for the kids, remodeling and finishing the basement is one job you’ll be glad you did — and did right.

    Make Sure Your Plan Is Legal

    Between zoning laws, homeowner's associations and even historical societies, there are a lot of people who want to control what you can build in your basement. Make sure you or your contractor obtain all the necessary permits and inspections needed before, during and after the job. This will ensure the work is up to code in terms of any plumbing and electrical work, which in turn, keeps you and your family safer. This is especially if you’re thinking about getting a gaming room; it’s always better to be safe when you have equipment like a laptop for gamers in that room.

    One thing to note, in many cases, no matter how beautiful the workmanship and design are, a finished basement will not be considered livable space and will not add to the legal square footage of your home. Be sure to check your local building and zoning codes for limitations and restrictions.

    Fix Any Water Damage

    Water damage is serious, and you want to find and fix it as soon as possible, especially before you start any construction. Not only should you check for water damage, you should check to see if there are any moisture issues at all. Just as with water damage, moisture coming in through the windows or the foundation of the basement needs to be dealt with right away. If you put off fixing these problems, then your new basement will become damaged and you'll be in for much more costly repairs.

    Insulate Your Utility Pipes

    If you have exposed water pipes anywhere on the outside wall of your basement, you’re going to want to insulate them before you close them in with your remodel. This ensures that you’re not suffering from heat loss in the winter months through those pipes and will help with your heating bills as well. It also ensures that your pipes won't freeze and burst over a long hard winter and that condensation doesn't back up and drip down into your walls as well.

    Make Sure You Have Enough Headroom

    Talk the contractor you have remodeling your basement to ensure that the basement is going to have enough headroom, because if it doesn't, then the room might not be up to code. Homes that were built in the 1950s often had very little headroom in the basement, which meant the ceilings and pipes hung too low. If your basement ceiling is too low, you might have to make adjustments to bring it up to code first. Besides, it will be a whole lot more fun to be in your basement if you don't have to bend over to do so.

    Take Your Budget into Consideration

    When determining what to turn your basement into, and all of the things above, it’s important to take your budget into consideration as well. Budget for everything from materials and contractors to inspections and cost overruns. And don't forget the extra cost of heating and cooling the basement.

    These are just a few of the things that you need to consider when looking to renovate your basement. Taking care of these things ahead of time will ensure your basement is done on schedule and that your family has a fun place to hang out for many years to come.

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  • 3 Considerations Before Embarking on Any Home Renovation

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    A home renovation takes a lot of time, patience, and hard work to complete. There are some things you should take into consideration before taking on a task like this. Here are the top three things to consider before you make the final decision on any home renovation project.

    The Whys and the Hows

    The first thing that you need to think about is why are you doing this renovation and what you want it to look like in the end. It is extremely important that you know what your objective is before you begin. One popular reason for home renovations is to see an increase on your rental return and to improve the capital value of a home you own. Another completely viable reason is for your own enjoyment. It may be important to you to keep up with your neighbors or to set the bar before they can. Figure out exactly why you want to do this home renovation and keep that in mind during the process.

    You will also want to have a good idea of what you want your home renovation to look like in the end. This can help you decide whether you are able to do this project on your own or if you will have to hire someone else to do it for you. If you are hiring someone else, this will give you a starting point to show the contractor you decide on. A simple diagram showing where you want everything placed that includes detailed notes on exactly what you want is exactly what you need to create. Be as clear about any details as you can.

    What Will It Make You Feel

    When you know why you are committing to this home renovation and have a plan mapped out, you should then ask yourself how you want to feel when it is all completed. Adding a new pool will likely give you a relaxed feeling in the end. Creating a new deck will often supply you with a place to show off your handiwork. You should be proud of what you've done. If you are simply adding to the landscaping around your house, you will likely feel invigorated. Make sure that you are able to reward yourself and finish the renovation with a party that includes your family and friends.

    Do You Have the Time?

    The third thing that you should consider before you renovation is the time and effort that you are willing to give for the project. If you have all the time in the world, by all means start the project right away and enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you are only willing and able to give a few hours a week, those hours may be better spent finding a contractor who will do the work for you.

    Make sure to consider all of the things that you will have to do prior to and during this renovation. You may need to acquire permits before you begin. Do you even know what vacuum excavations are? You will need to purchase materials, rent tools, and produce high-quality work. Scheduling all of this around your busy workday may be far from possible. You will also need to spend time and energy if you hire a contractor. You will need to keep your accounts paid, schedule the work around you and your families schedules, and check on the work to make sure it's coming along as you wish. No matter which direction you go there will be a lot of work involved.

    Any home renovation begins with planning. Figure out why you want this home renovation and map it out as completely as you can. Next, decide on how this home renovation will make you feel in the end. Finally, decide whether you can put forth the time and effort required to complete the project. After you have all that down it should be about time to start.

    Note: this is a partnered post and consideration was received for its publication. CC-licensed image by Georgie Sharp.