10 Home Improvement Projects to Tackle Before Moving Into a New House

It can make sense to pay for some of your renovation this way, especially if you find a credit card with a long introductory 0% APR period. Just make sure you have a plan to pay off your costs entirely within that intro period, or your lingering balance will be hit with a higher APR when that intro period ends. While there are still large segments of the population who have not yet recovered from the steep economic recession caused by the pandemic, sustained growth in home remodeling is expected.

She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros. Information provided on Forbes Home is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances. Get expert advice on your home, design tips, how much to pay for pros and hiring experts, delivered to you daily.

• Get creative with this one— staircases are incredibly overlooked home improvement opportunities, so they’re a great chance to express your unique sense of style.
• If you need a post, a craftsman mailbox and post kit from Postal PRO costs about $60.
• They show that wielding a power drill has nothing to do with your gender—it’s all about taking the time to learn a skill.
• Installing a smart thermostat, for example, helps improve efficiency and save money, says Scott Ewald of Trane, an HVAC company.
• As professionals invested in creating excellent homes, you’ll want to make sure the improvements you make are budget-friendly but still add value.

You can’t go wrong with a simple upgrade from the best-selling Clopay Classic Collection ($638). Finishing a basement will run you $18,400 on average, but can cost up to $34,000, largely depending on your square footage. This project involves installing flooring, drywall, and paint, but it creates a “valuable blank canvas” for potential buyers, HomeAdvisor says. Those homeowners are most likely to be fitting new flooring, a new bathroom or kitchen, or building an extension, according to the list. A HELOC can be a good choice if you have ongoing costs, or don’t know exactly how much you’re going to spend on your remodeling project.

Remodeling a home can create a more eco-friendly, energy-efficient space. These home upgrades can significantly impact the environment and reduce utility costs from energy-efficient appliances to window and insulation fixes. Remember that government agencies are even offering financial assistance for these types of fixes to help with eco-friendly initiatives. You’d be surprised what a simple coat of paint can do to the aesthetic of your home.

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Make sure the downspout is also in good condition and free of cracks or leaks to prevent water from pooling where it shouldn’t. The downspout is supposed to direct and carry water away from the house. Also, the downspout should be firmly connected to the gutter and free of clogs so that water doesn’t build up in the gutter. We’re working on making our fixer upper a home, one project at a time. This is a VERY easy and inexpensive way to make a big statement in your home.Come see more pictures of the door makeover in our dining area here. Habitat Greater Los Angeles helps families stay in their homes by repairing current issues and connecting them with tools and support to prevent new ones.

While it can be hard to figure out exactly how much value these upgrades add to your home, your real estate agent will be able to help you price your home accordingly. Many of these projects are low-cost and have the added benefit of being DIY-friendly, meaning you won’t have to pay a professional to do them for you. The Washington Post puts the potential ROI of landscaping projects between 150% and 1,000%, meaning they’re likely to pay off handsomely in the end.

Here’s something you may not realize – if your neighbors all have chemical pest barriers, and you don’t, colonies of insects may relocate to your house, simply because it’s more accessible. Stripping and staining cabinets will give your space a major facelift. Sealing cabinets with polyurethane will also increase durability. Begin by removing cabinet doors and hardware, then wipe cabinet fronts and doors with mineral spirits to remove any dirt, dust, and grease. Apply a gel-type stripper per manufacturer’s instructions, and then remove the stripper with a plastic putty knife.

A well-maintained roof is essential to your home’s condition. Even though a snow-covered roof makes a pretty wintertime picture, snow and ice build-up can get heavy and put too much weight on a weak roof. Ice dams,or blocks House & Home Improvement of icethat form in the gutter or edge of the roof, may prevent proper drainage and cause water to leak into the home’s interior. You can tell if your deck is in need of repair just by feeling it and looking at the wood.