In Part 1 of the Home Improvement Tips, we touched on the Budget and Hiring a Contractor. Today, we will look at some common home improvement mistakes that are to be avoided.

Self-Expression

Many home owners have a creative streak and they think of their home as the perfect canvas where they can “paint” their masterpiece. While it’s always good to express yourself, it doesn’t make much financial sense to make a highly personal imprint on your home. What’s “perfect” for one person may not be quite so acceptable to another person. In this sense, it’s best to opt for a less personal touch.

Out of Character

Sometimes, home owners may also get too carried away in their home improvement venture that they end up creating a monstrosity of a home. Do you really need to build that mini-golf course or tennis court? On another level, the home owner may build a space age house in the middle of a mature neighborhood with quaint, quiet houses. Is it appropriate to have such additions or renovations?  

Impactful Improvements

When you are making home improvements, think about how the renovations and remodeling will enhance the appearance of the house. For instance, a potential buyer will likely be more impressed by a new coat of paint than the radiant floor heating system.

Follow these simple home improvement tips to boost the value of your home in Dunkirk real estate, and most importantly, be disciplined in your project.

Do you know that home improvement can be addictive? It’s understandable because home owners want to create the best home possible, and many times, they get carried away, investing heavier and heavier into the project. When you undertake a home improvement project, it’s important to keep your eye on the final outcome, and consider how the additions or renovations can add to the value of your property. Here are some essential home improvement tips to help you along.  

Determining the Budget

Before anything else, determine how much you are prepared to spend on the project. The cost of a remodeling or renovation job can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. For DIY enthusiasts, the budget will provide a guide on the selection of materials, and other related matters. For home owners who are using contractors, a workable budget will take away a lot of the guess work.

Hiring a Contractor

There are enough horror stories about irresponsible or unscrupulous contractors so you should be extra careful in the selection procedure. As a general rule, it’s best to choose a contractor who has been in the business for at least 5 years. At the interview stage, pay special attention to the contractor’s experience and track record. If you find that you cannot trust the contractor, you should strike the person off your list. 

In the next post, we will provide even more home improvement tips for home owners in Annapolis real estate, and elsewhere.

The title of a recent Washington Post article, “Don’t let bond with builder keep you from getting lawyer’s advice on contract” spells out exactly what the author thinks you should do if you are having work done on your Maryland real estate. The writer coms from a family with people involved in the legal profession, so seeking this kind of advice is second nature to her.

She is aware, however, that everyone does not feel this way.

“As with any budding social relationship, the more time we spend with a builder or a sales agent, the stronger the bond…When homeowners finally decide they are ready to move forward with the project, and the subject of a contract comes up, most have a hard time saying that they want to have a lawyer look at it first.”

But this is exactly what you should do the writer argues. While you may see it as something that indicates you do not trust the contractor involved, think instead of the saying “good fences make good neighbors.” You want to have clearly defined boundaries when you enter into a business relationship with someone, even if you feel like you and that person have become friendly.

A solid contract does not only protect your interests; it also protects the interests of a contractor who is doing renovations or repair work on your home.

Some of us worry a lot about whether or not the inside of our homes are clean and forget that the inner structure and outside of a home also require our attention. If you own Maryland real estate, remember that while something like home staging can help you when you get ready to sell, resale value can be lowered.

The Washington Post named five home maintenance tasks that you cannot neglect:

1. Change air filters- This will help you save on utility bills in the present and prevent the heating and air conditioning system from becoming worn out sooner than necessary.

2. Clean gutters- You should do this twice a year, late in the spring and again well into the fall. Clogged gutters can lead to leaks.

3. Keep up with exterior paint-An older house with wood windows or wood siding will require painting more often than a newer home with vinyl windows.

4. Keep up with exterior caulking-This needs to be done no matter what the house is made of because it keeps water from seeping in.

5. Check furnace/air conditioner-You should have a professional come in every year to make sure everything is if good shape.

While the Post only specifically recommends calling in a professional for the last item on the list, please know that if you don’t feel up to any of these tasks, it is best to get some help.

We recently discussed the need to get familiar with your homeowner’s insurance policy in light of the recent weather events that have damaged some people’s Maryland real estate.

If you read your homeowner’s insurance policy and are still unsure about what it all means, you should call the company and ask them to explain what is covered, what is not covered and where you can find this information. Again, you don’t want to discover that something you assumed would be covered is not covered in the midst of a crisis or weather emergency.

Remember that a weather emergency is not the only event that can require a homeowner’s insurance policy. These policies include liability coverage as well. If for some reason, someone sues you because they are injured while visiting you, your policy can cover the costs if you are found liable.

The Washington Post points out the importance of not only knowing what is covered by your policy but of knowing what to purchase beforehand. If your home is damaged, you need to be able to repair the damage or rebuild:

“Homeowners often think that they need to purchase homeowner’s insurance equal to their purchase price. This is a common misconception. Because the land upon which your home was built cannot burn or be otherwise destroyed, you only need replacement value coverage…”