Home improvements

Once viewed as an add-on reserved for luxury homes, these days, it appears everyone wants an outdoor kitchen. In addition to a built-in grill, outdoor kitchens often include features such as cabinets, a bar, a sink, standard kitchen House & Home Improvement appliances, and sometimes a flat-screen TV. You don’t have to repaint your whole house to make it look new again, especially if you’re on a budget. Just touch up any flaking or chipped paint, or paint the front door and trim.

Likewise, think of the places in your home that don’t serve their purpose well, and try to make some rearrangements that will refresh your home space. Painting can also be one of the cheapest, but extremely important, investments on the list. They can have a very powerful impact on the whole image of the house and its inhabitants, so make sure you make a perfect balance in terms of color. However if the property is in defects, these, or any other improvements, are not allowed. If you’re looking to make changes to your home, we want to do all that we can to help, and it’s important tohave your change approved before you start anything.

• Amy Cutmore is Editor-in-Chief, Homes Audience, working across the Future Homes portfolio.
• Over a two-month period, the campaign will use Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter to promote multiple themes of modern living.
• The main scheme is a home energy efficiency scheme known as the Energy Company Obligation , provided by the government.
• If finished, a basement can add even more — up to $40,000 or $50,000 to the asking price.
• If you have a backyard or courtyard, why not build your own firepit or buy one and create a designation zone where friends and family can sit comfortably and enjoy the warmth and company.

You could gain access to some of your equity and lower your mortgage payment at the same time. “Replacing siding also lowers energy costs, which has a huge impact on the home’s value if you decide to sell.” The report shows both fiber cement, 69.4%, and vinyl siding, 68.3%, retain much of their value. To apply for a disabled facilities grant, you need to fill in a form which you can get from your local authority. They might ask for information and/or for tests to be carried out before you make a formal application.

Giving a new lease of life to your interior, remodelling your kitchen, or building an extension can make your home feel new. This project, though, will require a lot of money, and you likely won’t get every dollar you invest back. According to the NAR/NARI report, the average kitchen remodel costs around $80,000, and a homeowner would likely get around $60,000 of value when it’s time to sell. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service.

Rottedwood feels soft and spongyas a result of excess moisture, and it looks darker than other wood. Because most homes are not made of steel, they need to be maintained to stay in great condition. During winter, your home underwent some tough conditions — heavy piles of snow sitting on the roof, sleet hitting the window panes and ice forming in the gutters.

New faucets, drawer knobs, and pulls in a matching style give a room a modern, cohesive look — an inexpensive upgrade that can have a big impact on buyers because everything feels new. Our agents also recommend pressure washing the exterior to remove dirt and mold. Pressure or power wash the sidewalk, driveway, patio, or deck too for a complete refresh. This runs about $295 on average nationwide, with a driveway costing about $100 and a patio costing about $250.

New home DIY tips

Read all about how to keep the same paint hue, but how to ask them to lighten it up at the paint counter here. I couldn’t be happier with how these wood window valances turned out. They were a VERY simple “build” and add so much character to our bedroom. The curtains were also very inexpensive, come see all of the details of this project here. Critical home repair program allows homeowners to afford much-needed renovations in any room.

Another option to finance home improvements if remortgaging isn’t right for you is finding a second mortgage . This is also known as a secured homeowner loan or second charge mortgage. It may be that you don’t want to remortgage to finance home improvements because you have a great mortgage deal or early repayment charges mean it is more cost effective to get a second mortgage.

All of our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts, who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Troy Segal is Bankrate’s Senior Homeownership Editor, focusing on everything from upkeep and maintenance to building equity and enhancing value.