You’ve moved into your house and are ready to begin remodeling, but you don’t know where to start. You may want to ensure your home remodeling enhances the living spaces, makes your family cozy, and raises your house’s value, especially if you plan on selling your home. The following should be your next home improvements to enhance your quality of life, many of which also increase the market value of your property.
Lighting Upgrades
A fresh lighting design brightens your home, adding personality and charm to any space. Whether you’re looking to improve an old setup or entirely redesign your lighting, consider the most recent trends for your next home improvements. Below are some ideas for inspiration:
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- Buy LED Light Bulbs: LED lighting should be at the top of your next home improvements list. It’s time to upgrade if you still use your house’s incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs. LEDs, the industry standard for light bulbs, boast energy-saving attributes. In fact, according to SitelogIQ, when compared to conventional incandescent bulbs, LED lighting can save energy consumption by up to 80%. Modernize and unify your home’s lighting system by changing all the bulbs to LEDs.
- Add Layers of Lighting: The three basic types of fixtures in interior lighting are ambient, task, and accent. Ambient lighting, typically overhead, is designed to spread consistent light around a place. Wall sconces and ceiling-mounted lamps have the most ambient lighting. A focused, localized light source, task lighting, such as a desk lamp or under-cabinet lighting, has a single purpose. You can use accent lighting to subtly draw attention to specific features or objects, such as art.
- Go Green: Incandescent light bulbs were the standard light bulb visible in every household until light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, became the new go-to. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) are yet ideal energy-saving light bulbs. These two bulbs perform better in efficiency, lifetime, and color rendering. However, LED lights are more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan than CFL or incandescent bulbs since they use less energy.
- Try Smart Bulbs: If you love technology, consider hiring electrical installation services to install smart bulbs for your house makeover. Smart bulbs are a terrific way to modernize your lighting. You can operate these bulbs remotely with a voice-activated speaker or even a smartphone – you’ll surely impress visitors.
Deep Cleaning Services
Vacuuming and wiping down the countertops in some homes is a daily task, which is routine cleaning. But how frequently do you clean the fan blades and the oven? If it’s time to get around to all those infrequent tasks, it’s time to add deep cleaning to your next home improvements. According to Onedesk, approximately 10% of all US homeowners paid a professional service to clean their houses last year. Numerous benefits come with this.
While quick surface cleaning might keep some not-very-deadly bugs at bay, only a thorough cleaning can eliminate germs that hide in dark spots. A reputable deep-cleaning business can help you get to the root of your issues. A reduction in allergens, such as dust mites, is guaranteed with deep cleaning of fabrics like carpets. Carpets gather dirt, dust, and allergies over time, which can affect the air quality in your house.
You can enhance the overall cleanliness of your home by hiring expert residential carpet cleaning services to revitalize your carpets. By having your carpets cleaned, you can improve their lifespan and appearance. You’ll be more comfortable staying in the spaces if you keep them clean and tidy. This is because clean environments and spaces devoid of clutter create a sense of comfort.
Updating Your Floors
One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make when deciding on your next home improvements is what kind of flooring to use, and it’s a challenging choice for many homeowners. You need to consider not just appearance but also functionality. How will the floor feel under your feet, how will you clean it, will it withstand pets, children, and spills? It’s also vital that you consider your budget and how much each type of flooring will cost you in the long run.
For instance, tiles are practical and long-lasting but sometimes uncomfortable to walk on. Currently, hardwood floors are highly popular. In fact, 54% of homebuyers are ready to spend more on a home with hardwood flooring, according to a survey by the National Association of Realtors. However, pets’ scratches and excessive wetness harm them.
Engineered hardwood offers a comparable appearance for less money, meaning you can refinish it frequently. Carpets and laminates are less popular flooring options but are typically less expensive. A local deck builder could advise using tile, vinyl, or linoleum in a bathroom or mudroom instead of hardwood or carpet.
Materials like carpet, laminate, and cork are more comfortable than tile, which concerns older people or families with young children. On a comfort scale, hardwood is in the middle. Additionally, using the same type of floor throughout the entire home, or at least in the common spaces, is a popular design trend. It makes the spaces appear bigger and more cohesive.
Repairing Current Equipment
In our daily lives, appliances are crucial in everything from cooking to laundry. Over time, though, they can develop malfunctions and performance problems. If your equipment is malfunctioning, it’s time to consider repairs during your next home improvements. You can address these issues effectively by seeking the expertise of experienced appliance repair services. Choosing to have your appliances repaired instead of replacing them can save you money and extend their lifespan.
Repairing your current equipment gives various advantages. Firstly, it can save you significant money compared to acquiring new appliances. Fixing a broken appliance is usually less expensive than purchasing a new one. Appliance repair professionals are skilled at identifying and resolving various problems, from faulty wiring to mechanical breakdowns.
Second, maintaining your appliances will boost their lifespan. You can ensure that your equipment continues to operate at peak efficiency for a prolonged time by performing timely maintenance and repairs. Taking care of small problems as soon as you see them can prevent major issues that may render the appliance irreparable. Therefore, give repairs a chance before rushing to replace your equipment when it starts acting up.
Accessibility Projects
Everyone should be able to explore and enjoy a house easily, regardless of their ability. So it’s crucial to create an accessible living environment. It ensures people with mobility issues live in an inclusive environment. The construction of a wheelchair ramp is one of the most significant accessibility projects. Wheelchair users can enter and exit their homes safely and easily with the help of a wheelchair ramp, enabling independent mobility in the house.
Installing grab bars and railings around the house is another popular accessibility project. People can move around and balance more easily because of these features’ steadiness and assistance. Bathrooms, spaces near stairs, and other places where support and stability are required can all benefit from the installation of grab bars. Handrails along staircases are essential to avoid falls and ensure safe navigation.
Remodeling doorways and hallways to enable various mobility aids, such as wheelchairs or walkers, is another significant accessibility project. It makes it easy to move around and pass through spaces by widening entrances and eliminating obstructions. With this alteration, people with mobility issues can walk around the house without restriction, fostering independence and a sense of belonging.
You should also improve your home’s lighting and visibility as part of your accessibility renovation. Individuals with vision problems can traverse their environment more effectively with adequate illumination and contrast. Increased illumination, task lighting in strategic locations, and color contrast between surfaces can all considerably improve visibility and lower the chance of accidents or injuries. You may improve your home’s overall functionality, safety, and quality of life by investing in accessibility.
Dealing With Uninvited Guests
Pests can be an annoyance and a serious health hazard in any location. According to the American Chemical Society, rodents consume around 20% of the food produced worldwide. Pests that enter a home can significantly impact the health of all occupants. Humans can also contract lethal infections from pests like fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes, including malaria, plague, Lyme disease, and West Nile virus.
Additionally, many people can suffer from respiratory issues when pests invade a home. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), roach allergens are the third most common cause of childhood asthma. Among all insects, cockroaches are the dirtiest. For these reasons, you need prompt and effective pest control if you experience an infestation.
Working with a professional pest control service can eliminate pests and stop further infestations. In addition to protecting your house, hiring pest control professionals can help you avoid making expensive repairs. Whether termites, rodents, or ants cause the infestation, pest control professionals have the expertise, resources, and solutions to manage it.
Pest management poses a risk, particularly when using potentially harmful materials and tools. Therefore, both technicians and clients should always put safety first. Here are some crucial safety precautions to remember:
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- Put on protective gear: To avoid being exposed to dangerous chemicals and pests, you should wear protective clothing, gloves, and masks.
- Apply pesticides correctly: You should follow the label directions and in the required quantities. Pesticide overuse can harm the environment, wildlife, and people’s health.
- Keep kids and pets away: For safety reasons, keep kids and pets away both during and after the treatment.
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By addressing pest infestations early on, you can protect your property and enjoy peace of mind. Additionally, involve experts in door lock installation to install sturdy locks in your garage and house. The idea is to keep buglers and thieves at bay.
Contacting an HVAC Specialist
Keeping your home at a reasonable temperature is crucial for your health, especially in the sweltering summer. It’s important to contact an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) expert when your HVAC system malfunctions. An HVAC expert has the skills to identify and fix problems with your air conditioning system, whether it’s a refrigerant leak, broken compressor, or malfunctioning thermostat. In addition to bringing back your home’s comfort, prompt air conditioning repair can stop potential damage, saving you from massive replacement costs.
Optimizing your HVAC system’s performance and energy efficiency also requires routine maintenance. An HVAC expert can handle typical maintenance jobs, including coil cleaning, electrical connection inspections, and moving part lubrication. These steps ensure that your air conditioning system runs as efficiently as possible, lowering energy use and extending the system’s lifespan.
Addressing Leaks
You can preserve the integrity of your plumbing system and prevent property damage by promptly fixing leaks. Leaking fixtures and pipes waste a lot of water. In fact, a leaky faucet that drips at a rate of one drop per second can waste over 3,000 gallons of water annually, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You may save money on your water bills and conserve water by quickly fixing leaks. You should seek help from a professional local plumber when you notice leaks, such as dripping faucets and water stains.
Leaks can cause water damage and mold growth if ignored. When it affects floors, walls, or ceilings, it can compromise the structure of a building and foster the growth of mold. Mold can harm your property as well as endanger your family. You may reduce the danger of water damage and the consequent need for expensive repairs by taking care of leaks as soon as you discover them. Don’t underestimate prompt leak repair to maintain your plumbing system’s integrity and functionality.
Are you ready for your next home improvements? You can improve your house’s living standards and sustainability through home upgrades, additions, and upkeep. Be sure to handle these tasks with careful planning, smart design, and a carefully studied choice of an expert to help you. In addition to being financially sound, the additions can add value to your lifestyle and property.
