Owning a home is often a rewarding, yet exhausting experience. There are many things you have to do as a homeowner in order to keep your home in beautiful condition, such as completing routine repairs and making upgrades as needed so your home stays in relevant and in code. If you neglect to keep up with projects around your home, you risk having it fall into disrepair, which can severely affect its market value. Before you get started on your next home repair, here are a few dos and don’ts to consider.
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Do Have a Budget
You should never go into a home improvement project or repair without first having a budget in mind. If you fail to map out general costs for your project, you may under budget and risk not completing it, which can be unsightly and dangerous. A good rule of thumb is to budget at least an extra 20% into your overall costs to account for any unforeseen circumstances that may arise during the process.
Don’t Handle Difficult Projects
You should never attempt to handle difficult projects on your own, or you may risk doing more harm than good during your home improvement project. Unless you’re a licensed professional, you should always call in the pros to handle most home repairs. Certain projects require extra attention and there are people such as licensed electricians, certified plumbers, and expert hvac services that you should consider before you begin anything on your own.
Do Have a Plan
Never go into any type of home improvement project or renovation without first having a plan mapped out. If you dive into a project head first without having a general idea of what you’d like to accomplish, you’ll likely end up spending more money on your project or doing it incorrectly. You should follow the age-old rule of measuring the same area multiple times to ensure you have the right dimensions before you attempt to add or remove anything from your home.
Don’t Change Your Mind
Well, it’s okay to change your mind a little bit during a home improvement project. Say, for example, you decide to use one material over another or decide to go with a different brand of something. What you shouldn’t change your mind on, however, are major items such as paint colors after you’ve already painted a room, the layout of a kitchen or bathroom mid-way through your project, or other things that could major cause your project to change course. Not only is it expensive, but it can dramatically increase your overall timeline to complete your project.
Do Put Saftey First
Job sites can be a dangerous place, especially if tools and materials aren’t handled properly. If you’re in the middle of a home improvement project, you should be sure to put away your tools each and every night and clean up your materials or store them out of the way when you’re not using them. This is especially important if you have small children or pets, who could have access to your job site. The last thing you want and need is a medical bill on top of your home improvement costs, so it’s best to consider safety and keep dangerous items out of reach.
Even if this is your first home improvement project, you can be prepared with a little research and understanding of these simple dos and don’ts Using these helpful tips, you should be ready for your next home improvement project in no time.
