BY MAURICE ANDERSON
Like any other type of budgeting you have to separate your needs from your wants. Take some time and survey your home. Figure out what needs immediate attention and what can be held off until the warmer months. Also, see what areas just need quick fixes or replacement versus a total renovation. Quick fixes could be something as simple a re-tilling or repainting the walls, other renovations that may need direct assistance would be replacing fixtures that are outdated or are in disrepair. Once you have figured out which areas need focus then you have come up with the foundation to the next step in the process, budgeting goals. Jump on tasks on the inside like switching out interior doors, repainting walls in the bathroom and kitchen, tiling, replacing appliances, or relaying new flooring throughout your home.
Homeowners looking to spice up their kitchen without spending a pretty penny, adding a backsplash is a great solution, not to mention the perfect project for a cold winter weekend. Since you’re stuck inside staring at the walls, why not give them a new look. Adding modern trim work, crown moulding and a bold coat of paint can completely change the look of a room without the expense of doing a complete renovation.
The cost of building materials fluctuates. During winter months when home renovations are fewer and less material are in demand, the cost of building materials goes down. This is one of the ways that tackling your home renovations in the winter can help you stick to your renovation budget. Contractor availability can also pose a problem for home renovations when you join the mad dash to complete home renovations during the warmer months. Once winter comes to a close, most contractors find themselves booked solid, so if you are looking for a specific contractor to complete your renovations, winter is the perfect time to get your job done.
With home improvement projects, sometimes it’s the things that are used the most that are noticed the least such as the doors in your home. After a closer look, the scratches, cracks, old hinges and outdated style can be hard to miss. Replacing interior doors is another affordable way to give your home an updated look versus an expensive remodel. The entry door to your home is another upgrade to consider. This change can make a huge difference in the overall look of the home from the outside and inside. It can also help cut energy costs during those cold winter months that could possibly improve your energy bills.
Planning out and then doing home improvements with your family will bring you closer together. There’s nothing like having common goals to work toward and accomplish. It strengthens the bond, like cement, between family members and teaches children how to set goals and work as a part of team to carry them out to completion.
In the process, you have the opportunity to pass along some of your own home improvements skills to your children that they can then use as adults. These are valuable lessons they will then be able to pass along to their own children one day. Every home project that you undertake will improve the appearance of your home. Knowing that you and your family did the work yourselves will be a feeling like no other. Not only that, but you will also revel in the fact that you have saved a great deal of money by being so capable. It’s a win-win situation for your home and your families pride.
