INSIGHT - Part 2

3 Simple Must-Do Home Improvement Projects If You Want Your House To SELL

January 31, 2021 Comments Off

In a competitive market, in any market for that matter, there are a few basic home improvement projects that are non-negotiable. They are the ones that can make or break the sale of your home. Those who choose to take their chances and cut corners, pinch pennies, avoid to regret it. Don’t allow yourself to be one of those people.
Here are 3 simple MUST-DO home improvement projects IF you want your house to SELL!
Flooring – Many sellers think it’s a better idea to give a buyer credit to choose their own carpet when they move into the house. The problem is, the majority of those buyers can’t see beyond what’s currently in the home. That old, dirty or outdated carpet usually deters them from purchasing the home altogether OR if they do, they will low-ball the offer. This includes worn hardwood flooring, poorly installed laminate, and old, outdated tile or vinyl. Take care of upgrading these features BEFORE putting your home on the market AND ensure that the type of product you install is at a quality level commensurate with the value of your property. You wouldn’t want to put the same type of flooring in a $300,000 home that you would in a $1,000,000 property. The buyers will know and they will NOT be pleased. Remember, flooring is the foundation (literally) for the home’s interior so make it count.
Paint – Touch up paint just does not do the job. The color (even if it came out of the same can) won’t match due to time, wear, and fading. I have seen touch ups done in the wrong finish. Then your wall just looks like it has a skin condition. Do yourself a favor and invest in a fresh paint job. It will frame the rooms in a clean, fresh manner and fresh paint psychologically engages buyers in the home buying process. It feels like a new home to them and that’s what you want – for them to envision themselves in their new home.
Window Treatments – Fancy drapery are personalized items that generally don’t add a lot of value to the resale process. In fact, it can hinder it. It is usually my recommendation that drapery be removed unless it truly complements the decor and furnishings. If your drapery keeps much needed sunlight from coming through, is mismatched, and does not complement the home’s interior, I highly recommend removing it. Also, if you have blinds that are warped, dusty, and broken, it’s time to replace them. Keep in mind that there are two levels of window treatment. Blinds and shades are for light filtration and privacy and drapery is to frame the windows and add softness and color. For selling purposes, blinds are all that’s really needed. Leaving windows naked can be a negative in many cases and is not advisable. The home just doesn’t look finished and it can be a magnet for burglars.
Having helped hundreds of clients prepare their houses to sell, these 3 home improvement projects were always addressed. Hope you find these tips helpful. I would welcome your feedback.…

How to Install Wood Floors

January 28, 2021 Comments Off

If a plank wood flooring or traditional strips of wood are laid on the sub floor and then it requires finishing for completion of the flooring. However, newer pre-finished wood strips are also available in the market, and do not require any finishing. In case of installation of wood floors were to be done professionally in that case any of the two options could be opted for, however if the “do-it-yourself” option is chosen then it is better to go with the finished planks as it can leave marks in the hands of an amateur. However, it is advised that professionals should be allocated for this job.
However let us first discuss the steps to installing wood floors.
Step one:
Calculation of surface area
Take measurements of the entire place which needs to be covered with flooring. Moreover normally the length is taken alongside the longest wall and for a bigger area possibly the direction alongside where the traffic moves the maximum. The purchase of the flooring needs to be done with the square footage keeping the wastage component in mind. Moreover, acclimatize the wood planks and allow it to get used to the property’s humidity level.
Step two
Prepare the sub floor
Clear and surface the entire floor which will be floored. Moreover, cover the sub floor with a thick layer of asphalt felt. Spacers need to be put alongside the wall for provision of expansion.
Step three
Trimming of door casing
All the bottoms of doors as well other areas need to be trimmed such that the flooring can slip easily under the door. An underlayment along with the flooring needs to be kept as a provision.
Step four
Start laying the first course
The longest or the widest planks will be for the first row. The first row then needs to be face nailed through the plywood of the sub floor.
Step five
Laying the remaining course
The next two rows need to be blind nailed. Moreover while installing the second row and each row thereafter a short piece of flooring needs to hammered and tightened against the previous row. The end joints should be wider than possibly 6 inches and the joints should not be over those of the sub floor.
In case if the surface area to be floored is a large one then, a flooring nailer needs to be used after the first three rows. This is to avoid scratching or damage to the floor. On reaching the last ledge, a pry bar and a block needs to be utilized to tightly drill the planks into position. In case of any change in level while the new flooring, a reducer strip needs to be installed which is rounded or beveled which fits in smoothly. On the other hand it can be butted against the grooves or the edges as well.
Step six
Finishing
Lastly, the baseboard molding needs to be reinstalled. Moreover the spacers against the walls need to be removed and the extras need to be trimmed for neatening of the entire flooring.
Tips:
• The life of the wood floors is usually anything between 10-25 years. This is dependent on the maintenance by the individual. Apart from the regular cleaning and dusting, various solutions and pastes are available for polishing and maintenance.…

The Benefits of Using Soapstone Countertops in Your New Kitchen

January 24, 2021 Comments Off

The Benefits of Using Soapstone Countertops in Your New Kitchen

Thinking of redecorating your kitchen? Looking to install new countertops? You should. It’s the easiest and quickest way to completely change the entire look of your kitchen. With a diverse selection of styles, colors, and materials to choose from, the countertops to choose from seem almost limitless.

Now that you’ve decided to give your kitchen a makeover with a new counter, what are your options? The easiest way to make a dramatic statement is the choice of material you go with. You can use laminate, marble, or granite among many others. However, when looking for a new way to improve the appearance of their kitchens, more homeowners are turning to the beauty and functionality of soapstone countertops.

When it comes to this wonderful natural stone, there are a few characteristics which separate soapstone from other solid countertop surfaces. Soapstone is a natural stone, from quarries into large blocks. These blocks are then transformed into slabs, each having their own individual qualities. This means you should always purchase slabs been cut from the same block so your soapstone counters keep a consistent appearance in regards to both color and movement. It also ensures the overall fluidity of the soapstone countertops.

There are homeowners interested in installing a soapstone countertop because they want to completely avoid the ugliness that comes along after years of wears, tears, scratches and stains. You’ll never have to worry about any of that using soapstone. It is one of the hardest materials used in kitchen countertops. While scratching and staining can occur it is very uncommon.

As well as being tough and scratch resistant, soapstone counters are also tough on hot items, such as pots and pans. You’ll also discover soapstone is quite stain resistant to hot grease and oil as long as it is sealed with a mineral oil. Soapstone slabs can be easily cut and for a basin. This natural stone has a cool polished surface, making it perfect for rolling out pastry dough. The polished finish of a soapstone countertop will never wear off.

Soapstone countertops are unique because no two slabs or blocks of this stone are exactly the same. Therefore, it provides an interesting element of design no other kitchen can boast. Soapstone adds certain amount of richness and texture to a kitchen not found in other countertop surfaces. It creates a sheer brilliance and elegance only found in nature. The personality and character a soapstone countertop adds to a kitchen cannot be surpassed.…

5 Tips to Improve the Look of Your Bathroom

January 19, 2021 Comments Off

You might be thinking of giving your aging bathroom a new look but don’t know where to start. The good news is that it’s easy to improve the look of a bathroom just by changing a few items and accessories. Here are 5 tips that you can use in your bathroom renovations:
1. The most significant change in your bathroom design would be your wall tiles. Obviously this takes a bit of work and renovation work to hack and replace existing tiles could be noisy and relatively costly as well. However, the change is worth it if you choose the correct tiles to suit your theme. If you do not wish to hack and replace the tiles, an option that you can explore is to spray paint them.
2. Another obvious area to look into would be your wash basin and shower area. The size and shape of your basin and bathtub (if you have one) can contribute significantly to how your bathroom looks. Your table top also says a lot about your personality. A luxurious dark granite top would have a much different effect from one with a minimalist design.
3. If you don’t want to make major changes, a shower curtain can do wonders for your bathroom. Curtains such as retro shower curtains or those with special prints can bring character to your bathroom at a low cost and can be installed easily without the help of a contractor or handy man.
4. Accessories such as mirrors, towel, soap and shampoo holders can also add a lot of character to your bathroom. If you want your bathroom to look like one from a luxury hotel, you’ll be surprised how changing small items such as installing an overhead rainforest type of shower can help.
5. Finally, an often under looked factor is the lighting in your room. Most people don’t even give a thought to the lighting as the bathroom area is so small, but lighting plays a big part in how a room looks. For example, try picturing any room with soft while lights and then imagine the same room with warm lighting. That’s quite a bit of a change right? The bathroom is no different and you can enhance the effect further by having features such as lamps or recessed lighting.
I hope these 5 tips help you get started in your bathroom renovations. A beautiful bathroom remodel project need not be costly, just get creative and let your imagination run wild.…

How To Have a Great Home Remodeling Experience

January 19, 2021 Comments Off

Nearly 65% of the adults in America own the home they live in. If you are a homeowner, you know how important it is to keep your property in pristine shape. As time goes by, you may start to notice things about your home that need to be changed. For instance, if you are running out of room for your growing family, you may need to build-on to your residence.

Are you thinking of investing in a home improvement project in 2021? If so, check out the great tips in this article regarding how to have success with a home improvement project.

Know What You Want To Accomplish

One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a homeowner is starting an improvement project without any clear goals in mind. In most cases, this will result in a lot of time, money and resources being wasted. This is why you need to have clear and definable goals for a home improvement project before getting started.

The professionals who specialize in room additions Jacksonville FL will have no problem offering you guidance regarding how to improve your home. They can also give you information about what these improvements will cost and what type of return you can expect from your investment. Before hiring a construction company to help with a home improvement project, you need to schedule a few onsite estimates.

Invest in Quality Building Materials

Another important thing you need to keep in mind is that quality building materials can make your home improvements more resilient. Skimping on the quality of the building materials used for these projects can be disastrous. The extra money spent on higher quality materials will definitely be worth it in the long run.

With the help of knowledgeable professionals, you can get your home improvement projects completed quickly and correctly.…

Laminate Flooring at Discount Prices – The Perfect Floor For Your Family

January 14, 2021 Comments Off

With its rugged construction, any discount laminate flooring should be the number one flooring choice for anyone considering building a new home or remodeling an older home. Discount laminate hardwood flooring resembles actual hardwood flooring but has the added convenience of a low amount of care. Because these types of floors can withstand a fairly significant amount of foot traffic, they’re the perfect flooring for any family to consider. If you want a beautiful floor that provides easy maintenance and longevity, then you owe it to yourself to survey the types of discount wood laminate flooring that is available online.
A Popular Choice
What makes discount laminated wood flooring so well-regarded is the fact that it can be easily installed, looks good after many years of use and can accommodate most peoples’ pocketbooks. In addition, discount laminate wood flooring looks so much like wood that it’s virtually impossible to discriminate which one is which. This is because the wood patterns of the floors have been designed by using computerized technologies in order to give them a real wood look. What a boon for the home as well as the environment. No trees are required in the manufacturing process.
Eco Friendly Designs
As a result, the consumer who chooses discount laminate flooring can pick from a wide selection of “wood” patterns and designs. Some laminate flooring is offered in patterns that look like real stone and granite as well. Some of the “woods” and finishes you can choose from include dark and light laminates of oak, cherry, walnut, mahogany, acacia, cypress, pecan, acorn, buckeye, alder, elm, maple, teak and birch. Whether you want, say, a dark mahogany, a light oak or a natural maple, you will find the type of discount laminate wood flooring that will fit your personal tastes and decorating scheme.
A DIY Installation
Installation is also a breeze especially if you’re a do-it-yourselfer. A locking assembly features into the installation process thereby doing away with gluing the planks or tiles down onto the original flooring. Joints snap into place making installation almost an exact science as the flooring will fit perfectly over the area you wish to cover. Because of its placement over a sub floor, discount laminated wood flooring is known as a floating floor because such an installation provides alignment over uneven surfaces as well as insulation for sound.
An almost Maintenance-free Floor
No need to use a bucket and mop on any discount wood laminate flooring either. These floors use their own special cleaners and can be dry mopped for convenient and simple cleaning. The floors are also finished so they resist stains and demarcations making them a leader when it comes to low-maintenance care.
The Best Choice
With the number of advantages associated with choosing a laminate floor, there’s really no other type of flooring you’ll need to consider with regards to your decorating needs.
You can’t help but find the type of laminate flooring that will meet your expectations with respect to price and overall value on the Internet. Search online and you’re sure to be rewarded in finding the best value in flooring for you and your family.…

Tips To Organize Kitchen And Pantry Space

January 10, 2021 Comments Off

Tips To Organize Kitchen And Pantry Space

Your cooking space might be small or limited, but the way you choose to organize it can help a great deal in making even the smallest of kitchens enjoyable to cook in. By taking a few steps in how to best organize kitchen and pantry space, you will be on your way to having a great time when preparing meals.

The utensils and the pot or pans you may require for preparing certain dishes need o be in a place you can easily reach. Hanging cook ware on the walls or by hooks nearby to the stove is one way to not do this and to save cabinet space as well. Hanging up utensils on the wall you use the most also saves drawer space.

Many kitchens, especially those in apartments, do not have pantries off the room for storing food. In these cases, everything will need to be placed into the cabinets. By placing canned goods in order and arranging the food products in boxes separately, you will have a much easier time in finding the ingredients you might need quickly. Using other types of storage aside from the cabinets is a good idea for some other types of foods.

Choose a set of decorative canisters to use for flour, sugar, and other like dry goods. You can save space in the cabinets and have these ingredients within easy reach on counters in this way. Choose those containers that will look great and fit on the counter area you have to work with.

Small appliances can add up to a large clutter quickly. Many of these types of appliances are hardly ever used on a daily basis. Store these kinds of appliances in those cabinets that are hard to reach while using the others for those items you use most every day. You should also consider getting rid of those appliances you just collected on a whim and ended up never using.

Kitchens that are neat and arranged in such a way that allows you to prepare meals easier is more enjoyable to cook in. No one like digging through cabinets and drawers while trying to figure out the fastest meal to make. When everything is in order, you will have more time our of the cooking area than in it.…

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