Home improvement ideas: 100 easy ways to add value to your house Home

Any openings in the slab or foundation are sealed to keep out radon. Motion detector lights are a proven crime deterrent, and standard hard-wired models cost as little as $15. If running a power supply would be difficult, buy ones that run on solar power.

• Usually, we’re more preoccupied with finishes and fittings than the things we can’t see.
• Surprisingly, abathroom remodelwas the third most common home improvement planned for 2020 — typically it’s one of the more expensive projects to take on.
• From air filter replacement to winterization and everything in between, get peace of mind knowing all your home maintenance is handled by pros.
• Chalk paints offer a really nice, bright tone especially for your kitchen.

In fact, 57% would pay $5,000 or more, on top of the asking price, to save $1,000 a year in utility costs. “Generally, if I get to a higher-end home and the carpets are decent, I don’t advise them to replace because I know that someone’s going to come in and replace it with hardwood,” Russell says. If the seller doesn’t want to take on that cost, some buyers and sellers will negotiate a flooring allowance. A pool may cost significantly more than around $30,000 to build, however, so you’ll need to weigh your individual cost and personal enjoyment of this feature against the added resale value in your market.

This extra “room” comes in handy when entertaining or in the summer months when warm evenings are best spent outdoors, drink in hand. More than placing a grill and a table, this project is about creating an outdoor experience. Designing an exterior kitchen involves setting up a fully functional space that can work without requiring homeowners to step indoors to complete their meals. Whether it’s from a fallen branch, a pair of over-eager paws, or simple wear and tear, sooner or later most window screens will require a repair. And it’s possible to patch a small tear, but you can also replace an entire screen. This is a great beginner DIY home improvement that will help keep insects out of your home and make your windows or screen doors more attractive.

Update the color palette

Equally at home in a modern space as a period property, wall panelling hides a multitude of sins as well as adding interest to a featureless room. Choose the correct dimensions, and it can also be used to rebalance the proportions of an unusually shaped space. For example, if you owe $270,000 on your $350,000 home, lenders would consider loaning you up to $45,000 ($315,000 is 90% of $350,000). Many homeowners opt to finance their remodeling project — especially if they’re planning on selling shortly after finishing the project — as they’ll be able to pay the loan back in full after closing. The Zillow paint study found white is the best color for kitchens, gray is well-suited to living rooms and dark blue bedrooms appealed to buyers.

Best New Products with Jodi Marks

One of the quickest ways to make your home feel brand new is by giving it a fresh coat of paint. Painting is something you can easily tackle yourself, but don’t attempt it before House & Home Improvement reading these tips on painting like a pro. For colour inspiration, check out the best white paint shades from Dulux and 10 of the best neutral paint colours that aren’t white.