Guest Post - 5 Factors to Consider Before Starting a Home Remodeling Project

Thinking about embarking upon a home remodeling project can be so exciting! Whether it's turning an unfinished basement into a home movie theater, transforming an outdated bathroom, or renovating a kitchen, home remodeling can add extra comfort and usability to your living space. 

But remember, remodeling projects can often go awry or way over budget, so before you start, be sure to consider these five factors. Understanding these now can save you time, money, and stress later on. 

1. Will Your Home Remodeling Project Be a Sound Investment?

There's no doubt that remodeling projects often add a touch of beauty and glamour to your home, but even the smallest of projects could have a large price tag. Will the cost of what you'd like to have fit within your current budget? It'll be hard to enjoy the new space if you're worried about paying off your loan or credit card bills. Also, consider your home's current value and the value of the homes in your neighborhood.  If you're remodeling because you'd like to put your home up for sale soon, this information will be helpful since you may not want to spend money on a remodeling project if it doesn't increase the property's value.

2.  Consider the Timing and Space

Before moving forward with a home remodeling project, you need to make sure you have sufficient space for what you'd like to accomplish. For example, if you want to transform your basement into an in-law’s apartment, you first need to make sure there is ample space for a family member to live comfortably.  

Timing your remodeling project is also an important factor. Depending on where you live and the nature of the project, some work may depend on the weather and the season. Outdoor projects such as building a deck or a garage may need to be done during a warm and dry time of the year.

3.  Set a Realistic Timeline

Be sure to allocate ample time for every step of your remodeling project. The fact is that for nearly every large-scale project, you will likely come up against at least one unexpected delay. Delay-causing events can range from discovering unknown structural problems with your house to delays in shipping for appliances to unpredictable, lousy weather. 

Some time may also need to be spent moving displaced furniture or belongings. Dealing with these problems is made easier with the use of units at a long and short-term storage facility (depending on the duration of your work). Rather than cluttering up other rooms for weeks or months, moving those items into a climate and access-controlled space can make life easier for everyone in your home.

4. Understand the Work that Happens Before the Remodeling Process

Before the contractors and remodeling professionals (if you’re outsourcing labor) start to work, you'll need to make sure the space being remodeled is ready for them. As you’re packing up belongings and small items, use the time to declutter and get rid of things you haven't thought about or used in years. Donate items that are in good condition to a local charity for those in need. Items that can't be donated can be recycled or put out with the trash. 

You'll also want to do some research and understand what types of building permits and inspections your city or town requires. Laws differ from one municipality to the next, but typically, more extensive projects such as building an addition, garage, or installing a new HVAC system will require a permit. Smaller remodeling jobs such as painting interior rooms, or changing fixtures and appliances do not. Your local permit office will be able to tell you what is required.

5.  Take the Time to Contract Reputable Remodeling Experts and Quality Building Suppliers

Nothing can ruin remodeling plans faster than fly-by-night contractors or poor-quality building supplies. Take the time to ask friends and co-workers for references for reputable remodeling experts in your local area. Interview several different companies before making a decision. Evaluate each on qualities such as the satisfaction of previous customers, how they will communicate with you, and the clarity of their explanations. Look at photos of remodeling projects that have been completed in the past to identify their level of craftsmanship and get their feedback on your budget for the project. You want to make sure you have 100% trust and confidence in the team you hire.

When it comes to your project's building supplies, fixtures, and appliances, you also want to invest in the best quality that your budget will allow for. Ensure you or your contractor source all materials from vendors that sell products meeting the highest quality standards. Also, be aware of your state's warranty regulations for all purchased goods. These laws vary, but they'll offer you a certain degree of protection in the event something malfunctions or breaks through no fault of your own.

Finally, if your remodeling project is substantial and will involve multiple contractors, workers, and interior designers coming to your home, you may want to consider purchasing and installing a key lockbox or "smart" door hardware. This way, you don't have to wait at home to let every person in and out of your house whenever they come by to work.

Starting a home remodeling project can be a fantastic way to freshen up a tired or outdated living space. When you take the time to plan your project, you'll be prepared for every step of the process. In no time at all, you'll be enjoying your new space – and thinking about the next project you want to tackle.

About the Author: Carolyn Mitchell is a freelance writer and content strategist with a passion for home décor and maintenance. She can often be found re-painting and updating the furnishings in her home, and she is also a dedicated cat mom to two adorable kitties.

How to Clean up the Exterior of Your Home in 4 Simple Steps

The cleanliness of your home is the first impression that people have about you. You need a clean exterior that consists of the siding, windows and roof. You can do the cleaning yourself by following these four simple steps.

Choose the Right Pressure Washer

A pressure washer varies by the level of speed and water pressure. Choose the right features based on the strength and intensity of the cleaning. A low pressure is needed to clean small items like a car or furniture. Increase the pressure to 2,400 psi or more to clean a large area like a patio or driveway or to remove tough stains on siding.

Choose the Soap

There are detergents that are designed for power washing all surfaces from vehicles to buildings. Lather combined with water helps to remove the toughest stains and leave the area disinfected. You have numerous choices, such as multipurpose cleaners, concentrate solutions, house and deck cleaners and vehicle detergents. Some people claim that mixing bleach with dishwasher soap is equally effective. It's recommended that you use oxygen bleach that is weaker than chlorine bleach, which is damaging to colors and destructive to plants.

Determine the Extent of Coverage to Clean

Every homeowner has different areas of coverage to worry about. You may want to clean one side of the house, both sides or the patio only. Consider the different areas that you need cleaned in the front and back yards. There is the siding, roof, windows and patio along with the driveway and walkways.

Clean the Worst Stains First

Every home exterior has openings where dirt and debris settle in without coming back out. Start by power washing the siding, and continue to the windows where stains are most visible. Then, look for other parts of the exterior where stains are seen from afar or up close. An effective method is to rinse the area first, scrub the stains off with a brush and then rinse again.

Like many people, you're tired of looking at the dull, filthy covering of your home when you approach the driveway. Taking one look at a clean exterior is a relief from seeing the typical buildup of dirt, mildew and debris. When you set out to clean the home yourself, know there are proper tools and techniques that all professional house cleaners use.

Moving Into an Old Home? Repairs You Might Need to Plan For

Most old homes have great character, but they occasionally come with some unwanted surprises. If your dream home is over thirty years old, you shouldn't be intimidated by potential issues, but you should be prepared for updates and repairs that may need to be made before you move in.

Old Roofing

In different climates, roofing can have a varied lifespan. Be sure to have your inspector check your roof for proper flashing, and to ensure that there are no leaks. Water damage due to weather is among the top five causes for homeowners insurance claims. Dark stains on the exterior walls, bubbling paint, or staining of the ceiling inside can be signs that there is water damage and the roof may need to be repaired or replaced.

Leaky Pipes

Another top cause for homeowner's insurance claims, plumbing issues like burst pipes or leaking refrigerator lines can cause serious damage. An unnoticed leak can do enough damage to require entire rooms to need replacing. Ask your inspector to check areas where moisture can build, like bathrooms and kitchens, including moving floor covering to check below. Damaged or warped flooring can be a sign of water damage, and it will need to be repaired immediately to avoid any further damage or buildup of toxic mold.

Foundation Issues

If you enter a home and feel off kilter or dizzy, there could be a need for a foundation repair. Crooked doorways, cracking drywall, or sagging ceilings could be a sign of foundation issues. Have your foundation expert take a look to find out the cause and provide an estimate for the possible repairs.

Pests

Mice, ants, and other pests aren't uncommon in most parts of the country. If you see decaying siding, you may want to have a pest-control specialist take a look to check for termites. Likewise, if you hear small footsteps in the attic, it could be raccoons, birds, or a number of different vermin or rodents.

Drafty Windows

Most homes today have double-paned windows with a vinyl base, but that hasn't always been the case. Many older homes still have windows with aluminum bases, and sometimes only single-pane. Check around the windows for mold and mildew, as improper flashing on windows can cause buildup of moisture. If you have aluminum windows without signs of moisture, they may not require an immediate replacement, but it is a worthwhile investment, as it can save on heating and cooling in the future.

While old homes can have issues, they usually come at a better price, and often have unique layouts, and artistic detailing that you don't find in newer homes. If you're looking at purchasing an old home, be prepared for it to need a repair or two, but don't be scared away. Most of these issues, while sometimes inconvenient, are very fixable, and shouldn't discourage you from buying the house of your dreams.

Organizing Mistakes Making Your House Look Cluttered

What Makes a House Look Cluttered?
Have you ever walked through your supposedly clean house and gotten an uncomfortable creeping feeling? Despite your best efforts to keep things clean, it can still sometimes seem like you’re drowning in clutter.

Clean and uncluttered are two similar ideas that may come from the same book but are not on the same page. Clutter is an organizational mistake that loves to hide in plain sight.

Here are some common culprits that might be making your house look cluttered:
• Your entrance is the first thing you and others see when entering your home. It’s easy to let your entrance become a clutter trap for shoes, coats, keys and mail. A cluttered entrance can put a cluttered tint on the rest of your home.
• Those neat little piles you put things into when you’re organizing can end up swallowing your home. A nice pile is better than a tornado, but even the neatest of piles is still a pile of clutter.
• These days, everything comes with a cord. The plugs and chargers belonging to your appliances and devices may not be clutter, but they can look like clutter if you let them run wild in plain sight.

Should You Clean or Declutter First?

Decluttering before you clean will make cleaning much easier. If you put your mind to sorting through your clutter first, you’ll probably end up donating or throwing out a lot of things you don’t need. The more junk you get rid of, the less there will be to clean.

Once you’ve gone through your open-air junk and sorted it into things you want to keep and things you don’t, you will have eliminated much of your future cleaning work. Instead of looking for a way to keep all those things clean and organized, you’ll simply have fewer things. Fewer things means fewer piles, more space for your eyes to rest and less work for you.

How Do You Organize Your Household?

Start by designating a place for all the kinds of things that tend to pile up around your entrance. Use a crate for all the shoes, or train your family to keep them in rows against the wall. Use a coat rack for the winter wear, a tray or wall hooks for the keys and a pretty little basket for the mail.

Next, you may find it useful to come up with a system for the kinds of piles that tend to accumulate around the house. If bills tend to pile up on the counter, designate a bill drawer to keep them out of sight. If random clothes seem to materialize everywhere, assign a closet space for lost and found clothes.

I like to keep a chaos cupboard where I put anything that I regularly use but would otherwise leave out in the open. This can include sports gear, headphones, pet toys and even small tools. If you like organized chaos but despise clutter, keep it behind closed doors.

This also applies to all those devices and their cords. Assign a drawer where random mobile electronics belong so they don’t clutter up the couches or get lost between the cushions. Keep all the cords from your entertainment or work stations together in one place using a cable hider. Strategically placed cable hider sleeves can help you avoid tangles and lost chargers as well as reduce visible clutter.

Why Is It Important To Be Organized at Home?

Living in a mess can cause you stress. Piles and tangles can force you to constantly think about minor things that don’t deserve your attention. The less junk you keep in the open demanding your attention, the more you’ll be able to focus on the important things.

Coming up with storage systems and sticking to them also makes it easier to find things. When you designate a place where shoes go, you won’t have to spend another second thinking about where you put your shoes. Knowing where things should be is a great time saver.

Conclusion

You can usually hide in plain sight anything you don’t want to throw out or can’t move. These awesome zip-up cord concealers can consolidate all your wall and floor spaghetti. Imagine going from a mess of chargers, extensions, audio wires, Ethernet cables and USB cords to just one neat jet black line. 

When decluttering, we recommend using trash bags rather than storage bins. Storage bins signal to your brain that you might be keeping the items, which isn’t really decluttering. Trash bags tell your brain that the stuff in here is definitely leaving the house.

The easiest way to get a handle on your clutter is to start from zero. Take everything out of the room except the furniture, and then only let back in the items you use and love. This can give you a fresh perspective on both your rooms and your things and help you see the forest instead of just the trees.