Home Projects That Will Help You Sell Your Home Quickly

Have you just listed your home? If you’re hoping for a quick sale, consider doing a few small home renovation projects. Home projects can improve your home, and there are a few easy projects you can do that will help you sell your home quickly. House to Home Organizing presents some ideas that you should definitely consider.

Basement Renovation 

If you have a basement you rarely use, featuring a family room with an ancient couch, a basement renovation can help your home stand out and lead to a quick sale. Focus on making the space as functional as possible; turn the basement into an entertainment room with recessed lighting or a bright home office with built-in bookshelves. Do a small basement bathroom renovation to update the counters or put in a new sink to modernize the space.

Landscaping

When enhancing curb appeal and creating a great first impression for potential buyers, spend some time landscaping your yard. This will increase the value of your home and get you a quick sale. Your local garden center can give you tips on which plants grow well in your area. Also, be sure to ask about a plant that can add a pop of color in front of the house. Consider adding a unique sidewalk to the house, and look for bricks or tiles that will enhance your yard.

If you have any trees or bushes that need trimming, do that before you list your home. Overgrown shrubs look messy, can block sunlight from entering the house, and will create a negative first impression, so make sure your yard is neat and clean.

Add a Patio

Another great project to enhance your home is to add a patio to the backyard and boost the appeal of your yard. Potential buyers will have no trouble picturing themselves relaxing on the patio after a long day of work, or sitting comfortably on the patio with a book while keeping an eye on the children playing in the backyard. This isn’t a complicated project, but make sure you calculate the cost before you start.

Replace the Windows

To increase the value of your home and make a quick sale, Consumer Reports suggests upgrading the home security system in your home. Feeling safe is very important for many home buyers, and things like video doorbells and smart smoke detectors can make people feel at ease. So, considering adding elements such as smart lighting, cameras, or other home security measures to draw in these potential buyers.

Updating the Bedroom

If you’ve been living in your current home for a number of years, there’s a good chance that parts of your home are a bit out of date. This is especially noticeable in the bedrooms. If you still have a carpeted floor in some of your bedrooms, do a small renovation and remove the old carpets. You’ll completely change the ambiance of your home with hardwood or laminate flooring, and potential buyers will be impressed by the modern and beautiful touch. After you’ve changed the flooring, update the light fixtures with a soft chandelier or pendant lighting.

Are you ready to sell your home? Do a few home projects to make your house more appealing to potential buyers and increase the value of your home. Focus on creating modern, functional spaces buyers will love, and you’ll sell your home in no time.

If you want to create a space that’s healthy, comforting, and inviting for your whole family, House to Home Organizing can help. Call us today at 203-571-9412.

Guest Post - Exterior Designing Ideas To Give a Fresh Look to Your House

The exterior of your home needs as much attention as the interior. After all, you want your house to look fresh and attractive on the outside as well as the inside. To give the house a fresh look, you'll want to work on a few key areas. Here are a few examples that can help you get started with home renovations for the exterior. 

Redo the patio

There's nothing quite like spending time on your patio on a spring or summer morning. It's the best place to have a cup of coffee early in the day or invite a few friends over during the evening. Because of this, you have to keep it looking fresh and cozy. It's one of the best home projects for your exterior, as you can turn the patio into the ultimate lounge area with relative ease. 

The best place to start would be with seating. Why settle for ordinary patio chairs when you can go for some major comfort instead? Set up a couch and spacious coffee table to make room to relax. Add a rug to cover the wooden floor and make it extra cozy. If you have a patio in the front yard, you can hang up curtains to give you some privacy when you have guests over. With the right accessories, you can make the patio feel just as comfortable as the rest of your home's interior. 

Pick a color for the exterior

Homes tend to have different types of siding material on their exterior. Because of this, plenty of homeowners choose multiple colors for these materials. This should be no surprise, as it can be difficult to match the paint if the materials don't match. However, settling for various colors might not be the best decision if you want a uniform look.

The good news is that you don't have to keep your exterior in various colors. Keeping the tones and hues similar would do just as well, if not better, than choosing a single color. Once you've chosen the main color for the most prominent parts of the facade, you can use some close shades for the rest of the exterior. Not only will this make your home's look more consistent, but it'll also up the freshness factor by quite a bit.

Rethink the roof design

The roof is arguably the most important part of your home's exterior. Not only does it have to protect your home from the elements, but it also has to look good while doing it. You can be sure that prospective buyers and onlookers will see the roof first and the rest of the exterior second. 

Nowadays, you can't just stick a few ordinary flat and monotone shingles on your roof and call it a day. You need to think about how it meshes with the rest of your house's overall look. What type of texture do you want for your shingles? Some designs would look better with flat ones, while others might go better with textured ones. Your imagination and a few house renovation magazines will come in handy when picking the right shingles. 

The next thing to think about is color. The paint on your roof's tiles helps protect from the weather, but it also helps keep your exterior looking neat and attractive. When you enlist roof painting services, make sure you emphasize the color you want for your shingles. The best part about repainting your roof is that it also helps maintain it. A fresh coat of paint improves the roof's protection and keeps it in pristine condition.

Add exterior lighting

Lighting isn't just for the inside, as you might already know. The exterior of your home could use a bit of illumination, to help emphasize the yard and outside décor at night. Nothing adds ambience quite like a few well-placed lighting options.

LED lights can help you achieve good visibility in your front and back yard while allowing you to place them just about anywhere. They're durable and last long enough that you don't have to replace them too often. More importantly, they can withstand the elements without much protection. Christmas lights are another good option for your porch. 

If you want to go for a rustic or old-timey look, lanterns are also a possibility. For safety reasons, you might want to forego actual lanterns that use oil and fire, as you don't want parts of your garden to burn if the wind knocks it down. 

Don't forget to add a small light source next to your house number. It will help guests and delivery personnel find your home with ease when needed.

Conclusion

Renovating your home's exterior is no small task, but it's one that has enormous benefits. Whether you want to freshen up the house's look for yourself or for prospective buyers, you'll find that the job will be well worth the trouble. You'll get increased value out of it, and you'll get to enjoy a pristine and gorgeous home to boot! 

Now, which changes you want to implement is up to you. There are parts of your exterior that you might want to focus on first, such as the roof or walls, but other areas should be given attention as well. Create a plan for renovating and you won't have any trouble taking care of everything in a short amount of time.

Author Bio

Max Jones is a passionate part-time blogger from Australia and into travelling, writing articles, and gaming. He is a freelance teacher. He lives happily with his family in Sydney.

Feel free to contact him on Twitter.

Guest Post - The Best Home Projects to Begin in the Summer

Depending on your home’s location, the summer may be an ideal time to get involved in outdoor activities. On the other hand, dangerously high temperatures leave southern residents housebound. Each region of the world has its summer renovation perks.

You may begin to evaluate some portions of your property that need sprucing up. Performing summertime home improvements can increase the value of your home, increase its efficiency, and elevate residential comfort.

Decorate Your Patio

Last summer, the government persuaded individuals to bring their gatherings outdoors. The uncertainty of this season’s recommendations leads society to upgrade backyard hosting regions just in case. If you live in northern areas, patio upgrades can open a world of opportunities for summertime fun.

Homeowners can transform unused patios into the ultimate lounge space. Hanging up sheer curtains can add a level of privacy while increasing the deck’s aesthetic appeal. Residents may also add outdoor chandeliers and string lights, adding versatility to the region.

You can host morning brunches or evening cocktail hours in your illuminated space. Including an outdoor rug, couches, and floor seats may create an inviting atmosphere. If you value social time, this is the optimal summer project for you.

Replace Your Roof

The fall and winter present challenging weather patterns that place wear on a home. High hurricane winds, fallen branches, rain, hail, and snow can cause significant damage to roofs. Repairing leaks and displaced shingles can offer temporary relief.

Over time, the cost of small patch-ups adds up, and your roof’s security drops. The summer is a good time to replace your roof to protect your house and your wallet. Longer days and moderate temperatures allow professionals to complete this project quickly and effectively.

Install Smart Devices

In warmer regions, high summer temperatures increase residents’ utility bills. You can limit your home’s energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by installing smart appliances.

Smart thermostats may significantly reduce one’s electricity costs by maintaining an energy-efficient home temperature. The system turns off and on depending on the occupancy of a house. Smart shades also reduce electricity costs by automatically shielding your home from excessive sun exposure in the summer.

Renovate Your Basement

Many homeowners use their basement as a residential storage unit. As outdoor temperatures rise, the warm air in your home expands. The air becomes less dense and travels upwards, increasing the temperature of your attic and cooling your basement.

You can conserve your air conditioning energy by creating a basement den. Consider adding a wall or shelving unit to divide the room into storage and living space. Homeowners may add a little paint, furniture, lighting, and entertainment devices to transform their basement completely.

Where to Start?

Whether you are replacing your roof or adding fresh paint, it may help to consult a professional first. You may feel ambitious and wish to start your home improvements right away, but remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day. It’s essential to optimize your summer projects to ensure their longevity and your satisfaction.

Author bio: Rose Morrison is the managing editor of Renovated, where she offers advice on home renovation, maintenance, and organization.

4 Signs Rodents Have Started Living in Your Home During the Winter

Now that you're ready for Spring cleaning, this is a great time to look for evidence of mice or other rodents having moved into your home over the winter. While they are often nocturnal and more likely to be seen at night, here are some signs to look for that may indicate the presence of these pests.

Mouse Tracks

Rodents tend to creep along the walls and drawer edges as they move around your home. You can usually find mouse tracks, which is their fecal droppings, when they are in the area. You've probably seen them, but if not, they look like small, dark pellets or seeds about a quarter inch in length. Don't handle them directly, as they are germy, but clean them out with tissue or a cloth and then sanitize the area.

Unusual Openings

Inspect the outside of your home or small openings that should not be there. Cracks in the concrete foundation or small torn spots in the siding may provide an entrance for pests. Look in the basement and attic or cracks or damage in the walls that may reveal an opening from the outside. Check the baseboards in your house as well as the floors of closets and cupboards, which is where rodents prefer to nest.

Nesting

You may find signs of rodent nesting in stacks of newspapers or magazines that are mostly undisturbed. Mice also look for dark corners in cupboards where the shelf liner can be scratched loose to make a nest. You can even find them in dresser drawers where old books or pictures are loosely stored. Shredded paper, cardboard, and similar substances could mean that rodents are your new boarders, and they may be having a family!

Burrowing Sounds

Although less common, you might hear the faint sounds of rodents in your house, especially at night. Sometimes they enter through a hole in the roof, so you could even hear them scratching around in the ceiling or walls. Coming down through the chimney is another common entryway, so keep the flue closed. But even if you don't hear them, they might be getting comfortable in your home. If you are not sure, call mice removal experts to evaluate the signs you have noticed and eliminate the rodents from your house.

No one wants to share their home with pesky creatures from outdoors. Look for evidence they have invaded your property and take steps to remove them before they multiply.