Minor upgrades can make your old house feel new once more. Plus, giving your home a facelift can significantly increase its resale value in the future. As a homeowner looking to update your house, it’s advisable to work with what you have. If you’re on a tight budget, try to focus your efforts on the most valuable home improvement projects. You can also do DIY upgrades to save money and the hassle of looking for contractors. On that note, here are a few tips for updating and upgrading your house.
1. Purchase a home warranty plan.
When you buy a home, there’s every chance that the seller will offer you a home warranty to cover expensive, unexpected repairs. Unfortunately, the sad reality is that most houses are not covered by home warranties because homebuyers often think that they’re unnecessary. Notwithstanding, it’s not a bad idea to take out a home protection plan for your house.
Unlike home insurance, a home warranty covers replacement costs and offers discounted repair on specific home components like the HVAC system, furnace, electrical systems, and plumbing. What’s more, depending on the type of plan, a home warranty can also cover home appliances such as a clothes washer, dishwasher, water heater, and refrigerator.
When looking for the best home warranty company, choose one that offers a comprehensive coverage plan. For example, AFC Home Club is reputed to provide the best home warranty in California, United States. Moreover, the acclaimed home warranty provider is registered with the California Department of Insurance. In addition, the home warranty company offers select home warranty plans that provide peace of mind and financial protection to homeowners.
2. Install new windows.
Whether it’s a significant addition or a complete overhaul, it makes sense to focus on areas or components of your house that require the most updating. That said, a replacement window may be what your home needs right now. In many ways, replacing a window makes more sense than repairing, especially when looking to update your house’s appearance. New windows can also make the house more energy-efficient. Plus, they can significantly impact the value of the home if you decide to sell.
When getting new windows for your house, you need to consider specific cost factors. Additionally, opt for the most affordable and energy-efficient windows that work best in your climate. For instance, most Florida homeowners install hurricane windows to protect against hurricane-strength winds. However, some people install impact windows that can endure heat, humidity, salty sea air, and intense solar rays. It’s little wonder that anyone planning a window replacement in Florida chooses FHIA Remodeling to handle the project.
3. Upgrade the air filters.
Maintaining a healthy indoor air quality in your home is essential for your comfort and overall well-being. More so, indoor pollution can lead to respiratory diseases, lung cancer, allergy, asthma, and headaches. The most effective way to improve the indoor air quality in your house is to remove the air pollutants such as pollen, allergen, mold, pet dander, germ, and dust mites. Once that’s done, the next thing is to ventilate the room with clean outdoor air to flush out harmful airborne particles.
A poorly ventilated space can produce an unpleasant odor and facilitate the growth of mold spores. To improve the circulation of clean air, you can upgrade the air filter in your central air-conditioning (HVAC) or furnace. Better still, you can purchase a portable air purifier or an air cleaner.
Most homeowners opt for the most popular air purifier in the market, and for good reason. When looking for the best air purifier for your home, be sure to opt for a true HEPA filter or carbon filter. You can even buy a HEPA air purifier on Amazon or at a brick-and-mortar store close to you.
4. Update the painting.
Painting is an easy and cost-effective home improvement method. A quality paint job can spruce up the interior and exterior of your house. That’s why you can overstate the power of paint as a home improvement upgrade. You can update your house by painting the walls, cabinets, countertops, interior doors, backsplashes, window trims, and flooring. The exciting thing about painting is that you don’t need any professional training to do it yourself. That doesn’t mean you can’t hire a professional for the job. If you decide to opt for expert craftsmanship, it’s a good idea to ask at least three different contractors for a free quote to compare prices.
5. Create more open space in your house.
The latest trends indicate that homeowners want more open space in their kitchens, family rooms, and dining rooms. The good thing is that you don’t necessarily have to tear down walls to open up a smaller space. The trick is in decluttering your house.
Don’t hesitate to get rid of items you don’t need, especially those that don’t have a good resale value. The ones still in good working condition can either be repurposed, given to charities, or sold online for some cash.
If you have unwanted recyclable items, make sure you drop them off at recycling centers near you. You’d be surprised to see that you have added extra square feet of space in the process. Moreover, it’ll make your current space more usable and appealing to visitors.
