Tag: renovation

Start Scheduling Those Home Renovations Now

Posted on by Jordank

It’s below zero outside Organizing Blog headquarters, meaning that we’re spending most of our time inside, where it’s warm. But all of this indoor time has made us notice some of the shortcomings of our surroundings — things that would benefit from a little maintenance and renovation.

We’ve noticed these things before. Deteriorating tile grout. Floors that need sanding. Paint that’s getting dingy. Cabinets sticking. And that’s just the interior of the house — there’s also a fence that needs mending, peeling shingles and cracks in the garage floor!

Some of your #home #improvement projects will be more urgent than others, of course, and a few may be rather involved. But if you have any renovations that absolutely need to get done this year to protect your home’s value, now is the time to plan them.

#Spring and #summer are the peak seasons for home improvement projects. If one or more of your projects requires a contractor, be aware that their schedules fill up fast. Get estimates and schedule your projects while it’s still cold to retain a good contractor, or you may be forced to wait months, hire someone less capable or spend extra money on a rush job.

Assuming you don’t have an endless pile of #money, you’ll want to make a list of potential projects and prioritize the most urgent. A new roof or furnace might not be as sexy as a spa bathroom, for example, but if the time has come for a replacement, that’s where you need to put your money first.

If a prioritized project is something that adds to the home’s livability and appeal such as a new gourmet kitchen, planning ahead often leads to better outcomes. “Choosing the right materials, colors and styles for your home is a significant decision,” says Pro-Home Services. “Rushing through it could leave you with regrets later.”

Many remodeling projects require permits, which can take time to obtain. Weather and supply chain disruptions may also get in the way of completion, so allow time for delays. And again, “If you wait too long to schedule your home remodeling project, you may struggle to find a contractor,” Pro-Home says. “You don’t want to settle for whomever happens to be available.”

Make a list of the projects you’d like to get done. Figure out which ones you can handle yourself (and what that might require), and which will require professional help. Then, start making calls. Before summer is over, you’ll be able to check one or more of those projects off your list! #HomeImprovement #HomeRenovation

Start Planning Your Fall Projects Now

Posted on by Jordank

Another long weekend is on the books, and even though most of the country can look forward to another month or two of temperate weather, fall will be here soon. That’s why everyone should start planning — or doing — their fall projects now.

While spring and summer tend to be the busiest times of year for home improvement and renovation, fall offers relatively mild and consistent weather for DIY projects. In other words, it’s less likely you’ll be withering under the oppressive heat or dodging heavy rainstorms.

If you need to hire some help, you’re in luck: Business starts to slow down for most contractors in the fall, so you will probably have an easier time finding a qualified professional and the materials you need for a project. You may even get a price break!

Work from the outside in, Thumbtack’s Dave Steckel told The Spruce, winterizing your home and garden for the first freeze, then turning attention to interior projects. “The idea is to get ready for winter in the fall, because we never know when the weather will change,” he said.

Depending on your situation, painting, tuckpointing, roofing, gutter cleaning and HVAC maintenance may be on the list of exterior to-dos. All are essential to protecting the home and its occupants against the elements, so get them on the calendar now.

Once you have these handled, turn your attention to the interior of the home. Common projects include interior painting, floor and tile installation, lighting installation, bathroom remodeling, and home #cleaning and #organizing.

The Organizing Blog recommends a thorough #decluttering of any spaces you’ll be fixing up. Not only will it make completing your fall projects easier, reducing #clutter can beautify the space long after those projects are complete. #Donate any extra #stuff that you don’t need to ClothingDonations.org.

You’ll be spending more time indoors when fall and winter roll around; make your space more livable and efficient before the temperatures start to drop.

Plan Projects as You Celebrate Labor Day

Posted on by Jordank

At home or on the road, Labor Day weekend is nothing to squander. You might choose to host a #cookout or tailgate, Country Living suggests, now that football season has arrived, or you can find a swimming hole, rent a pool or simply turn on the sprinklers. Watching the local #parade and #picnicking are possibilities, as are bike rides, books, beer gardens and anything else you like to do for fun. If you’re handy, don’t wait to start your on any home improvement projects you want to get done this fall — or at least prioritize those projects, start gathering the necessary equipment and contacting any experts you’ll need to help. #LaborDay

Kick Back at Home for Labor Day

Posted on by Jordank

For a truly relaxing Labor Day, try kicking back at home. Take that extra day to do something you don’t ordinarily have time for, such as a #cookout, movie night, or a #household project or #renovation, says home designer Stanley Martin. “House projects may not be as relaxing as a holiday by the pool, but they certainly are rewarding. Select a project or two that you’re confident can be completed within the long weekend and get started.” Depending on your situation and needs, small projects with a big payoff include #decluttering, landscaping and painting. Whatever you choose, make time to relax afterward. #LaborDay

The Perfect Time of Year for Renovations

Posted on by Jordank

Every season has pros and cons when it comes to home projects: Spring is best for starting new landscaping projects, for example, while summer is good for a kitchen overhaul since you can grill while your new stove is installed.

These seasons are the busiest time of year, however, so your project may face shortages of labor and materials — or pay top-dollar to get what you want, when you want it. Fall and winter may be equally good for a renovation project, Renofi says..

Right now, you can still install new flooring or finish your basement and finish in time for the holidays. Temperatures are still warm enough for exterior painting, too, as well as many landscaping projects such as reseeding a lawn or planting bulbs and shrubs.

Should your roof need repairs, don’t hesitate. In areas with significant amounts of snow buildup in winter, a faulty or damaged roof may not last until spring. Roofing has the benefit of being a fairly quick project that won’t disrupt your home’s interior.

Interior painting is a good project to tackle in the fall, since the lower humidity will help paint dry faster. You’ll be spending more time inside those rooms soon enough; why not do so in a fresh and clean environment?

Larger projects such as a kitchen or bath overhaul may take more foresight, experts say. Plan at least a month or two in advance to get those renovations started, whether you decide to do them yourself or hire a contractor.

Winter has the added benefit of being contractors’ slowest season, so if you’re eyeballing a big job such as a new kitchen, bathroom or whole-house renovation, start planning and booking workers now. The only downside is that the weather may be messy.

Big renovations are likely to test your patience, considering ongoing supply-chain issues and labor shortages. Project timelines may be three to five times as long as they were in the past, U.S. News & World Report warns, and prices for materials and labor have gone up.

But there’s no time like the present to get started. Just remember to contact ClothingDonations.org to schedule a free, #contactless #donation #pickup of any castoffs you discover as you prepare to freshen your space.