Home Improvement Articles - Page 1

Home improvements on a budget are on a rise. With the housing crisis and the downward pressure on home prices, more people may opt to stay put and renovate their homes. But these home renovations and repairs will be smaller and give home owners more bang for the buck. Closet organizers are one way…

Renovation costs have soared out of control - even in the current recession. You'd think that renovation costs would be less because fewer home improvement contractors are employed. But that doesn't seem to be the case. Consumers, mindful of renovation costs are staging their home improvement…

The FHA 203k rehab loan (or 203(k)) Program offers government-backed loans to rehab and refinance a borrower's property. According to the Office of the Comptroller of Currency, this is an important program that can help stabilize the nation's struggling neighborhoods. Learn more about the FHA 203k…

It used to be easy to get a cash-out refinance, where you could refinance your home mortgage including the equity that you held in your property. Ever since the financial or credit crisis, it's become more difficult to get a cash-out refinance. So if you want to make home improvements you may need…

When you're buying a home, a home inspector will go over the property with you to point out any issues that may require home repair. It's a good idea to walk around with the home inspector during a home inspection because he may make comments that won't appear on the final report. After you know the…

Today's home buyers are spending too much money to buy a home that they typically don't have the cash left over for improvements such as painting and carpeting. By making these home improvements before selling, your home will sell faster and for a lot more money. Paint is a cheap and easy…

Will putting in an in-ground pool add value to a home? What's the best way to finance the installation of an in-ground pool? The added value of an in-ground pool depends on where the home is located and if it's something buyers in that area are attracted to.

A homeowner wants to know where to find services for "freshening up" his home. Home improvement services may be offered through a membership warehouse.

A homeowner wants to complete some home improvement before selling his home in a few years. Taking on home improvement before moving may not make it easy to recoup the costs of the improvement. There are a few minor home improvements that can be done cheaply and could improve your selling price.

means fixing the mortar in between the bricks in your home. Over time, the mortar gets thin in places, or pieces fall out. Tuck pointing means chiseling out the loose mortar and putting new mortar over the old, thus sealing in the bricks.

Is tearing down a home and beginning new construction, or building an addition to a home owner's current home on 32 acres of property better for the value of the home? New construction on a large piece of property could increase the value of the property itself as opposed to building an addition…

Whenever you tackle a renovation project, it always seems to cost twice as much as you thought and take twice as long to complete. Construction surprises are one reason why construction budgets get blown. When the unexpected happens, it usually costs a lot to fix it. In almost every renovation…

The Obama stimulus package made some changes to IRS tax rules concerning real estate, home improvements, short sales and foreclosures. If you're a first time home buyer, you're eligible for an $8,000 tax credit, depending on when you bought your home. In addition, the timing of your home purchase…

A son has inherited his parent's dated home and is torn between fixing it up or selling it cheaply to a developer. Fixing up the home could turn a large profit. But selling the home to a developer could save the son time and heartache.

How much work should you do on home improvement projects prior to putting your home onto the market? Making a few simple home improvement projects a priority before selling is a must. By doing basic things before selling, and making your home look as fresh and neutral as possible, you'll not only…

When you're looking at homes to buy you may find that some have radon in the basement. Should you buy a house with a radon problem? It may be OK to buy a home with a radon problem so long as it has been corrected. But when you go to sell a home with a radon problem you need to mention it as part of…

Before you start a major home improvement project or build an addition on your house, there are several things to investigate first, including zoning laws and neighborhood trends. For example, if the trend in your neighborhood is to tear down one-story homes and build up, then your home improvement…

Is it a smarter financial move to remodel your current home or sell and buy a larger home? Remodeling a home can add to it's value when you are ready to sell. A home equity loan could help pay for the home improvement and be paid off quickly.

Would giving a basement 9-foot walls instead of 8-foot walls add to the value of a home? There is no standard for the walls in basements, and could be a very local issue. A real estate agent would know what basement improvements could add to the value of a home.

What can you do when a contractor fails to live up to his contract in a kitchen remodeling project? Hire an attorney to go over the contract with you to understand your rights in this botched remodeling situation. It's especially hard if you later face foreclosure on the same home.

The kitchen is one of the most important rooms of a home, and kitchen design helps make your kitchen appealing and affective. Kitchen design revolves around functionality. Learn about kitchen design from architect Sarah Susanka.

Finding a good architect doesn't have to be hard. You can find a good architect on the Internet or by asking around your own neighborhood. Once you find some architects you like there are a couple things to consider before you hire. Architect Sarah Susanka offers advice.

Many families build their own home theaters so they can watch movies at home. Mitsubishi offers a variety of home theater projectors that can be used at home and at work. Learn about the features and costs of Mitsubishi home theater projectors.

Architect and author Sarah Susanka offers tips on home remodeling and the home design process. Susanka's home design process tips can help you get what you want out of a remodeling project or new home design. The home design process tips involve communication with your architect.

When you're getting your house ready to sell, an easy way to update the look of your home is to paint a room. Painting is a simple way to give an old room a new look, and it can have a positive effect on buyers interested in your home. Here are some tips on how to save money and how much to budget…