Don't plan on selling your home anytime soon? That's OK because savvy homeowners are always looking for ways to increase their home's value. There are dozens of simple and easy home maintenance tasks you can perform that will greatly increase the value of your home. But before we begin, let me share with you a few home improvements that may actually end up decreasing the value of our home. One example is the backyard pool. Many home shoppers do not want the responsibility of maintaining a pool or hot tub. In fact, those in the market for buying a home often cite a swimming pool as a major stumbling block. From a resale point of view, you'd be much better off investing your money in a snazzy new kitchen or bathroom. These two improvements top the list of value-added renovations, often recouping 70 to 90 percent or more of their investment cost upon resale. New kitchens and baths have been shown to lead to easier, faster sales. Other value-wise renovations include the replacement of old windows and doors with new, energy efficient models. Landscaping features such as decks also add value. Keep in mind that the quality of work can greatly impact resale value. It's worth the time and expense of having it done right! Large-scale renovations aren't the only way to build up your home's value. A quality interior paint job just before our home goes on the market will usually pay for itself many times over. Here's a quick checklist of easy ways you can bolster your home's resale value: Exterior: Well maintained gutters and downspouts Good roof Lights working Fencing in good condition Well maintained driveway Mowed lawn and well kept plantings Interior: No cracks in walls or ceilings Fresh paintwork All electrical switches working No signs of leaks Easy opening doors and windows Floors in good condition Kitchen & Bathrooms: No leaking faucets Clean, newer grouting Cracked tiles replaced Attractive, clean cabinets and counters Caulking in good condition No stained sinks All appliances and fixtures operating
Holiday Home Safety
1. Protect family and guests from falls. Clear the driveway and sidewalks of snow and ice and use salt or sand to prevent slippery surfaces. Maintain clear pathways through high traffic areas of your home, it is easy for them to become cluttered with the arrival of guests and gifts. Relocate any electrical cords or wires that may become a tripping hazard also avoid placing them under rugs.
The front door is the focal point of your homes exterior. It is also a great location if you are looking to add a dash of bold color and boost your home's value. Just last week our friends at Premier Painters came by and added some color to the front door here at Thompson Remodeling. If you are looking for a simple way to give your home curb appeal; painting an exterior door is one way to get the most bang for your buck.
Quick Fixes For Less Than $10
Keeping your home in great shape doesn't have to break the bank. Use these inexpensive helpers to improve your home.
Maintaining Your Hardwood Flooring If you have purchased raw flooring that has been sanded and finished, you have had one of the finest polyurethane finishes available applied. This finish provides a protective layer for your floor. If you have purchased a prefinished floor, it has had several UV coatings applied in the factory giving it a very hard finish surface. The key to maintaining your floors natural beauty is through both preventive and regular maintenance. To assist you, we have listed several maintenance tips. Preventive Maintenance Tips: • Use protective walk‐off mats at the exterior doors to help prevent sand and grit from being tracked onto the floor. Sand and gritty dirt are any floor's worst enemy. • If your hardwood floor is located in the kitchen, you may want to place a throw rug in front of the kitchen sink to catch spills and splashes. The polyurethane finish is not a waterproofing agent. • Install proper floor protectors on the legs of all furniture in the rooms where you have hardwood. Protectors allow chairs to move easily over the floor without scuffing. Protectors must be cleaned on a regular basis to remove any grit that may have become embedded. Felt floor protectors are available at Rivershores Building Products, Inc. • Vacuum regularly. When vacuuming your household carpets, it is a good idea to also vacuum the hardwood floor. A soft brush attachment works beautifully. • Do not use household dusting sprays or treatments as they may cause your floor to become slick, or dull the finish. The best treatment is to sweep the floors frequently. • NEVER wet mop a hardwood floor. Excessive water will cause the wood to expand, possibly damaging your floor. The finish put on your floor is to protect the stain and the wood surface. It is not a bonding or waterproofing substance. • Keep high heeled shoes in good repair. Heels that have lost their protective cap, exposing the fastening nail, exert over 8,000 lbs per square inch of pressure on the floor. This kind of pressure will damage any floor covering. Regular Maintenance Tips: • Food spills should be cleaned up in a timely manner using a damp rag. Poly Care, available at Rivershores, is an excellent product. It is a waterborne neutral cleaner which leaves no residue. We do not recommend the use of furniture dusting products, oil soaps (Murphy's oil soap, etc.) or other harsh cleaning products. • Shoe marks can be removed using a spot application of Scuff Remover, available at Rivershores Building Products, Inc. and a non‐abrasive scrubbing pad. Marks that are especially difficult to remove are best treated with a "white" grade maintenance pad and cleaner. • Waxing is not necessary, nor is it recommended. Once you wax a urethane floor, it is difficult to re‐coat the floor, as the finish does not bond to the wax. In addition, once wax is used, you must maintain the wax AND the floor. Preventive cleaning is the key to maintaining your floor. • Re‐coating should be done when the floor BEGINS to show wear. Do not wait until the finish is worn off and dirt and spills have penetrated the wood, or the floor will have to be sanded to the bare wood and completely refinished. Moisture & Humidity Issues causing Cracking: All the wood in your home will contract or expand according to the moisture in the air. Doors and windows may swell and stick during rainy seasons. In dry, cold weather, cracks and fine lines of separation may appear in wall cabinets and furniture. This is characteristic of wood because wood is a product of nature, and its natural quality is what makes it desirable. The same reaction to humidity or the lack of it is happening constantly in your wood floors. Tiny cracks between edges of boards may appear when unusually dry conditions are produced by your heating system. Normal cracks, if truly normal, close up in summer months and no repairs are needed. This can usually be corrected simply by installing a humidifier. With a more proper balance of moisture content in the house (40 to 50%), both family and floors benefit from a healthier environment.
I received a great question through our website the other day and thought the answer might be helpful to our readers. The question was regarding a guest bathroom shower that, when running, can be heard throughout the rest of the house. Is there anything that can be done to quiet this noise?
Deck Maintenance ABCs
I heard a funny deck story from a client last week. It's summed up with this quote from him, "I should've just handed him [13 yr old son] $250 and done it myself." There were swirls all over the deck from power washing with too much pressure, stain on the vinyl siding up top, and stain on blue stone from lack of drip protection. This week another client told me about how her father-in-law power washed and stained their deck while they were out of town a few years back. Her comment, "There is stain on the siding, but can you tell Dad he did a bad job? I guess we got what we paid for..."
It's one thing to discuss the possibility of energy savings with a prospective client. It's another to introduce Andy and Randy. The infographic here is a colorful clarification of how the owners of two similar homes can have very different energy results based on the changes they (or their contractors) do or don't perform. Click here to see the infographic.
Love Where You Live - Again
We buy a house because of the vision we have for it. We see ourselves living here. We see our family future here. Then slowly we begin to look at our house differently.
Remote Home Management
Imagine being able to unlock your doors, turn on your lights and even adjust the thermostat from just about anywhere. With a remote home management system like Schlage Home LiNK, this convenience and control is possible, and with installation from Thompson Remodeling, it’s easier than ever to set up. The system works by using Z-Wave – a wireless “ecosystem” that allows home electronics to communicate with each other and you through the remote control. The low-power radio waves easily travel through floors and walls and can be added to almost any electronic device in your house. With Schlage Home LiNK, your home can be accessed securely through virtually any internet-enabled computer or cell phone. Learn more about Schlage Home LiNK and Z-Wave technology here, and if you’re interested in discussing it for your home, give Thompson Remodeling a call!
Glass tile is a beautiful addition to any home, but installing it can be tricky. Follow these tips below to make sure your work is as beautiful as your vision.
