The Park at Stoneridge

Summer Fix-Ups

Jul 09, 2008

You have a list as long as your arm with all your remodeling plans, but a budget of just three figures. Find out how you can avoid home improvement pitfalls and get ideas on how to make major improvements with just a minimal use of cash!

Plan Carefully: Careful planning is the key to successful home improvements. When budgets are an issue it is even more important to think about the bigger picture.

Assess Your Skills: It's time to be honest - how would you rate your DIY skills? Do you often embark on a project only to realize that it is a tad more complicated than you first envisioned? If this sounds like you, step away and put the sledgehammer down! Home improvements should be wise investments designed to enhance the appearance and value of your home. Half-finished, amateur efforts will reduce your resale price and detract from the overall look of your home.

Only do the jobs that you think you can mange and the DIY jobs that you have time for. Repainting walls, laying down laminate flooring and putting up shelves are all manageable DIY projects which can be executed with some confidence. Leave the bathroom remodeling and the major rewiring projects to the experts.

Go With Your Instincts: If you want some major home improvements done and know that your DIY skills are not up to it, you must bring in an expert. They can give you advice on materials and help you create the exact look you want for your home. If you are thinking of hiring a contractor to undertake the work for you, you must hire someone you think is capable of the job.

Go with recommendations and companies with reputable references. Make sure that they understand the project that you are asking them to undertake - they should share your vision and understand the limits of your timeframe and budget. If you don't think they understand your needs, go with your instincts and continue on in search of someone who does. There is nothing worse than hiring a contractor who is uninterested and unsure of your end goals.

The Little Things: If the sight of your home is starting to disturb you and you despair at your surroundings, you need some quick fixes. For those of us on restricted budgets who cannot see the light of day past the mortgage repayments, read on!

Paint: If you feel that your home lacks synergy, put some coordination back into the mix by painting the walls a neutral color. This will tone down the bright colors and add freshness to the overall look of your home. Paint is a budget's best friend. It's cheap and plentiful and doesn't require an expert to apply it.

Appearance Is Everything: A few well placed cushions, rugs and lamps can turn a house into a home. Don't ever underestimate the power of accessories. A well placed rug will hide a carpet or floor tile that you have been itching to replace.

Here are some more replacement costs!

Air conditioner $6000. Approximate Life 10 years with average cost of $44.44 per month

Dishwasher $400.00 Approximate Life 10 years with average cost of $2.96 per month

Hot water heater $300.00 Approximate Life 10 years with average cost of $2.22 per month

Refrigerator $1,000 Approximate Life 15 years with average cost of $7.40 per month

Fence $1500 Approximate Life 10 years with average cost of $11.11 per month

Exterior Paint $1300 Approximate Life 10 years with average cost of $9.62 per month

Interior Paint $2500 Approximate Life 7 years with average cost of $18.51 per month

Roof Replacement $3000 Approximate Life 18 years with average cost of $22.22 per month

These are just some of the things that WILL wear out over time and need to be replaced. Even if you plan on selling your home either you or the buyer will need to replace them so they directly impact the value of your home!

If you were to budget for these expenses then you would need to put away $118.51 per month from the day you bought your house!

I know that this is a lot of money for some of you, but can you really afford to have your house fall apart? If things aren?’t fixed and maintained regularly they will cost you a lot more in the long run.

I hope that this will help you with your budgeting and maybe we can start to see some of the houses getting a facelift soon! Not all the things will need to be replaced at one time, so if you save $100 per month (and place in a money market account) then when that time comes, and it will, you will have the majority of the money to make the repairs. Think about it!