Home Renovations that You can Afford

Whether you're selling your home or just think it's time to make some updates, home renovation costs can add up fast. If you're one of those lucky guys who learned to hang drywall as a teenager or just happen to be very handy, you're probably already saving loads compared to your less capable counterparts. However, a few tricks of the trade can make a big difference in the amount that you spend on your home renovations. Check out the list below to make this year's home improvements a value instead of a burden.

Make online purchases. When you choose to buy wallpaper, carpet or even cabinets online, you have access to thousands of companies, many of which are offering better deals than your local hardware store. Search a variety of websites including your standard stores like Lowes and Menards, which may offer online deals and coupon codes. Don't forget sites like Craig's List where you may be able to get deep discounts for your home improvement needs.

Find a handyman. There are a lot of very capable people who will provide their services and expertise for a fraction of the cost of specialty contractors. Many plumbers, electricians and carpenters also do handy work to supplement their income. Ask friends for references and check out Craig's List and your daily newspaper for people in your area.

Combine your tasks. If you're hiring a handyman to fix a leaky faucet, see if he's also willing to repair your fence and add a coat of finish to your deck. Rather than paying separate people to do each of your home improvements, bundling the tasks together can save you money.

Look for deals. Every appliance and home goods store has special discounted items. Maybe they were display models, got scratched during a move or just haven't sold. Ask the manager if they have any of these deals and scoop them up before someone else does.

Choose your renovation time during the off season. In the summer, air conditioning installation will cost more because more people are buying. It's as simple as supply and demand. This holds true for new porches, furnace installation and even windows. Make renovations when no one else is so that you can get a better deal and the contractor is more likely to bargain with you.

As an East Lansing realtor, I work with a lot of great contractors and handymen in the greater Lansing area. If you're thinking about selling your home and would like references or just have questions about which updates will give you the biggest bang for your buck, get in touch me at MyRealtorRob.

Resources for this post include a recent article on CNN Money.

Remodelling Your Home on a Budget

You might be thinking of remodeling your home for a variety of reasons. In some instances, you merely want to improve it for your own quality of life. One more bathroom leads to less early morning shower battles and that updated kitchen means your family actually wants to enjoy dinner together. Others decide to remodel when it's time to sell their home. Buyer feedback can cue sellers in on some major areas of improvement or just a few ways to maximize their sale price.
Fortunately, remodeling is becoming easier as sellers learn some important DIY (do it yourself) techniques, which help them to improve their house while keeping costs low.

A recent article in the Detroit Free Press highlights Habitat for Humanity Restores as one avenue for bargain remodelling. As a realtor in the East Lansing area, I know a variety of homeowners and contractors who visit restores when it's time to update their houses. You can find a plethora of building and remodelling treasures from nearly-new appliances to marble counter tops.

Of course, before you start loading up on home improvement materials, you will want to know what you're doing. In the technology age, this is becoming easier every day. Hop on Youtube.com and you can find thousands of video tutorials on pretty much every home remodel project know to man (or woman). Visit your local library and check out books (for free) on unique painting techniques, bathroom plumbing and much much more. You can also attend free how-to workshops at Home Depot and several other home improvement stores.

I've seen first hand how updates can make or break the sale of a home. Unless you're selling a fixer-upper, your buyers want a home that's ready to be lived-in. For instance one seller that I represented, who sold their home in East Lansing, needed only to repair an ailing roof and add new paint to the interior to find a happy buyer. The recommendations vary when it comes to getting the most bang for your buck on remodel projects. Bathrooms and kitchens are nearly always a good idea. However, you know your home best. What does it need to great? Do that.