When you think of home improvements, there are probably many things you never thought you could do. ...

1. Small Changes Can Add Up. These Ideas Will Improve Your
Home Value
When you think of home improvements, there are probably many things you never thought you could
do. Take comfort in the fact that there are tons of projects that any beginner can do. Improving your
home can help you over the long term; this article has suggestions for do-it-yourself projects on your
house.
The filter that is part of your air conditioner should be cleaned or replaced on a regular basis. When
the filter is clogged, your house uses more energy. You may also be using way more electricity than
necessary. A monthly replacement of the filter is recommended.
Changing your air filters is really essential. This makes your air better to breathe, but it also helps
out your air conditioner and heating system too. Most of the time these units have issues because
the filters need to be replaced.
Purchase some plastic bins, and start sorting things in your garage. Even though the bins are
transparent, it's important to properly label them, too. This is an inexpensive way to clean the
garage and prevent bugs and rodents from damaging your belongings.
Fixing a faucet that leaks is a great project that anyone can do, even if they're a novice at home
improvements. If you can figure out how to fix these issues quickly, you will minimize the water that
gets wasted every day. Your monthly water utility will show the savings.
If your home improvement project is taking place near or around the kitchen, fireplace or anything
else with a gas line, find the shutoff switch prior to starting. The utmost care must be taken in these
situations. Be careful not to puncture, or otherwise penetrate the line at any point during your
project, as it could lead to a leak of explosive gas.
Visit some open houses for newer homes before you decide what home improvements you want to
make. Doing this will allow you to check out modern looks so that you will better be able to imagine
the look of your home with these options. This is much better than simply looking at the modern
options at your local hardware store. A lot of builders actually hire professional designers to
decorate open houses, which can give you some real inspiration and help avoid mistakes.
Adding distinctive touches to your walls can be done with simple three-dimensional tiles instead of
purchasing generic pieces of artwork. Choose a couple of 3D tile colors and arrange them
decoratively for a creative artistic presentation.

2. Today, there is a new danger to look
out for during home improvement
projects. Never utilize sheet rock or
wall board that was made in China.
Many contractors in the United States
have used drywall sourced from
China--at least since 2005. Much of it
suffers from unacceptable quality
control. Sometimes drywall from
China has noxious gas that may hurt
your electric wiring.
A new goat of glaze can work wonders
for bathrooms. Fresh glazing on your
sink, tub and tile can give a shiny, new
look to your bathroom. While replacing bathroom fixtures and floors is costly, bathrooms could be
glazed for a much cheaper price. It can improve the look and the value of the home while not
spending much money.
One home improvement project with an outstanding return on investment is finishing a basement.
When you finish the basement, you are making extra space for your family. Tools and materials
needed to finish the job can easily be purchased from a discount retailer or supplier. Often, people
say that the value of your home may go up thirty percent by finishing the basement.
A house doesn't have to be huge and expensive to have a chandelier. For under five hundred dollars,
you can purchase a striking, elegant chandelier that makes a perfect focal point for your dining room
or den. If you want your lighting fixture to sparkle and let off a lot of light, use 200 to 400 watt
bulbs.

3. Once you lay tile, you must immediately seal the
grout. Grout isn't waterproof on its own. Unsealed
grout can retain moisture; this, in turn, allows
mildew and mold to gain a foothold in your new tile.
Stains can easily set into grout that is unsealed.
Seal the grout properly to reduce mildew and stains.
Mounting a tv from on wall mounted bracket can
free up floor space from the no longer needed stand,
or at the least one can clear off space from
whatever their tv was previously sitting on. There
are kits available that make wall mounting a TV a
simple and quick job.
If you aren't happy with your home's low ceilings,
you can strategically position certain window
treatments to make the ceilings seem higher while
making an area a bit more colorful in the process.
To make your ceilings look higher, place the drapes,
curtain rods and valances on the wall that is above the windows.
Have you lost water pressure? It can be easy to diagnose this problem. Ask neighbors if they have
low water pressure too. If your neighbors are not experiencing the same issue, the lower pressure is
specific to your home. Check the level of pressure at all of the faucets in your home to learn if its a
problem that is throughout the entire house. In some cases, it can be something as simple as an
aerator that requires adjusting. If it's a more serious problem, you may need to call a plumber.
Simple renovations are a great place for a beginner to start. Now that you've read the above article,
you should know how to better take on home improvements. Think of how proud you will be once
you complete your first project!