Understand your Home's Style
To be effective, any home improvement repair project needs to match the overall style of your house. Otherwise, it can end up looking sloppy and cause problems later on.There are many different major architectural styles for homes, including, but not limited to: Craftsman, Contemporary, Colonial, Greek Revival, Modern, Ranch, Townhouse, Tudor, Victorian, Cottage, and Farmhouse.
Consider Curb Appeal
Once you’ve figured out what style of home you own, start improving it by focusing on curb appeal. The facade of your house and the front yard are the first things people see when approaching your home, so home improvement repair should start there. Mow the lawn, tend to the front garden, and paint or refinish the front door. Any of these projects can be a great way to transform a shabby exterior into an inviting home.
Focus on Home Improvements for Existing Projects
While many popular home improvement repair shows love to display dramatic home improvement repair projects, such as knocking down walls with sledgehammers, these projects are unrealistic. Making major changes are expensive and tricky, as they often involve reworking electrical and plumbing systems.
Instead, work with the existing layout of your home by making minor changes. Rather than knocking out a whole wall, try simply widening the doorway a little to make the room feel more connected to the house. Focus on less dramatic, but crucial changes, such as replacing your home's windows to significantly improve energy efficiency or investing in a new front door.
Many home improvement repair projects involve simple fixes that can still dramatically improve your home's comfort. Consider replacing old window glass with double panes or triple panes and a low-e coating.
Home improvement repair projects that focus on your bathroom or kitchen can make a huge difference. | @ fotolia.com / Photographee.eu
Care for your Kitchen and Bathroom
Investing in the two spaces used most often, the kitchen and the bathroom, can make an enormous difference in your home. In the kitchen, try updating your old and tired appliances with new, stainless steel models. If you have bigger home improvement repair ideas in mind, add a kitchen island to increase your overall counter space and storage.
In the bathroom, add new lights around the mirror, replace any cracked or worn-out tiles, and improve the ventilation system to keep the space cleaner longer. Consider installing a small window in your bathroom for improved ventilation and light. For both rooms, apply fresh paint jobs with neutral colors to make the entire room appear newer and cleaner.
Bottom Line: Home Repairs and Improvement
To get started on home improvement repair, check out our helpful database to find a professional contractor near you. A quality contractor can help your projects happen much more quickly and smoothly. Contractors can also help you tackle those larger projects you've always dreamed of doing.
