Lenny

Investing in real estate properties can be one of the most lucrative business ventures that you can take advantage of.

But, you often won’t make much money flipping houses if you don’t put some work into the property. A more modern look and extra utility can go a long way in increasing resell value.

Not sure where to start? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about home renovation ideas to fix up your home.

Switch Up The Lighting

It’s amazing how much of an effect that simple changes to a room’s lighting can have.

If you plan on selling your home, buyers won’t be too impressed with bright, generic bulbs that make them feel like they’re at a department store.

Instead, you can install softer bulbs in ceiling recesses that create a calm, welcoming atmosphere. This is especially attractive in bedrooms, studies, and other areas where peace and quiet may be a priority.

Additionally, you can wire these lights to a dimmer switch, allowing the residents to control the amount of ambiance in a room.

Modernize the Bathroom

Bathrooms (especially showers) are one of the places that buyers look into the most. This is due to the fact that this area will see significant daily use from bathing, getting ready for work, preparing for bed, etc.

A poor-quality, outdated bathroom feels more like a functional box than it does an area in your home.

So, new tile, large mirrors, and a brand-new shower will be an investment that is sure to pay off on the market. If your budget allows for it, you can also add heated floors if you live in the colder regions of the country.

Don’t just focus on the master bathroom, though. All the bathrooms in the home should be equal in terms of quality, although the smaller rooms don’t need as many amenities.

Renovate the Kitchen

If there’s one thing that parents look for when buying a home, it’s a quality kitchen.

Kids will often be doing homework in this room after school and having most of their meals at the table or countertop. The kitchen is also a socializing area for guests and a place where certain meals can take hours to prepare.

Put simply, your whole family will spend a lot of time in this room.

A modern kitchen will add a hefty amount of value to your home, especially if you modernize the entire room and not just the appliances. Things like a new stove, new cabinets, and marble countertops will leave your buyers in awe during a showing.

If this is out of your budget, it’s not the end of the world. It’s better to slightly upgrade everything, though, than to install a brand new smart oven right next to a worn pantry.

Upgrade the Front Door

Your home’s front door is something that buyers (quite literally) can’t avoid looking at. So, an attractive one can significantly boost your house’s curb appeal.

High-quality wood and attractive glass panes are often all you need to worry about here. It wouldn’t hurt, though, to install a smart lock that allows residents to lock or unlock their home with a mobile app or code.

It’s also not a bad idea to take a risk with the door’s color. A deep red mahogany front door on a beige or white home is particularly eye-catching.

All-New Flooring

Carpet isn’t always the best flooring option for a home. While it’s great for young children due to its softness (it’s particularly good at cushioning slips and falls), carpet is easily stained and can require significant maintenance to keep it looking pristine.

Tile or false wood, on the other hand, are cost-effective options to boost your home’s aesthetic appeal.

This doesn’t mean that having carpet is always bad, though. Carpet suits bedrooms more than other types of flooring, especially during the colder months.

When working on your home’s flooring, you may encounter issues with the house’s foundation. This article has plenty of useful info.

Transform A Spare Room

A guest bedroom doesn’t have to remain a guest bedroom. Buyers who aren’t likely to have people over often won’t benefit much from a guest room and may overlook your home as an option.

What you can do, though, is turn this extra room into something more attractive.

A game room, study, or office space are all potential options that can give something to your home that stands out among buyers.

For example, an in-wall bookcase or installed bar set will already give this room utility when buyers move in. Similarly, a room fitted with mirrors and mounts can turn an otherwise empty space into a fitting room.

The possibilities here are endless, so don’t be afraid to get creative if this is the path you choose to go down.

Throw Some Paint Around

Brand new paint can turn an average-looking home into something pretty. It can turn a great-looking home into something spectacular.

In general, it’s best to play it safe when it comes to color. This means grays, whites, and other relaxing tones should take priority over colors that can be mentally fatiguing over time, such as yellow or red.

Wrapping Up Home Renovation Ideas

With the above information about home renovation ideas in mind, you’ll be well on your way to getting the most return out of your investment.

From here, you can use this extra cash to repeat the process with even more properties, allowing you to exponentially increase your income over time.

You may have heard of termite infestations, but do you know the full extent of the damage termites can do to your home?

Termites damage more than 600,000 homes each year, causing billions of dollars in pest control and house repairs. When it comes to termites, early prevention can save you a lot of money in the long run. Read on to find out the answer to the question, “What do termites eat?”

Cellulose: Plant Matter

Termites are notorious for their ability to destroy the woodwork of any house given enough time. That’s because termites have evolved to eat cellulose, which is the most abundant organic compound in nature.

Cellulose is everywhere. Wood is mainly cellulose and every other plant-based material is rich in cellulose as well. For example, hempen ropes, wallpaper, and furniture are all great sources of cellulose, as well as several types of insulation.

All the above are a good meal for termites. Since no house is cellulose free, termites will probably cause some damage sooner or later.

Termite treatment cost can vary widely, depending on the extent of the damage. Foam and dust treatments are relatively inexpensive but limited in use. On the other hand, barriers and baits offer a more permanent and powerful solution at a higher cost.

Some Types of Plastic

Thanks to powerful bacteria in their guts, termites are able to break down all sorts of materials that are indigestible by most other creatures. While termites won’t eat plastic as-is, they will often use their powerful serrated mandibles to cut through plastic in order to get to your structural wood, hardwood floors, and furniture.

Cedar Wood and Redwood

Termites dislike cedar wood and redwood but given no choice, they will eventually eat them. Cedar wood and redwood have certain chemical substances that initially repel termites. However, as these types of wood break down, the resinous by-products of cedar attract termites.

Plywood that is Not Pressure-Treated

Termites cannot eat pressure-treated lumber, but they will readily devour any other type of plywood, especially conventional plywood.

Particle Boards

Finally, particle boards are made of saw dust and waste material, which makes them ideal food for termites. Termites are particularly attracted to wet particle boards, and they can chew through them with remarkable speed and efficiency!

What do Termites Eat? Now You Know!

We’ve answered the question “what do termites eat”. So, now you now the kind of damage they can do in your house.

Whether you design a house from scratch, or upgrading your existing home to improve your lifestyle, we can help. In our blog, you will find a ton of useful advice, articles, and how-tos on a range of topics.

We are passionate about home, décor, DIY, design, travel, and a better lifestyle with a reasonable budget. So, come on in and get ready to upgrade your lifestyle today!

According to the EPA, 9.8 million tons of furniture waste ends up in landfills annually.

The waste problem in the United States is staggering, and everyone should step up and do their part in reducing waste. But what happens when you have old furniture taking up room in your house?

Instead of throwing it out to the curb, here’s how to get rid of old furniture the correct way.

Offer It for Sale or for Free

Before you throw your old furniture into the trash, try to get some money off of it by selling it to someone else. Odds are, there’s someone moving into their first home and willing to pay a discounted price for your furniture.

Start by cleaning up the furniture so that it is in decent condition. Clean of any debris, scrub out any stains, and vacuum any cloth upholstery. Then, take photos of the piece of furniture from different angles in good lighting.

List your furniture for sale online through websites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. Remember that you’re selling your old furniture so make sure to price it favorably.

You can also consider giving it away to someone for free if they’re willing to come to pick it up.

Donate Your Furniture to a Good Cause

Another way to get rid of your furniture is by donating it to a good cause.

Consider the local non-profits that accept donations. Look for domestic violence organizations that help rehome women and children from a toxic environment. Or consider a non-profit like Habitat For Humanity that sells donated items to help find their efforts.

If you can’t find a non-profit that accepts donations, there’s always Goodwill. They accept donated furniture in any condition to sell in their stores.

Use a Junk Removal Service

If your furniture is in such bad shape that you can’t sell it and would be embarrassed to donate it, consider a junk removal service.

They’ll come to your home and get rid of anything from an old couch to used appliances. For a small cost, they’ll remove the furniture from your house and haul it away. In some cases, they can even come the very same day your request their services!

This website talks further about the services they offer.

Know How to Get Rid of Old Furniture Easily

Now you know how to get rid of old furniture easily.

Your first step should be to try selling it online to see if you can earn some money in the process, or offer it to free to someone in need. Then, consider donating your furniture to a local non-profit. Last but not least, you can use a junk removal service to get rid of any lingering furniture you can’t sell or donate.

When you’re ready to fill your home with new furniture, browse the rest of this site for home decor inspiration.

According to one report, 90% of homeowners are planning to renovate their homes in the near future.

You might be ready to join this 90%, but you may have some questions in terms of how you should approach the task. How do you plan a renovation project? How can you keep costs as low as possible?

Below you’ll find a whole house renovation checklist that’ll help you get the ball rolling on your renovation project. If you don’t like the way your home looks, these tips will help you bring about change.

Let’s begin!

1. Don’t Rush In

Before you renovate your home, it’s a good idea to put some time aside so that you can create a plan.

This plan should detail your renovation goals for each room and what you need to do to hit these goals.

So, suppose that one of your goals is to renovate your bathroom.

Your plan should detail all the individual tasks associated with renovating your bathroom. This might include purchasing tiles, buying paint, or even hiring a plumber.

2. Map out a Budget

You need to spend some time calculating the costs associated with your renovation project.

If you fail to do this, you may end up in a situation where you run out of money halfway through the project.

Budgeting costs ahead of time will also make it easier for you to identify opportunities to save money. For instance, if you know that you need to buy some tiles, you can dedicate a little bit of time each week, looking for deals associated with tiles.

3. How Will You Deal with Waste?

One of the biggest challenges associated with a renovation project is dealing with the resultant waste.

Such waste generally includes all the stuff you’re left with when you’ve gutted out a room so that it can be updated. If you don’t have a proper method for dealing with this waste, you put yourself and other people in danger.

Fortunately, you can deal with this waste by renting out a roll-off container.

There’s even the option of hiring a company that specializes in waste removal. If you’d like to learn more about what it’s like to work with such a company, you can read more here.

Will This Whole House Renovation Checklist Help You?

This post has provided you with a whole house renovation checklist that you can use for future remodeling projects.

Renovating an entire house is a complicated task, and there’s a good chance you’ll come across some unexpected problems. This is something you can’t avoid, and the best thing you can do is to put money aside so that you’re able to deal with these surprises.

Managing a renovation project is probably one of the most stressful things you can do. But if you’re willing to go through this process, there’s no doubt you’ll end up with a beautiful home at the end of it all.

Did you like this post? If you did, make sure you read some of the other content right here on our site!

The lighting in your home is a key part of your interior design. Good lighting can expand a room and highlight other design choices, while poor lighting can leave your home looking gloomy and small.

Choosing the best light bulbs for each room can help you tie together the design of your entire home. Read on for more information about some of the best types of light bulbs currently on the market.

LEDs Are Some of the Best Light Bulbs

LED light bulbs use very little energy when compared to other types of light bulbs on the market. LEDs come in multiple shades and colors, which can help you customize your interior design.

LEDs even come in different designs. These styles combine the classic retro style of filament bulbs with the practical benefits of LED lights.

Depending on the brand, they can last between 20,000 to 50,000 hours before they burn out. This can save you money in the long run, because in addition to using less energy you’ll have to replace your light bulbs less often.

However, because of their long lifespan and energy efficiency, LEDs tend to be one of the more expensive types of light bulbs you can buy. This means that while they may be a good choice for changing a single outlet or room at a time, outfitting your entire home with LEDs can be cost-prohibitive.

Smart Light Bulbs

The newest addition in the home lighting sector, smart light bulbs hook up to a virtual assistant like Google Home. They can connect to wifi, be placed on a schedule, and can be controlled from your smartphone.

Some smart light bulbs can even connect to your smart TV so that they sync up with the movie or show you are watching. Forget surround sound – think surround lighting!

Of course, smart light bulbs are also quite expensive, usually more than LEDs when you factor in the fact that you’ll need a virtual assistant to make them work.

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb

Also known as CFLs, these types of light bulbs are the midway point between LEDs and old-school incandescent lights. CFLs are much more affordable than LEDs and use about 70 percent less energy when compared to incandescent bulbs.

CFLs are most efficient when you leave them on for at least three minutes because it takes a while for the electricity to flow through the gas in the bulb. This means that CFLs will take a while to reach their full brightness.

In a related note, this means that most CFLs are not dimmable. While some models are available, they are harder to find and come at a higher price point.

Choose the Bulb That Fits Your Home Best

Now that you know the major differences between some of the best light bulbs, you can make an informed decision about which would be the best fit for your home. All three of the above variants fit different niches, and it’s entirely possible to have all three installed in different parts of your home.

For more information about lighting and interior design, check out the Lifestyle section of our blog!