Home Upgrades that Get the Best Return

Upgrades That Get The Best Return

Planning on upgrading your home this year? Adding living space and making your home more energy-efficient offer the best return on your investment. For more information about which home improvement projects offer the “best bang for the buck”, check out the Cost vs. Value Report from Hanley Wood/Remodeling.

Below are a few of the highlights:

Best Investments of 2009

Steel Entry Door Replacement 129.9%

Siding Replacement 83.6%

Deck Addition (Wood) 80.6%

Minor Kitchen Remodel 78.3%

Window Replacement (Wood) 77.3%

Eco-friendly Flooring

Eco-friendly Flooring

If you’re interested in updating the floors in your home, check out these ways to go green – and make an investment that pays off.

Bamboo flooring is contemporary, durable and comes in a variety of finishes. Bamboo is actually a member of the grass family and grows like a weed. Talk about a renewable resource!

Cork and eucalyptus flooring have similar eco-friendly qualities. You could also choose reclaimed wood from rivers and lakes – particularly desirable if you have a historic home.

Want wood? We can direct you to competent, caring contractors who can help you select flooring, structural lumber, cabinets and furnishings certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. These products are made from woods that are responsibly managed, harvested and manufactured.

Adding or Remodelling a Bath

It’s still true – adding or remodeling a bathroom is one of the most prevalent – and profitable – home improvements, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

Bathroom upgrades still pay off, even in the present tightening economy, according to Remodeling Magazine's 2008-2009 "Cost vs. Value" report. The magazine estimates that a mid-range bathroom remodeling will recoup nearly 75 percent of its cost, and adding a new bathroom recoups nearly 65 percent of its costs.

Still afraid you will drown in a sea of escalating costs? Fear not and plan well -- with the help of our prescreened professionals. Let us point you to a contractor you can trust to help you keep costs down and quality high as you remodel your bath.

Repaint Your Front Door

Nothing freshens a home more readily than a freshly painted front door. But before you grab a can of your current favorite color, take into account where you live. Strive to make your door fit with its surroundings. Specifically, consider:

• Shutter color: To keep them from clashing, choose the same color family just go a shade or two lighter or darker.

• Garage door color: Usually, the garage door takes up a sizable amount of surface area. So make sure the front door complements it. (Some people choose to introduce the door color as an accent in the garage door.)

• Color and materials of your home: The color of the brick, stucco, vinyl or wood must blend in with or contrast sharply with your door. Classic example? White house, black shutters and red door. Pop!

Remember, the front door sets the stage for your entire home. Professional home painters can not only help you choose a color, they can get the job done quickly and cleanly.

Adding Insulation

Adding insulation to your attic could save you 20 to 30 percent on your monthly heating and cooling bills. If you are not sure how much insulation you have, we can direct you to a pre-screened professional who can evaluate your situation for free and let you know the degree of difference you can make.

What People Are Saying About Home Solutions Network

"We used Home Solutions to find a contractor to remodel our kitchen. The contractors referred were top notch and were competitively priced. The one we chose did a fantastic job, and exceeded our expectations. Using Home Solutions made it so much easier for us as everyone they use has been pre-screened. We couldn't be happier!" 

Donna S.- South Riding, VA

Installing Energy Efficient Windows

Installing energy-efficient windows in your new home or as replacement windows in your older home is just plain smart. In fact, choosing the right kind of window for your climate will have a tremendous effect on how much heat your home retains.

For example, installing thermopane windows in your home can increase your home’s energy efficiency up to 70 percent.

Not only do you need to choose with care, you also need to have them installed properly so that they will provide you with the energy savings you need. Heat can easily come in – or go out – around the sill, head or jambs that surround the window's casing.

Contact us for reliable contractors to do the job quickly and correctly.

Winter Checklist

• Winterize your home
  
• Buff up your bathroom
  
• Take care of your yard -- really
  
• Replace or reface kitchen cabinets
  
• Grow your garage: build in more storage
  
• Plumbing– protect your pipes
  
• Attic insulation: Be safe and warm
  
• Clear your gutters and downspouts
  
• Professionally clean – or replace -- your carpet

Winter Yard Renovation?

Winter is actually the ideal time to renovate the lawn and eliminate the brown spots and crab grass left over from last summer. We can help you locate qualified landscapers to reseed and fertilize your lawn – and take advantage of the fact that in winter; there is usually enough water to germinate seeds without watering.

At the end of February, just before the weather warms, you’ll want to have your lawn sprayed with a pre-emergent to kill the crabgrass before it sprouts. Because it is a hazardous chemical, it’s important to hire a licensed professional will care for your lawn properly and safely.

And, if you’re interested in planting bare-root trees and roses before spring, now is the time to get the best prices. But, contact a landscape contractor first who can help you develop a plan to update, redesigne or totally renovate your yard.

Buff Up Your Bathrooms

Transforming your bathroom into a personal retreat where you can relax and indulge doesn’t have to be expensive. Below are a few tips on how to spruce up your bathroom without taking on a complete remodel:

• Replace faucets, install a new tubs, showers or sinks based on your existing bathroom design 
• Add storage: Manufacturers are creating storage cabinets, shelving, furniture and other creative options as individual pieces or part of their bathroom collections that you can add to your master or guest bathroom. 
• Accessorize: Consider having the bathroom painted, adding decorative molding or other structural details. Cosmetic changes, professionally done, can turn any bath into a spa-like enclave.

Cold Weather? Winterize Your Home

Winterize Your Home

Not only does winterizing your home help prevent large repairs in the future, but it can also help save in heating costs. At Home Solutions, we can help you find prescreened professionals to:

• Seal leaks around doors and windows which can cut your heating bills up to 10 % and keep water from getting into your house. 
• Seal leaks around entry points for your pipes and ducts that go through an exterior wall and add insulation behind electrical plugs that are on a wall with an exterior side which can save you another 1-3% on heating costs. 
• Check and/or upgrade your home’s insulation which can cut heating costs up to 25%.

Competent contractors can also:

• Install a programmable thermostat 
• Install or check your carbon monoxide detector 
• Change your furnace filter 
• Turn off and drain garden hose spigots 
• Trim trees and shrubs away from house 
• Keep your gutter and downspouts ice-free

Let us help you stay warm – and safe – for less this winter. Call us!

Improving a Basement

If you have been thinking about making the most of unused space in your basement, you may be missing an opportunity to take advantage of low-cost square footage that may work great as comfortable living space. Many basements have already been "roughed in" as far as plumbing and utilities which make the process of building it out even easier. And, many are large enough to afford space for several rooms. If you have had moisture in the basement, you may need to have a pre-qualified water proofing company inspect it first. If your home has a dry basement with a ceiling that is at least 7 feet high, the chances are good that you can convert the area into living space. Quiet and distinctly separate from a home's main living areas, basements are often ideal for recreation rooms, workout areas, home offices, and in-law living quarters. Basements also offer a great return on investment for resale. 
Contact "Home Solutions Network" for more information and to get connected to the best licensed contractors.  
www.HomeSolutionsBiz.com  

Tax Credits

Did you know there are federal tax credits available for you to use in 2010 for certain types of home improvements?

Get a 30% tax credit up to $1,500. Let us explain how. Please visit the website at the top of our blog.

Come see us at the Capital Home and Garden Show

When: February 25th thru February 28th, 2010
Where: Dulles Expo Center - Chantilly, Va

This show offers homeowners a convenient place to shop, get hundreds of ideas, and gain expert advice for any home or garden related product or service. This is one of the Capital area's largest shows of the year. We've exhibited since 2007.

Again this year, we'll be exhibiting in the North Hall, please stop by to find out how Home Solutions can connect you with the right contractor and take the hassle out of home improvement.