Spring Home Improvement LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com May 1, 2015 21
I
n today’s housing market, there is a
greater chance than ever that the house
we buy may not be the one we spend the
rest of our lives in. Due to economic
factors, such as the presence of jobs, the
desire to return to school or change in
careers, a house may not be viewed as a
permanent home.
Even with that in mind, every house
deserves a chance to feel like a home,
which means that there will still be a
need for at least a few renovations here
and there. However, you will want to
be careful that you do not put too much
money into improving a home, even if
you intend to stay as long as possible.
There needs to be a certain amount of
picking and choosing that goes into
renovation from an investment standpoint.
The first step in renovating a home in
such a manner is to see what you can do
without having to call in the contractors.
Otherwise, there is the increased cost that
comes with paying for professional labor.
These will likely be (or at least should be)
easier tasks, such as painting the walls,
installing new door locks, filling minor
holes with putty, or other small repair
work. Additionally, if you can, try to
gather up some family and friends who
possess the necessary repair skills (even if
you have to “bribe” them a little).
After the relatively easy repairs are
finished, consider the two areas of the
house that should always be kept in
the best working order: The bathroom
and the kitchen. Any room involving
plumbing should be kept in good working
condition for obvious reasons. For these
areas of the house, expenses can be cut
down by reusing any existing fixtures
if at all possible. In addition, consider
purchasing any new fixtures before calling
in a contractor, which may cut down on
the cost of parts.
DON’T
OVER
IMPROVE
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