If you have been living in your home for more than a few years, you may want to make some home improvements to increase efficiency and keep up with the latest trends in the market. With the many parts of your house you may want to upgrade, deciding where to start can be daunting. Here’s a checklist to act as a guide in your home improvement journey.
1. Research Some Different Septic Tank Professionals to Check Your System
According to Kaye LaFond, more than 21 million households have septic tanks to help filter their home’s wastewater. Although many homes still use local sewage systems to help manage wastewater. If your house is on a raised ground, you may need to install a septic tank for more effective waste management.
If you have a septic tank in your home, you must ensure it is well-maintained. Most homeowners often overlook septic maintenance and conclude that the system is in proper working condition as long as there’s no wastewater backing up into their homes. While not having backups is a good sign, it isn’t the only indicator of a failed septic system. Slow drains, damp spots near the septic tank, a noisy plumbing system, and bad odors can also help to identify a failing septic system.
Add routine septic maintenance and inspections to your around the house home improvements checklist to ensure you get reliable service from your system for many years. According to the EPA, you should hire septic tank pumping services at least every three to five years. However, this frequency may vary depending on the tank size, household size, volumes of solid in wastewater, and the total wastewater generated.
2. Determine if You Need Repairs or a Replacement for Your Water Heater
The water heater is one of the most underrated systems within a home. Well, until winter comes and you realize the water from your tap is either lukewarm or cold. Previously, water heaters didn’t exist to many, and the only way to get hot water was by heating it on a stove. Luckily, with today’s technological advancement, you can access hot water daily, whenever you want, by simply turning on a switch.
Hot water is an everyday necessity. To ensure its constant supply within the home, among the items in your checklist of around the house home improvements should be an annual water heater inspection. However, you may have to hire a contractor for a water heater repair service before the one-year lapses if you notice the following telltale signs of a failing system: rumbling noises, rust in water, no hot water, leaks, and visible corrosion. It’s important to note that according to Energy Star, water heater systems can’t survive forever. If you have had your water heater for more than ten years, you should consider replacing it to avoid getting yourself in emergencies.
3. Look Into Different Supplies for Your Roof
Your home is an investment, and you likely spent a lot of money acquiring it. There are affordable things you could do inside the house to improve it, but if you’re going all out, focus on the roof. The roof is one of the most important parts of the house that protects the entire building structure from different elements. As much as other improvements enhance efficiency in the entire home, upgrading your roof can also help enhance your home’s curb appeal.
According to Sean Jackson, the average roof replacement cost ranges between $5,755 and $12,498. The exact figure depends on the contractor you hire, the location, the roof size, and the roofing materials you use. There are different roofing materials to choose from, including composite, slate, metal, and asphalt roofing materials.
If you’re looking for a versatile roofing material that’s also eco-friendly, you may want to consider installing a roof made of composite roofing material such as rubber. Although not popular, rubber is slowly gaining popularity due to its many benefits. Work with a qualified local contractor who will source all rubber roofing supplies you will need when installing your composite roof.
4. Locate Some Reputable Pest Control Companies
Imagine having uninvited guests in your home, especially those that can cause structural damage to your house. You would kick them out of your home, right? According to Michael Sellner and Jordan Wicht, pests are a real problem in most American homes; 14 million of the 124 million occupied homes in the United States reported pests. The truth is, some of these pests have mastered the art of hiding in areas where they’re hard to spot, so you won’t always see the obvious signs of a pest-infested house, such as a mouse running across the house or a cockroach crawling up the walls of your kitchen.
Some not-obvious telltale signs of a pest-infested home include droppings, unusual smells, dirt and grease build-up, signs of nesting, and damaged furniture and fabrics. If you notice any of these signs in your home, hiring a pest exterminator should be one of the to-do items in your around the house home improvements. However, before you run off to look for a local contractor, you must note the areas where you have spotted the potential presence of pests. Doing this will help your contractor give you the most effective solution for your home.
5. Assess If You Require HVAC Repairs
The HVAC is a vital part of a home. It ensures you don’t sweat or freeze by regulating the temperature within the home. Alexis Bennett says you should schedule routine HVAC maintenance at least twice yearly to prolong the AC and furnace’s lifespan. Therefore, if you don’t remember the last time you had your system inspected, you should schedule it in your around the house home improvements.
Think of your car. If you notice something is off, for example, the car starts to make noises, do you ignore the noise and continue driving it? The most likely answer is that as soon as you notice your car has a problem, you immediately get a hold of your mechanic to have it checked. Well, you should handle your HVAC issues the same way. Instead of ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away on its own, you should look for a contractor to hire for local air conditioner repairs to mitigate the problem before it escalates.
6. Consider a New Mantel for Your Fireplace Emergencies
In the 1970s, fireplaces were a big trend, and most homes, if not all, had to have a fireplace. 1978, for example, 876,000 single-family homes were built with a fireplace, according to Build Fanatic. Today, there has been a significant drop in the number of houses built with fireplaces. 2017, for example, only 358,000 single-family houses were built with a fireplace. If you happen to own a house with a fireplace, then you must enjoy the nostalgia and comfort it brings into the home by providing extra warmth.
Most fireplaces have a mantel that aims to catch the smoke from the fire. However, fireplace mantels can be custom-made today to fit your desired taste and preferences. There are many fireplace mantel designs. What you settle on depends on your preferred design, budget, and the material you use to construct the mantel. If you wish to have a custom fireplace mantel in your home, you should include it in your around the house home improvements checklist and hire a qualified contractor from a reputable company.
7. Enquire About Updates for Your Bathroom
The bathroom is an important part of a home; as soon as you get up from bed, the bathroom is where you freshen up and start your day. In the evening, after a long day at work or running errands, the bathroom is where you go to take a nice hot shower or soak in the bathtub to unwind and relieve stress. It’s, therefore, understandable that you may want to add bathroom updates to your around the house home improvements checklist to improve your experience in the bathroom.
Updating your bathroom is, however, not cheap. According to Mia Tylaor, you can expect to spend around $6,622 to $16,744. Considering all the areas you want to renovate, this amount may be too much for some people to spend in one room. Therefore, instead of demolishing walls and pulling out cabinets, you can update your bathroom by making a few changes.
For example, you can swap the old boring showerhead for a more dated showerhead that aligns with the bathroom’s aesthetics. You can also hire bathtub reglazing services to help restore your tub to its glory days. In addition, you can also introduce scents into the room by burning incense with your favorite fragrance; this will help elevate your experience in the bathroom. It’s affordable compared to replacing the existing bathtub.
8. Speak with a Concrete Expert About Your Driveway
Now that you’ve taken the time to update your home’s interior, it’s time to step outside. Your driveway is typically the first thing people see when they look at your home. It provides space for guests to walk up to your front door and plays an important role in improving the exterior curb appeal of your entire property. If you plan on selling it soon, a well-maintained driveway will also give you bargaining power.
When choosing a material for your driveway, you have many factors to consider. For most homeowners, one of the biggest considerations is the overall cost. According to Lara Vukelich, the average cost of paving a driveway varies between $4,500 and $5,100 depending on your choice of paving material and labor required. However, cost is not the only factor to consider as you plan to have around the house home improvements. Factors such as your house’s climate and location can make some specific materials more suitable.
One of the most popular materials used to pave driveways is concrete, a durable material with minimal maintenance required. Although you may get a few compliments for your concrete driveway, it is an ideal material with a limited budget. If this is your material of choice, hire a certified local concrete contractor to install a driveway that aligns with the landscape.
9. Work with a Fencing Professional
Do you need to build a fence around your home? It’s a question on most homeowners’ minds. You want your pets, children, and outdoor furniture to be safe in your yard. Since it is impossible to keep an eye on everything at all times, a fence is the only way to ensure security. According to Daniel Hall, more than half of houses in the United States have a backyard fence, but only 5% have fenced their front yards.
Most homes with front fences have very low fences, often setting boundaries rather than protecting the house from public view. The idea of fencing around a home is not as popular in the U.S. as it is in other countries. Most homeowners cite the neighborhood’s cost, culture, and rules as their reasons for not having fences. However, if you want some privacy on your property, research some different fencing contractors for your around the house home improvements checklist.
10. Decide If You Want to Stain Your New Fence
Once you decide that having a fence around your home should be on your around the house home improvements checklist, your contractor will present you with different options to choose from. Your choice of fence will depend on the curb appeal and the function of the fence. One of the most common types of fence is a wood fence. It offers more protection and privacy compared to other fencing options. If you use wood as your fencing material, there are different types of wood depending on the amount you are willing to spend.
You can stain your fence for a more customized look. The two main types of wood that are best for absorbing oil-based stains are pine and cedar, and there are various staining options. Therefore, you need to work with a professional contractor for fence staining services to ensure you choose the ideal option for your specific fence and aesthetics.
Improving your home requires carefully planning the entire process. You also need to hire the right contractors to ensure the quality of work done. You can use this read as your guide for around the house home improvements.