Almost everyone in the country wants a safe investment, one that will not stagnate or fall off the board if the economy sags but one that will grow in value over the long term. Most people need to look no further than their own home because, not only is this a shelter against the weather, it can shield them from the ups and downs caused by unstable financial times.
In addition, a home is one of the only investments that can add to the entertainment value of your life. For example, with new ideas in landscaping and patios the outside of the home is becoming an extension of square footage of the home. New entertainment areas like a games area and a home theatre room have increased the time spent at home. And this is great when kids' activities are costing more every day. A home improvement contractor can help increase the value of your investment by creating these new additions. Even in a down market homes sell, and the ones that do are not necessarily the houses that have their prices drastically reduced.
Kitchen
In most cases a remodeled kitchen will not only add greatly to the value of the home but could be the selling feature for the home. The first thing a prospective buyer sees when coming into the kitchen area is surfaces: cabinets, countertops and flooring. Choosing the right cabinet and hardware is important for resale and a kitchen remodeling contractor knows this. As cabinets come in many styles, he or she can advise you on the best cabinets for the money.
As for a countertop, many homeowners are looking to granite or a composite stone. These are expensive but add value to your home. Another way of creating value by not spending as much is to use granite on the island and a formica copy of the pattern and color of the granite for the back counters.
Kitchen flooring can be tile, cushioned vinyl or an engineered floor like cork or bamboo. These are high-quality floors and should be chosen to highlight the cabinets and countertops.
Bathroom
One of the main draws for a bathroom is to install large tiles on the floors, walls and shower. These can be as large as 16†x 16†and arranged in many ways with smaller tile. The shower areas usually are the same tile design and this is accented with glass shower doors and enclosure. The fixtures can be anything you want and in any color but it s usually safe to stay with a neutral color.
Another great bathroom improvement is furniture-style cabinetry just like in the kitchen. Instead of the traditional sink below the counter new designs feature bowl-style sinks made of glass and even wood which sit right on the countertop. In addition the fixtures are more artistic-looking than before.
Exterior
It doesn't take a home renovator to judge whether the outside of your home is approachable. You can do this yourself by just walking toward it from both directions on the sidewalk. If it looks fine to you, walk up to the front door. If your home is painted you might see chips and bubbles in the paint or bare wood showing through. A closer look may reveal a front door that needs changing out or exterior windows that have seen their day. If it is the doors and windows that need replacing there are government grants available that can put thousands of dollars back into your pocket.
Backyard
In a busy world many people take refuge in their backyards. With amount of new ideas coming down the pike every month there are literally thousands of designs for a back yard including spas, fountains, fish pools, heated patio areas and vegetable gardens. If you want a low maintenance option for your backyard hardscape options include paving stones and retaining walls. These can include a few shrubs with self-watering system so you never have to lift a finger.
Basement
The basement is one of the most valuable areas of the home because the utilities and infrastructure are already there. A plumber can set up a bathroom alongside the wash room and, besides framing the walls, insulating and drywalling, a contractor just has to finish it off. New flooring products include a glue-together raised subfloor tile that is 3/4†oriented strand board glued to a plastic bottom. The bottom is waffled so that air can penetrate and dry any moisture. You can put almost any flooring on top of this.
Living Room
The style for a living room is in the eyes of the beholder. A hardwood floor is always an eye catcher but a high-end laminate will also work. Many people don't approve of tile for a living room unless it is a sunroom.
 
For information on your next home improvement project contact our Contractor Directory or post your project online at TrustedPros.ca.
Posted by: TrustedPros
