Having a home can often mean that you have an endless list of projects that you want to complete. The best way to save some money is to tackle these tasks yourself. Some of these projects may actually end up saving you money on your other home expenses.
Prep before You Paint
If your walls are in rough shape, you can spend weeks trying to get them ready for paint. There are products that can be applied that will cut down on the amount of prep time needed to get a smooth finish. However, after applying “joint compound” or “spackle” and sanding the patch may actually appear smoother than the surrounding wall. In the video below you will learn a little trick to help the patched area blend in with the rest of the wall.
Doing your own interior painting can save you a bundle on what you would have spent hiring professional painters. The extra hours in labor would have started to eat into your budget.
Cut down on Drafts
Drafty windows can end up costing you on your energy bills. You may need to replace your old windows or just repair the worn out areas of caulking. This can reduce the amount of drafts that enter your home. You may want to consider adding external window shutters, like those available from Shutterflex, to improve the appearance of your home while you’re addressing your window situation. The increased curb appeal can help to increase the overall value of your home. If you are on a very strict budget you can just cover your windows with plastic see video below.
Increase Your Energy Efficiency
Add insulation into your attic and crawl space to reduce the amount of heat that’s lost. Wrap your hot water pipes and water heater with insulating wrap. You spend more money trying to get hot water if it’s allowed to cool in the pipes on the way to you. Another thing that you can do to improve your home’s energy efficiency is to make sure that your ducts are sealed and insulated. You don’t want to have to run your furnace more than is necessary to maintain the temperature in your home.
Improve Your Landscaping
It just takes a little bit of time to improve your landscaping, but it can save you money by taking care of it. Removing bushes and branches that are touching your home is an important step. They can cause your siding to rot out or be damaged. Clean out your gutters while you’re at it so that they don’t become clogged and hurt the exterior of your home. It can also be causing unseen damage underneath your home or to your foundation.
There are lots of projects that you can do around your home to improve it while saving some money. Look at the big picture when you decide which projects make the most sense for you.
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