Author: Sarah Martinez

Home and improvement is an industry that has seen some significant growth in recent years. This industry includes the sale of building materials, appliances and decor, as well as the services offered by contractors and tradespeople who install, repair and upgrade homes. It also includes companies that produce smart technology to automate various functions in a house, such as heating and cooling systems and lighting.

Home improvement is a major responsibility for homeowners, as it involves the ongoing maintenance of one’s property. These tasks include repairing and maintaining the home’s structural integrity, addressing safety hazards and making upgrades to improve the functionality of the home. These improvements can also increase resale value.

There are many different ways to improve a home, and the options are nearly limitless. However, homeowners should prioritize projects that will add the most long-term value and ensure that the project is completed correctly and in a timely manner. In order to do this, it is important to have a clear vision for the finished product and a plan for how the work will be executed.

Keeping up with regular maintenance is one of the best ways to add value to a home, as it will prevent larger issues from arising and help the home retain its resale value. In addition, homeowners can make simple upgrades that will improve the look of the home, such as replacing dated fixtures with modern ones.

Another way to increase the value of a home is by making energy-efficient improvements. These types of projects can reduce a homeowner’s energy bills and improve the home’s overall comfort level. Additionally, these types of projects can often qualify for tax rebates.

The term “home improvement” refers to any type of renovation or remodeling project that is done on a residential dwelling. This can include adding new rooms, renovating existing ones, or changing the interior and exterior of a home. Some examples of home improvement projects are installing a new roof, painting the interior or exterior of a home, paving a driveway or patio, or making other landscaping changes. Other examples are converting an attic or basement into living space, installing a swimming pool, and making other types of repairs.

Renovating a home can be expensive, especially for homeowners who need to hire a general contractor and pay for materials. But with the right contractor, renovation projects can be done on time and on budget. We’ve compiled a list of the best home renovation contractors near me to help homeowners find a reputable professional for their next project.

We’ve chosen these top-rated general contractors based on their reliability, professionalism, and quality of work. Many of them offer company financing to help homeowners get the funds they need to complete their projects. These companies can also provide helpful tips for how to save money during a home renovation.

The Home Depot

The Home Depot is a popular choice for homeowners who need to update their homes with new kitchen or bathroom products. Its services can range from tub membrane recoating to custom cabinets and counters. The Home Depot’s nationwide availability and extensive selection of products are some of its biggest selling points.

One of the main factors that determines a general contractor’s cost is how much material they need to purchase for a particular project. This can change as market prices fluctuate, so it’s important to know how much you want your renovation to cost before hiring a contractor. Homeowners can use online calculators to get an approximate idea of how much their project will cost.

Another factor that affects a general contractor’s costs is labor rates. Different types of work have varying rates. For example, electricians and plumbers tend to charge more than carpenters or painters. Lastly, some renovations require specialized equipment that increases labor costs. For example, installing quartz countertops will cost more than a standard laminate countertop.

A local general contractor is usually the best option for homeowners because they’ll be familiar with building codes and regulations in their area. They can also easily pull permits if required. Homeowners should always ask potential general contractors for references and check their licenses and insurance.

The best home renovation contractors near me will have a good reputation and be experienced in completing various types of projects. They should be able to answer any questions you may have about your project and provide detailed quotes for your review. Some of these contractors will be able to provide design services as well, which can make the entire process easier for you. You can also compare multiple contractors by looking at their price ranges, reviews, and service areas to ensure you choose the right person for your renovation.

Whether you’re a new homeowner or have been in your home for some time, there are a variety of easy DIY projects that can improve your space and add value. From reorganizing your garage to installing a new backsplash, these ideas allow you to update your living space on your own terms and without the need for contractors.

Some of the most popular do-it-yourself upgrades include painting, changing out fixtures, and adding storage. These projects can be done in just a day and will add a fresh, updated look to your home. If you’re looking for more sophisticated updates, consider incorporating a custom-designed backsplash or adding LED lights to your dining room. You can even make your own unique mason jar pendant lights for a fun, contemporary look.

Repainting your walls is a great way to refresh the color scheme and give your home a modern appearance at an affordable price. Using paint rollers, a ladder, and a few supplies from your local hardware store, this is a project that can easily be completed in one weekend.

If you want to take it a step further, try experimenting with different color combinations and textures that reflect your personal style. Installing new cabinet handles is another inexpensive home improvement that can have a big impact on your kitchen or bathroom’s aesthetic. You can also use these home improvement ideas to upgrade your light fixtures, such as by converting old chandeliers into industrial-style pendant lights or adding recessed lighting to your kitchen island.

Upgrading the lighting in your home can enhance its appearance while making tasks easier. You can replace your existing bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs or choose a smart bulb for additional features like remote control and alerts. Another simple, cost-effective way to change out your lighting is by adding decorative sconces to your bathroom.

Many homeowners are concerned about the amount of clutter in their homes, especially after moving in. Organizing your garage or potting shed is a quick, affordable home improvement project that can help you get rid of unwanted items and save valuable space. To make your job easier, purchase a set of clear bins and label them with a permanent marker. Then, repurpose spice containers or mason jars to store pesky small tools and supplies like nails and screws.

A common home improvement idea is to build a privacy screen for your backyard, especially if your neighbors are close. You can plant tightly spaced shrubs, bamboo, or small pines to create a natural barrier that will block noise and sun exposure. If you’d rather not deal with the maintenance, you can try building a fence or installing a trellis covered in vines.

If you’re considering selling your home in the future, these easy home improvements can boost your home’s curb appeal and make it feel like a brand-new space. You can also add value to your property by refinishing hardwood floors, replacing dated appliances with new energy-efficient ones, or by cleaning air ducts.

Whether you’re thinking about selling your home in the near future or want to make it feel more like your own, there are a number of ways to improve your house. While few home improvements recoup 100% of their cost, well-considered upgrades will add value and boost your quality of life while you live there.

A fresh coat of paint, updated appliances and a landscape with curb appeal are some of the most popular home improvement projects. These upgrades are relatively inexpensive and simple enough to complete on your own. They can also help improve your home’s energy efficiency, a major selling point for potential buyers.

If you’re unsure where to start, consider asking an interior designer to visit your home and give you some suggestions for improvement. They typically charge a modest fee for their services, and can often provide helpful tips that will save you time and money down the road.

Before you start making major changes, take a closer look at your current belongings and ask yourself, “What can I repurpose?” It’s tempting to think that you need to completely gut your kitchen or replace your carpets with new ones, but it’s usually a better financial move to focus on upgrades that will appeal to a wide range of potential buyers. Changing the color of your front door is a quick and easy way to boost curb appeal, while adding a window box with petunias, geraniums or ivy is an affordable and timeless way to upgrade your exterior.

Many home improvement projects, such as replacing a bathroom vanity or installing new flooring, will likely recoup most of their costs during the sales process. But some, such as a custom-built kitchen or high-end granite countertops, may not pay off. For maximum resale value, choose neutral finishes and materials that are on-trend but less expensive than bespoke options.

When it comes to financing your home improvements, cash remains the most common source of funding, according to a 2024 Houzz and Home Study. However, you can also opt for credit cards or secured loans, such as a home equity line of credit (HELOC). HELOCs offer lower interest rates than personal loans and credit cards, and they’re secured against your home’s equity stake.

If you’re considering a home improvement project, consider working with an expert to ensure that it will add value and improve your quality of life. If you’re not sure how much your project will cost, a pre-inspection from a real estate professional can help you determine which upgrades are worth the investment. If you need to store furniture or other belongings while you’re making upgrades, Extra Space Storage has convenient self storage locations throughout the U.S. Contact one of our stores for more information and to reserve a unit. Best of all, we offer flexible terms so that you can store your things as long as you need to. We’ll even hold them for you until your home is sold.

Home improvement projects are an excellent way to add value to your home. However, whole-house renovations are often expensive and can take a long time to complete. Fortunately, there are plenty of do-it-yourself (DIY) home improvement ideas that can be completed quickly and without breaking the bank. From painting, re-grouting tile, and power washing the exterior to adding storage space and a backsplash to your kitchen, these cheap diy home improvements will make your house look and function better.

Paint

Changing interior paint colors is an inexpensive and effective home improvement project that can drastically transform a room’s mood and style. Choose a neutral shade like white or gray to appeal to a wide range of buyers, or try something bolder to increase your home’s curb appeal. If you’re not ready to commit to a whole new color scheme, simply re-painting your ceiling can give a room a fresh look for a fraction of the cost.

Repurposed Furniture

If you have an old dresser, hutch, or headboard sitting in your garage, don’t throw it away! With a little sanding, staining, and reupholstery, you can turn these pieces into cool home upgrades that will enhance your living space. A simple repurposed piece can make an impressive coffee table, hallway mirror, or storage bench.

Landscaping

A well-maintained yard is one of the simplest ways to improve your home’s appearance, and it will also increase its value. Planting flowers, bushes, and trees will give your home an inviting curb appeal, while a manicured lawn can be an instant conversation starter for potential buyers. If you have a small budget, consider planting low-maintenance perennials like geraniums and impatiens instead of high-maintenance shrubbery or annuals.

Lighting Upgrades

Nothing turns off buyers faster than dated light fixtures, so replacing outdated bulbs with brighter LED or CFL fixtures will instantly update your home’s interior. Whether you install a pendant light over the dining room table or wall sconces in the bathroom, upgraded lighting will brighten your home and provide a stylish finishing touch. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can even try your hand at designing your own DIY light fixture!

A home improvement retailer is an organization that offers a wide range of products used in construction and to enhance the appearance of residential and commercial buildings. Examples of such goods include drywall, lumber, flooring, paint, appliances, plumbing fixtures and tools, kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and landscaping materials. These retailers are also able to offer a variety of installation services to their customers.

The biggest names in the home improvement retail space are Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Ace Hardware, with 84 Lumber and Tractor Supply making up some of the smaller competitors. All of these companies are looking to differentiate their offering in the market, and they are focused on delivering on their promises to consumers.

Interest rates are rising and the housing market is cooling, and those factors are keeping people from spending money on do-it-yourself projects during this difficult time. The COVID-19 lockdown has also turned people’s homes into their office spaces, and that trend will likely continue to impact retail sales of home improvement products.

With these factors in play, it’s not a surprise that home improvement retail revenues are down. In fact, it is not expected that the industry will return to increases until late 2024. But there is one area of the market that has held steady in the face of the slowdown: sales by professional contractors.

For many of the home improvement retailers, that means focusing on better serving and incentivizing contractors to shop their stores. This could mean improving the online experience for contractors, or streamlining their ordering process. For example, having an easy-to-use system that enables contractors to order all the supplies they need for their next project in one place can save them time and help keep them profitable.

Another way that some home improvement retailers are improving the experience for professionals is by partnering with distribution channel teams to make it easier for them to access what they need. Offering the right solutions for a contractor can be as important to maintaining share of wallet as it is to attracting new customers.

Whether they are serving pros or doing it themselves, successful brands know that the omnichannel customer experience is key to their success. That’s why they are using data to identify pain points and provide practical solutions.

In a market where large retail chains are stealing sales from each other, winning the trust of customers can be challenging. This is especially true for a niche category like home improvement, where consumers are used to going to local home centers or hardware stores. However, if they want to compete with the big guys, home improvement brands need to do everything they can to provide the best possible customer experience.

Developing and executing the right strategy to sell into home improvement retailers takes a lot of hard work and collaboration with partners. But with the right tools and the right partner, a brand can achieve great results.

Owning a home is often one of the largest investments people make in their lives. In order to protect this investment, regular maintenance and upgrades are essential. For homeowners without the cash on hand to pay for renovations, loans are a popular financing option. Government loans for home improvement, like HUD Title I property improvement loans, are need-based and help lower borrowing costs. However, qualifying for these loans requires careful planning and understanding eligibility requirements before you start your project.

HUD loans help low- and moderate-income households pay for a wide range of home improvement projects, including structural alterations and energy conservation work. The loans also prioritize the elimination of health and safety hazards. In addition, the loans can cover work that makes a home more accessible to elderly borrowers, such as installing ramps in homes with stairs, widened doorways and seated showers.

These unsecured loans are typically offered by banks, credit unions and a variety of online lenders. Their approval odds are based largely on your credit score and debt-to-income ratio, with those who have the highest scores and lowest debt-to-income ratios qualifying for the best terms. Borrowers can choose between fixed- or variable-rate loans, and can sometimes receive funds within a day or two after applying.

There are a number of options for low-cost loan programs, including home equity loans, credit lines and personal loans. Home equity loans, which function as second mortgages, offer fixed rates and help you build up equity quickly. Credit lines, which function as revolving lines of credit, are ideal for smaller projects and purchases and generally have higher APRs than fixed-rate loans.

Government grants for home improvement are available from federal, state and local programs. The types of projects supported vary by program and can include everything from structural alterations to accessibility improvements. Eligibility is determined by a variety of factors, including household income level and property ownership status. Many government grant programs are limited in the amount of funding that is available, so determining your eligibility early on is a good idea.

While grants do not require repayment, home improvement loans do have to be repaid over time. At RenoFi, we help homeowners explore their options and understand the implications of each type of financing. In the end, thorough research and a full understanding of all of your borrowing options can save you money and ensure your home improvement project is successful.

Home improvements are often done to improve a living space, rather than boost the resale value of the house. This is why it’s important to carefully examine the reasons you are planning your home improvement and think about the big picture.

The more thought you put into the project, the better chance you will have at achieving the desired outcome. For instance, consider how many times you and your family use the entryway to drop off coats and bags and where your family typically sits together when entering the home. This will help you decide whether to make changes to that area or perhaps a different room, such as an expanded kitchen or more bedrooms.

Another important consideration is how you plan to handle the disruption that a renovation brings to your daily life. Depending on the type and scope of work, you might find yourself without access to a bathroom or kitchen for weeks or months at a time. It’s a good idea to talk with your contractor ahead of time and discuss the possibility of having to make alternative arrangements. It would also be wise to check with your local authorities about the types of permits you may need for your project. A reliable contractor will likely be able to provide you with the information you need and handle all permit applications, inspections, and finalization of the work for you.

One way to ease the strain on your budget is to explore the available government home improvement assistance programs. These include city, county and state programs that provide home repair grants, weatherization or energy efficiency assistance, and other support to low-income homeowners. Some of these are national and some are only available in your local area.

When looking for contractors to work on your project, only choose those that have been verified as reputable and whose previous customers have provided positive reviews. It’s also a good idea to get multiple quotes from contractors, and to compare what services they offer. Lastly, don’t hesitate to ask for references and speak with previous clients to learn about their experience working with the contractor in question. Doing your homework ahead of time will help ensure that you stay on budget, secure the necessary permits and avoid the many surprises that can pop up throughout any home renovation. It will also help ensure that you complete your home improvement project with the dream result that you were hoping for.

Home renovations are often viewed as a hassle and frustrating, but they can actually be a lot of fun. If done correctly, they can also make your home more beautiful, livable, and valuable. Many homeowners choose to renovate their homes as a way of falling back in love with them or making the house more functional for their needs.

Home improvements are also a great investment that can pay off if you decide to sell your house someday. The right upgrades can increase the value of your house, so you’ll get a bigger return on your investment.

Generally, the most popular upgrades include kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodels, but you can also add a fireplace, deck, or sunroom to your home. You can also install new flooring, appliances, or lighting fixtures to update your home’s style and functionality.

Another great benefit of home improvement is that it can improve your health. Mold and mildew are a serious threat to human health, and they thrive in moist areas such as basements and bathrooms. By removing these problem areas during a renovation, you can protect your family’s health and avoid respiratory problems like coughing, wheezing, and asthma flare-ups.

One of the most popular ways to make your home feel more modern is by painting the walls. Light colors such as white, gray, or beige can help your home look larger and brighter. Darker shades such as navy blue or deep purple can create a dramatic look in smaller rooms. You can also use accent walls to draw attention to certain areas of the room.

Another easy DIY home renovation is installing new shelves. This simple project can instantly add storage space to any room and is a good way to bring a fresh, updated look to your home. All you need is a few brackets, screws, and a drill to complete this quick project.

Upgrading your appliances with more energy-efficient models is a smart way to save money on your energy bills. Replacing older refrigerators, washer-dryers, ovens, and dishwashers with more efficient models can cut down on your monthly utility costs. You can even invest in a heat pump to further reduce your home’s energy consumption and save on utility costs.

Renovating your Fresno home can make it more appealing to potential buyers. Updating your home with classic styles and neutral color palettes will ensure that it looks upscale and sophisticated when you’re ready to sell it. Depending on the size and scope of your home, some renovations may be necessary to improve safety. Leaky roofs, electrical issues, and cracks in the foundation should be fixed as soon as possible to prevent further damage and costlier repairs.

When choosing to do a home renovation, it’s important to work with a reputable contractor who uses high-quality materials. Low-quality paints and other products can chip, peel, or fade quickly, resulting in costly maintenance and replacement. Using the best materials for your home can increase its lifespan and protect your investments.

Home improvement is the process of repairing, modifying or renovating existing residential or non-commercial property. It also includes replacing or adding features to it such as driveways, walkways and patios, fencing, landscaping, insulation installation, water heaters, window replacements and new paint. It can also include converting rooms into others like adding an extra bathroom or living space, making the house more energy efficient by upgrading the heating and cooling system or even installing renewable solar resources. It also involves making accessible modifications for individuals with physical disabilities.

The terms home improvement and remodeling are often confused with each other, but there is a difference between them. The main difference is the scope of the project.

A home improvement usually involves cosmetic changes and repairs while a remodel generally implies major structural changes to the living space. The latter might involve changing the floor plan, removing walls to create an open concept and making additions. Remodeling may require more time to complete than a renovation and can also be more expensive.

Before starting your home improvement or remodeling project, decide what you want to achieve and work out a budget. A clear goal can help you stay focused and make better decisions. It also helps to keep your expectations realistic and avoid any frustrations. Depending on the city in which you live and the nature of your project, you might need to acquire permits or pay for licensing fees. Some professionals will acquire them on your behalf, but it is best to check with the city before starting.

You should also consider the location and values of your neighborhood. It is advisable to make upgrades that will increase your home’s value. This is because a home with a good return on investment will make it easier to sell at a later stage. Choosing projects that fit in with the style of your neighborhood and are in line with other homes in the area will ensure this.

If you are looking to add value to your home, it is also important to consider future buyers when choosing projects. For instance, a backyard basketball court might not be appealing to all potential buyers and could deter them from buying your home.

A good idea is to research your local real estate market and find out what projects have successfully increased property values in your area. This will help you determine which projects are worth pursuing and those that you might want to skip.

Lastly, you should consider your financing options before undertaking a home improvement or remodeling project. You can use personal loans, mortgages and equity lines of credit to finance your project. In addition, you can also use your savings to fund the project or ask a family member for assistance. However, you should be aware of the risks associated with borrowing money. For example, you might not be able to repay your debts if the value of your home declines.