Home Improvement

Thinking of remodeling? Have you stopped to consider how transforming a bedroom into a home office might impact the value of the home? One of the most common questions homeowners have when thinking of remodeling is how much the work will add or detract from the value of the home. You'll find answers to those questions and more in this section of ActiveRain.


Everything you need to know – the answers to all your burning questions – about energy efficiency, green homes, landscaping, home maintenance, staging, landscaping and more is right here at your fingertips.


With over 300,000 real estate professionals, including stagers, contractors, landscapers and others, there is no better place to find the information you need than ActiveRain.


While you'll find a ton of helpful ideas and hints within these pages, you'll want to bookmark the site so that you can check back for the hundreds of daily updates from authors who spend their days actually performing the tasks you have questions about.


Put the hammer down and the glasses on and read on.

Trending blogs on Home Improvement
By Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI, Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell
(HomeSmart Real Estate)
We update everything else in our homes. Got granite, soft water, new front door, hard wood floors, stainless steel, firepit. What else is there to do? Hhow about your house numbers at your front door for some pizzaz?Houzz; realtor.com; iStock Per Kelsey Mulvey of Realtor.com on August 8, 2019: When considering the look of your home's exterior, your landscaping and paint color probably are first to come to mind. But there's another design element at play here—one that's easy to forget about but that can make your home stand out above the rest if done right: your house number. "House numbers may be a necessity, but they don’t have to be boring," says Kriss Swint, director of interactive strategy and design at Royal Building Products. "They can add an inexpensive pop of design to your home...
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By Micheal John
(Micheal John)
Most of our quality time is spent at home. It is the place where we return to find rest after a long tiring day. That’s why it is crucial to keep the living space refreshing. Research says the house with a stimulating environment plays a significant role in maintaining a healthy and successful lifestyle.  What we are talking about here is beyond cleanliness or keeping things in order. These two components are indeed essential in creating a peaceful environment at home. But there is much more you can add in order to maintain a soothing space that will be really welcoming and help you sleep better. In this post, we’re going to cover all the tops on how to improve your house’s energy, which will help reduce your stress and rest peacefully at your home. Naturally Scented Incense:It is prove...
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By Chrissy Boltan, Service professional specializing in Real Estate
(Pro Services)
Not only are engineered quartz countertops a long-lasting, low-maintenance alternative to natural stone countertops, but they can also be found in multiple color choices. 0%   What Are Quartz Countertops Made OfWhat is a Quartz Countertop?Kitchen countertops all around the U.S. have been covered in laminates since Formica was created in the 1920s. However, some natural stone surfaces as marble, soapstone, granite, and concrete have started being used in more and more kitchens for the last 10 years. Nevertheless, engineered quartz has cracked into the design world.A couple of years after getting popularity in Europe during the last decade, quartz started being part of many kitchens in America, showing off its own remarkable qualities along with the best features of laminate and stone as ...
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By Tamra Lee Ulmer, NRBA ~FORCE~ Over 1000 REO Assets SOLD!
(Arizona Resource Realty)
Washing your windows is a tedious chore, so you want to make sure you get it right the first time. To avoid having to redo your work, here are the tips you can use. CHOOSE A DRY, CLOUDY DAY Do this job in the blazing sun and the cleaner will dry onto the hot windows before you get to wipe it off, leaving hard-to-remove streaks. If the weather won't cooperate, start on the shady side of the house.REMOVE DIRT AND DUST FIRST Before you get started, sweep dirt from the window frame with a brush or vacuum it up with your machine's dusting attachment. This will prevent dirt from turning into a muddy mess when mixed with a cleaner. If your window screen looks especially grimy, pop it out and wash with hot, sudsy water and a soft brush, then rinse and let dry before putting it back. For quickly...
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By David Best, Turn your house into a home! Home Improvement Tips
(HouseHome)
Water leaks are frustrating, but even more frustrating when you can not detect them. Without prompt attention, the problem may linger and degenerate into something even bigger. Leaking taps are probably the most common culprits. However, there are several other things to watch out for when it comes to water leaks.Some of these include: The sounds of running water when no faucet is opened. A change in water meter without using more water. A spike in the water bill. Wet areas on floors and walls, without any spillage. Unpleasant odours, especially indoors. An unusually green patch of lawn These are the basic, on-the-surface signs to watch out for. Now, let us consider some other advanced checks that may uncover water leaks and related situations.Water MeterIf you are finding it difficult ...
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Being quarantined at home during the coronavirus outbreak can mean having more time for DIY home improvement projects, and after receiving stimulus checks under the government’s CARES Act, some homeowners may have extra cash on hand to execute their ideas. But anyone planning to take on renovations should do so strategically. Whether or not selling your house is on the horizon, homeowners must consider how each project will affect their home’s value.5 worthwhile home improvement projectsA homeowner’s needs should be the driving factor in prioritizing renovations, but the return on their investment is also essential. Some projects prove to have a higher ROI than others. To accurately determine ROI, homeowners must account for how they’ll pay for the improvements. If they need to suppleme...
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By Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP, Selling Homes Changing Lives
(DFW FINE PROPERTIES)
by Patricia Feager A lot has changed in the residential kitchens over the many generations of home buyers. For example, a homeowner in the 1950's was lucky to have a stove, refrigerator, sink, linoleum floors, and if there was a pantry, people were very lucky! It was really special if people owned a Dining Room Table and a China Cabinet. If an owner was lucky, they had a kitchen table in their kitchen. The kitchen table could have been made out of Oak Wood or a metal table and chairs.  Although big and bulky, by the late 1960's and 1970's, homeowners that were very lucky had their own washing machine and clothes dryer. In some parts of the country, owners still didn't own their own washers and dryers until much later. Today, in many older homes a home owner is lucky if they have a washe...
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Do you want to replace your traditional fluorescent bulbs with something that is more efficient and consumes lesser energy? Do you want to brighten up your larger area with a powerful light source?LED bay lights are a perfect and modern solution for all of your problems related to electric supplies. These bay lights are more energy-efficient, durable, and last longer than ordinary bulbs and lamps. These lights can be used commonly in warehouses, storage rooms, furniture rooms, recreational areas, gyms, and households. These lights can be used anywhere at a distance of 20 feet or more. Its clear and uniform lighting effects have outdated the regular fluorescent bulbs and tubelights. Features Energy-saving: Replace your 300 HPS bulb with an energy-efficient 150W LED bay light. Energy-savi...
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By Kimberly Button, Designing & building healthy homes for wellness
(Get Green Be Well)
If you are considering redoing a backyard or walkway, pouring concrete might seem like the most likely solution. But is it? Concrete has a lot of problems, including:  Cost Environmental Impact Permanent  If you are budget-conscious and in the middle of a renovation or upgrade, you do have alternatives! And these all work for:  Pathways Decks Patios Walkways Garden Borders  Here are some great concrete alternatives and how they are used (plus some cost comparisons), including Klingstone which ended up being our choice. Plus step-by-step instructions. We were surprised that so many of the materials, including flagstone and all of the finishes, can be ordered online and delivered to your home! Great if you have no desire to wander around a home improvement store trying to figure out what ...
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By Micheal John
(Micheal John)
A swimming pool is a fantastic investment for the entire family. Both adults and children will have an endless amount of fun and joy through those warm summer months. Being an owner of a backyard swimming pool is not just a paradise for kids but it provides a range of benefits for the whole family. Yes, you can have fun and play games, swim about and have amazing pool parties! but a swimming pool also provides a lot of health benefits including helping reduce stress and anxiety and gives you a private oasis where you can relax your own backyard!  Are you thinking about investing in a swimming pool for your home? Let's take a look at some undeniable benefits you will get from having a pool you can call your own. Hours of entertainment for the kidsIt is no secret that children love the wa...
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By Richa Nayyar
(Coming service)
Are you looking for the home of your dreams? There are many people that are constantly looking for apartments that incorporate their desired details. But in reality, it can be complicated to encounter such places that can be bought or rented at affordable prices.The key is to know exactly where your priorities lie and recognize what is worth considering and what not. Luckily, there are agencies and sites that you can turn to. They have experts that work in the real estate field and have experience in this matter.So, to prepare you for this journey, here we’ll present some details you should know when looking for real estate properties. Let’s go!Type and Number of RoomsEspecially buildings with many floors tend to have bigger and smaller apartments with rooms that vary in size and number...
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Many factors help make a kitchen functional and organized, like a spacious kitchen counter where you can plan and prep your dishes, or a multi-burner stove that enables you to multitask. But none of these come close to being the most essential feature of a great kitchen which is your modern kitchen cabinets.Next to the walls, kitchen cabinets are the one component that covers the maximum space in your kitchen. Hence, they must be aesthetic and super functional for you to always have a great ambiance and experience in your kitchen.Factors to consider while choosing your kitchen cabinetsBefore proceeding with the factors, you must decide whether you need custom cabinets or prefabricated cabinets. It will highly depend on your budget and the time available for your renovation and redesigni...
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By Ray Henson, Realtor
(eXp Realty of California, Inc. (lic. #01878277))
     Breakthrough, the name itself suggests a product that is something special.  For a number of years, it was a great product.  My paint company specialized in painting cabinets with Breakthrough and we never had any complaints or product failures over many years.  We liked this product so much that it was the only product we would use for cabinets..  I even recommended Breakthrough in this 2010 ActiveRain article. Unfortunately, PPG had to change Breakthrough a few years ago to comply with California regulations.    In 2017, we received multiple complaints.  Clients would call saying the product was getting soft and sticky in multiple areas.  Some complaints began as early as six months after we completed the project.  The paint was deteriorating on trim, doors and cabinets.  The fix...
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By Helene Kelbaugh, REALTOR, Internet Marketing Specialist, eXp Realty
(eXp Realty)
Achieve Feng Shui In Your Homeby Helene Kelbaugh of Keller Williams Legacy Metropolitan If you take the time to dig into the philosophy around feng shui, you'll understand that it doesn't come off as esoteric as one my think. It's based around the simple practices to make a home feel healthier and a lot more organized. It also helps you to connect to your home, in a way that can affect your mood and well being. Feng shui is as common as "spring-cleaning," or decorating to make a home feel much more comfortable.This ancient Chinese tradition can be incorporated into your own home. It can be done in a modern holistic approach, while still honoring the age-old traditions that come with feng shui. It's not about transforming the structure of your home, but instead making it to evolve into a...
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By Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP, Selling Homes Changing Lives
(DFW FINE PROPERTIES)
by Patricia Feager, 6/28/18 REALLY? IS IT REALLY A REMODEL OR JUST A PARTIAL OR COMPLETE REPLACEMENT? Have you ever noticed that when a home owner only does one major repair and doesn't finish the job, meaning, the entire kitchen or bath, it doesn't seem to matter how much the materials, i.e., Granite, Ceramic Tile, etc., cost, if everything else is still old.  Take for example new kitchen counter tops. On the surface, the new counter tops may look great and probably cost a lot of money; however, if the cabinets are still old, scratched, nicked, out-of-date, than how much extra value is there in that kitchen? Sadly, even though the new counter tops glisten and look pretty, everything else stands out like a sore thumb, begging for mercy. Buyers get that uneasy feeling when something is o...
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By Richa Nayyar
(Coming service)
 WHAT IS TZITZITThe word tzitzit basically means ‘fringes’ and it refers to the strings attached to the corners of a tallit Katan. A tallit Katan is a fringed clothing normally worn either under or over one’s clothing by the Jewish males.WHY DO WE WEAR TZITZITIn the commandments of the Old Testament — the ‘how to book’ for Christians, there are a lot of commandments still in place that are for anyone who loves God.In fact our Messiah not only taught the commandments but he told people to obey them in spirit too. But sometimes life gets busy and we forget to obey even the simple things. So in Numbers 15:38 God created a reminder system. He commanded us to wear tassels in our clothing as a visible reminder to keep his word.In Hebrew, those tassels are called tzitzit. God commanded us to w...
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By Karl Hess, on The Jersey Shore
(Keller Williams Shore Properties)
Trend or Fad? Knowing the Difference Could Save You MoneyWhen updating your Ocean County home (particularly to put on the market), It's a good idea to incorporate current trends into your renovations. There's a fine line between trends and fads however, and the difference can affect your buyer pool.Fads are characterized by an intense and widely shared enthusiasm for something, but they tend to fade in popularity quickly, and have little basis in practicality.What's Your Home Worth? Get a FREE, instant valuation.Trends have longer lifespans and are more sustainable as a market force. Trends indicate the general direction that something is developing over time. Often times, design trends can be predictable because they have a basis in practicality that justifies their popularity.Fads can...
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By Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP, Selling Homes Changing Lives
(DFW FINE PROPERTIES)
  By Webster's definition, the word "Remodel" means: "change the structure or form of (something, especially a building). Unfortunately, there is an MLS listing providing property description of a home being remodeled, when it fact it is not a remodel because the construction of the structure hasn't changed at all. It is the same floor plan it was since the home was built in 1991. For example, a listing, now pending states the following information which is inaccurate because the construction of the structure is the same and everything listed is only a replacement and/or an original product refinished or has fresh coats of paint. It is the same floor plan as it was since the home was built. Structurally, nothing else changed: "Beautifully remodeled home sits on a corner lot with NO HOA....
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By Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP, Selling Homes Changing Lives
(DFW FINE PROPERTIES)
Author: Patricia Feager, 2/16/2018 WHEN DOES SPRING START AND ENDSpring begins March 20 and ends on June 21, 2018. SUGGESTED BASIC TWO-STEPOrganize your spring cleaning into two steps: Who are you going to call? What can you do everyday for 32 days?  SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTSNow is the time to shop prices and start scheduling appointments in advance to hire reputable companies. Examples may include:  Hard Wired Smoke Detectors Central A/C Maintenace Roof Inspection Dryer Vent Cleaning Gutter Cleaning Window Washing Water Heater Inspection Termite and Pest Inspectors Landscapers Painters  ASK NOT WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR YOU BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR YOUCount the number of rooms in your home. To that number, add the following: # of Closets Garage Linen Closets Cabinets # of Drawers Storage Spaces ...
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The perspective of the visitor is the core concept in your mind in regards to the responsive behaviour of the website. Well, it must be as if your website has a responsive web design it means that it is adjustable to every view size. It does not matter on what device the users are going to open your website, it should give a perfect experience, fast-loading, mobile-friendly, and more.Fluid grids, responsive images, media, and media queries are the main elements of a responsive website. The websites that have all these components at their best are easy to use, customer-focused and engaging. Other than those above mentioned, there are unlimited benefits, take a look. Below are a few benefits of having responsive web design, If you’re a web developer, you must build a responsive web design...
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