I'm a homeowner whose budget is constantly being challenged by increasing household costs and a limited income. I'm looking for some simple home improvements I can do around the house for the least amount of money that will give me the most bang for my bucks. Any ideas?
Tim Hennelly, owner of Casa Buena Home Inspections in Little Rock, offers these suggestions for some frugal fixes and simple home improvements:
• Break out the paint
Paint is cheap and goes a long way, Hennelly says.
"Paint your front door and paint the walls, ceilings, and trim in the rooms which need it the most," he adds. A house can be easily freshened by covering marks on painted doors and walls with a tester bottle of paint that matches those surfaces.
• Let there be light
"Add a battery-powered light to a closet that doesn't have a light," he suggests. "Also replace old, worn or outdated light switches and outlet covers." Other ideas include adding LED push lights under kitchen cabinets to create easy and budget-friendly down-lighting in that room. Also, add motion detector lights at the home's front and back doors.
• Cost-cutting chores
Focus on home improvements that will help save money on utility bills for months and years to come, he says.
"Add a storm door and install a programmable thermostat," Hennelly says. "Replace heating and air [registers] with new clean ones and install a ceiling fan or two." Other suggestions include filling in gaps on doors, windows, or seal around a window air-conditioning unit with foam weather strip
• Frugal freshening
"Replace cabinet and drawer knobs and pulls," Hennelly says. "And update your doorknobs with new ones and replace old faucet fixtures." Replacing a worn welcome mat on the front porch will go a long way and whitening tile grout with a whitening pen will keep it looking fresh. In the living room or den, a leather sofa can be made to look new again simply by cleaning it.
• Savings with an eye toward safety
Properly securing a house can save money and keep the family safe in several ways.
"Install deadbolts," Hennelly says. "And install smoke detectors in every bedroom and carbon monoxide detectors where appropriate."
• Enriching repairs
Making small repairs around a house can add value to your residence.
Some chores that can be tackled without busting the bank account include filling in plaster or wood with an all-purpose filler, replacing a rusty or broken bathtub and sink stopper, fixing a dripping faucet by changing out a washer, and repairing countless other items with a strong adhesive. Lubricate any squeaky door or cabinet hinges or mechanisms with WD40.
• Proactive actions
Also remember to tackle home improvement projects that will help avert the need for future ones. These include installing a door stop to prevent handle dents on walls and preventing furniture scrapes on the floor or walls by adding felt pads to leg bottoms and the backs of furniture positioned near walls. Using clips to keep cables neat and out of the way can also help prevent possible accidents or damage.
• Cheap street appeal
Improving the exterior of the house will go a long way toward making it a more pleasant and inviting place to reside, Hennelly says.
"Clean your vinyl siding," he suggests.
Do you have a decorating or remodeling question? We'll get you an answer from an authority. Send your question to Linda S. Haymes, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, P.O. Box 2221, Little Rock, Ark., 72203 or email:
lhaymes@arkansasonline.com
HomeStyle on 10/08/2016