Home Improvement for Beginners: Top 3 Areas to Prioritize

Purchasing a home you can call your own is one of the most gratifying milestones you can achieve in your life, and like any other important achievement, getting there is no walk in the park. From filling out forms to setting up appointments and meeting deadlines, the entire process requires your absolute dedication and attention. Once the purchase is complete, however, homeowners are faced with the question of how much to change and which areas to prioritize for a remodel. Home improvement plans can be as simple as painting the walls and replacing lighting fixtures, and as complicated as replacing the roof or building a room addition.

Read on to learn more about the best home improvement projects to tackle if you’ve just purchased a new home.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Tackling an Upgrade

So you just bought a charming old house here in the beautiful state of Ohio. It took just one look at it to reel you in. The intricate architectural details, the gorgeous woodwork and charming patio—what more can you ask for? But upon taking a closer look at it, you find underlying problems. Missing shingles? Termite damage on window frames? Perhaps the doors make a screeching sound when you open them? If these examples sound familiar and you feel like more things are going wrong than right with your home, then home remodeling just might make sense for you.

The first question is this: Where do you start? We all know how challenging home remodeling can be, especially if this is your first time dealing with it. Before picking up the hammer and starting the work yourself, it’s important to plan properly and ask yourself these vital questions:

• What is my goal? – This is one question to which it’s very important to have a definite answer. You need to have some concrete goals in mind before you begin your home improvement endeavor. This could include anything from replacing certain elements to increasing floor space or simply modernizing your home’s design. Be sure to write down your goals and plans so that when you start your project, you don’t get sidetracked and end up with a lot of additional (and costly) expenses.
• Should I DIY or hire a professional contractor? – This depends on the extent of your project. A lot of homeowners are choosing to DIY their own upgrades in an attempt to lower the initial costs. This approach works well for simple projects, such as painting the walls, replacing lighting fixtures or updating your window treatments. For bigger projects like installing a new roof or replacing your windows and doors, however, it’s always best to rely on the professionals to make sure any newbie mistakes are prevented. Keep in mind that when it comes to major projects, a single mistake can end up costing you a lot in the form of repairs and other additional work.
• How much is my budget? – Before taking on a home upgrade, be sure you have the proper finances to cover your expenses. Talking to the bank or your trusted local remodeler is a smart way to set a realistic budget for your remodel. After determining the potential costs, you can then look into various financing options, including home equity and other type of loans. Once you’ve set a concrete budget and secured financing, you’ll then want to find a reliable contractor that can give you the outcome you want for the money you’re able to invest.
• Are you ready to face the mess? Any construction project comes with a lot of mess, noise and inconvenience. Make sure you’re mentally and physically prepared to make the necessary adjustments before starting the upgrade. Work with your contractor to come up with a plan that will allow you to minimize the mess and bother throughout the process.

3 Areas to Prioritize for Your Home Remodel

It doesn’t matter if you’ve bought an old home, a newly built house, an apartment or a condo in a maintained community—owning your own place brings out the home remodeling itch in all of us. At the very least, a new home requires dealing with various home maintenance tasks). If you’re planning on giving your home a taste of improvement, here are the top three areas to prioritize that will help turn your ordinary home into the home of your dreams:

Roofing – While roofs may not be the most exciting part of homeownership, they are undeniably the most important. Your roofing system serves as your home’s umbrella, and keeping it in tiptop shape is highly essential. It’s not something we think about often, but it does require constant maintenance to ensure a long and worry-free service life. A lot of homeowners don’t even realize their roof is in trouble until the inevitable happens—a leaky roof and water damage. This is particularly true if the home you just bought is a traditional one that’s been standing for decades.

If you catch issues early on, you can actually extend your roof’s lifespan through simple repairs instead of a complete replacement. At least once a year, you should have your roofing system inspected to look for the following warning signs

Roof Inspection Checklist:

• Curling, buckling or missing shingles
• Granular wear
• Damaged flashing
• Broken soffit and fascia
• Losse sheathing or decking
• Water stains on the ceiling
• Sagging gutters
• Popped nails

The skylights, chimneys, valleys, drip edge and any other areas with flashing are generally where most roof leaks occur, so be sure to pay close attention to them. If problems do ever occur, be sure to call in an expert roofing company in Fostoria, OH, to perform necessary repairs. If the damage is too extensive for repairs, however, a complete roof replacement may be required.

Roof replacement is a long-term solution for major problems. Today, there are a variety of roofing materials available on the market from which to choose, including asphalt shingles, concrete tiles, metal and slate. Talk to a reputable roofer who can assess your needs properly and help you identify the best options for your home.

2. Windows – Does your home have drafty windows, or perhaps mismatched window designs? If this is the case, it may be a good idea to replace your old, inefficient windows and invest in home window installation in Fostoria, OH. When it does come time to finally update your home’s windows, we’d recommend that you get all your units replaced at once to prevent having mismatched window designs that can make your newly-bought Ohio home look less than perfect.

While window replacement can bring big benefits like improved energy efficiency, it’s also an opportunity for you to find window style options that maximize the curb appeal of your home. After all, spending your hard-earned dollars for new windows will be worth it when you get the design you’re aiming for. Here are some ways windows can boost your home’s appearance:

• Highlight your architectural design. As with homes, not all windows are created equal. When choosing a style, you have to be careful to choose options that complement your home’s architectural design. For example, traditional homes look perfect with equally traditional options such as casement and double-hung windows. The more your windows reflect the architecture of your home, the more your investment will pay off in terms of curb appeal.
• Keep symmetry in mind. Have you ever wondered why some homes look better than others even though they have the same design? Well, the answer may lie in symmetry. This is the reason new homeowners like you should carefully consider their design options. An exterior with asymmetrical and mismatched windows can make the façade look and feel unbalanced.
• Let your creativity flow. Never be afraid to play with styles and colors. For instance, if your siding and trim are in neutral color palettes, you may want to pick out a window frame or mullion color that’s bold or a few shades brighter than the dominant exterior color. Rich green window frames, for example, can add a nice pop of color for a home with cream or white siding.

Doors –   Upgrading your entry and patio door can also do wonders for both the curb appeal and energy efficiency of your home. To get the best results from your door replacement service in Fostoria, OH, however, you need to choose the perfect door for your needs. When choosing a new patio or entry door, be sure to consider these tips:

• Find the right style. Like windows, doors come in a wide range of styles. Sliding doors, for instance, are great for small, minimalist homes due to their simple look and space-saving function. Talk to your trusted door contractor to help you find the best options for your needs.
• Consider energy efficiency. Your patio and entry doors cover some of the largest openings of your home, so it’s only fitting to get new units that are weathertight. Do a little research on their construction and weatherproofing properties to check if they’re a reliable material for the climate here in Ohio. It’s also best if your replacement doors have energy-efficient glass to limit heat transfer, thereby keeping your energy costs at a minimum.
• Don’t forget security. Your replacement patio and entry doors need to be tough, durable and secure. Be sure to go for the ones that have multiple locks and are manufactured from the strongest materials, such as wood, metal and fiberglass.

Choose the Right Remodeling Contracto

Hiring a reputable contractor can mean the difference between a successful project and a catastrophy. When dealing with roofing, window or door replacement, always keep in mind that the products are only as good as the company that installs them. A reputable contractor can help you design the right units for your needs while factoring in other important considerations, including energy efficiency, overall comfort, curb appeal and budget. When it comes to your first home improvement project, you truly can’t go wrong when you hire an experienced, reliable contractor like Clear Choice Exteriors Your Local Window Depot.