Home Improvement Short Cuts Not to Make

Many people try to improve their home when it comes to selling, listing and marketing their property. While this is a great idea some things are not to be overlooked. There are many items that can really improve the quality of the home and increase the value including having multiple bathrooms, a logical layout, upgraded and energy-efficient appliances and an updated kitchen, but there are some shortcuts that you should never make when conducting home improvements.

#1. Skipping the permits.

You never want to miss getting the correct permits when conducting a home improvement project on your property. Even if the project may not require a permit it's still better to check with your building inspector on requirements before launching in. Should you sell the home, any improvements or major remodeling projects will need proof of the building permit and if you don't have it and have done anything incorrectly, you may not be able to sell the home.

#2. Not deferring to a professional electrician for electrical work.

This is definitely not something for the average homeowner. Anytime you work with electrical work, even installing a simple light fixture, it's best to have a qualified and licensed electrician to handle it. You never know if you have all of the electricity off to a certain area, if you could cause a spark or fire if something is installed incorrectly or damage the home permanently for future sales. It may cost a little more to use a professional electrician but could save you a lot of hassle and health in the future.

#3. Closing offense to particular rooms.

Now, this goes for heat and for air-conditioning but I'm sure we've all done it at one point or another. This is where you close the vents in one room that you're not using so that your system uses less energy to fill the rest of the house but actually by doing this you're destroying your efficiency and shortening the life of the equipment. Although this is tempting, it's best to leave the vents open in all rooms so that the ductwork can work properly for years to come.

#4. Putting new flooring on top of old.

Replacing the flooring is a great way to add a whole new look to a room but if you're not replacing the floor and simply adding to it, you're causing a world of problems. Anytime you add to the old without removing the underlayment, you could find yourself with an uneven surface and have to replace it again. Anytime you replacing floors it's never a good idea to perform a shortcut; simply remove the old flooring down to the subfloor and start fresh.

Related post: How to Add Value to Your Home Before Selling

#5. Using the wrong outlets.

Did you know that there are different outlets around the sink or a tub then there would be around items that are not in your water? Most people don't realize that but we all know that water and electricity don't mix. If you remodeling a kitchen or a bathroom you want to use outlets that include a ground fault circuit interrupter as in the event that an appliance falls into the water, it will trip the electricity and cut it off. This could save a life and is definitely not a shortcut to miss.

#6. Painting over chipped wallpaper.

We all would like to take this shortcut and simply paint over our existing paint but it's extremely important to have a smooth surface especially if you're getting rid of old wallpaper. The paint will moisten wallpaper and make it bubble or the cracks and chips will eventually shine through making you start all over anyway.

#7. Using simple nails to attach a deck.

When you're building a deck, you wanted to laugh and be built correctly. There are specific bolts to secure the structure to the house and if it's not done properly, the deck will collapse eventually.

When in doubt is always a good idea to hire a professional before completing any major and even minor repairs and renovations. If you're looking to improve your home before selling feel free to give me a call at any time. I would be happy to give you tips, suggestions and advice on of the best way to improve the value of your Columbus home.