Despite Devastating Effects on the Broader Economy, Pandemic Has Been a Boon for US Home Improvement Joint Center for Housing Studies

Forbes Home adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners. The home remodeling market has been in continued expansion despite the pandemic. Energy-efficient thermal insulation, replacement windows, and lighting.

• You’ll find inspiration for bathroom remodels, as well as handy tips and tricks on how to complete basic tasks around the home by yourself.
• Each video is a short tutorial that focuses on a single aspect of a renovation, remodel, or repair and walks you through how it’s done.
• Lower-income owners were more likely to have lost employment income due to the pandemic.
• Decide if you should buy a second home Buying a second home can be tricky, but with preparation and some help from experts, you can make an informed decision that’s right for your situation.
• What could’ve been framed as a melodramatic battle of the wills is instead presented as a teachable moment between the tradesman and the homeowner.

No matter where we live, access to green space makes a big difference to our happiness levels; we found we’re significantly unhappier without it. Even if we don’t have a garden or balcony, bringing some greenery into our homes will improve our overall well being. Our homes are happier when we invite people to share them with us. This increases our pride in our homes, as well as the emotional connection we feel with where we live. Both of these factors are important drivers of home happiness. We’ve found that taking the time to improve our homes has a positive impact on home happiness, regardless of whether we enjoy the process itself or not.

Even if your neighbor’s house has a high level of radon, that doesn’t mean yours does. Each house is different, and age doesn’t matter and can be found in new homes. Radon test kits are available at home centers and hardware stores for about $10.

Dulux’s Colour of the Year is ‘Bright Skies’, a peaceful and uplifting baby blue that will turn your home into a warm embrace. They can help you enlarge rooms, add in clever storage features, build better connections to your other rooms, among many other things. They can also help ensure you navigate all the legal requirements correctly, such as building regulations and meeting the permitted development guidelines. For all the added value they can bring to your home and the legal troubles you get to avoid, these professionals are well worth the extra costs.

Home equity loan or HELOC

Either team them with light voile drapes or do away with other window treatments altogether. If your water pressure is low and you don’t have a combi boiler, your shower is probably less than invigorating. Installing a pump to increase the pressure and a thermostatic shower valve to maintain the temperature will improve it no end. Go for a simple worktop, like laminate, which is generally the cheapest, in a finish illusion of a high-cost design. Faux marble is very on trend right now, and faux wood is a classic that won’t date – just avoid any orangey tones. Can be very expensive, therefore if on a budget go for the summer house or shed idea instead.

Frame the Bathroom Mirror

Conventional wisdom among estate agents is that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes, so if you’re thinking of improving with a view to selling on, this is a good place to start. A new kitchen House & Home Improvement can add 5% to the value of your home while a new bathroom can add 3% according to figures from Zoopla. If you refinance with an FHA loan, you’ll need 15% equity in your home.

The clockwise motion in the winter makes cool air rise and redistributes warm air. To quickly and easily rehabilitate your existing fireplace, a gas or wood-burning insert adds energy efficiency to your home without tearing apart your hearth and mantel. Equipping your fireplace with glass doors blocks heated and cooled air from escaping and amplifies the fire’s heat, which in turn reduces energy costs. Closing the damper when the fireplace is not in use will help keep cold out of your home and add to heating efficiency. Having your fireplace and chimney professionally cleaned will also improve fireplace efficiency.

Buyers look for communities with cohesive looks or specific aesthetics. When you’re showing your home to potential buyers, small touches make a big difference. Easy changes like fluffy bathroom towels, updated kitchen cabinet hardware, and fresh paint in the guest bathroom don’t cost too much.

Reasonable and practical, given the age of your home and the condition it’s in. For example, if your home need serious repairs, it might not be practical to do the work you need. If your home is in need of repair, your landlord might have to do the repairs you need.