Remodeling in progress on an old house in Silverlake, Los Angeles, California, USA – Photo Courtesy: Charles & Hudson
Whether you are living in an old house or have bought one, remodeling and home improvements are obviously going to be the first priority on your to-do agenda. Unfortunately, there is no guide on how to deal with each new problem that arises or which tools would be needed to fix what.
For this very reason, here are some tips and tricks that will help you remodel and improve your house in a more efficient and time saving manner.
Invest in a good pair of tools
Toolbag with Power Tools – Image Courtesy: Mark Hunter
The first tip is to invest in some good tools like a pair of oscillating tools. Extensive repair requires you to have the best tools that save both time and energy. Thus, purchasing power tools with multi-utility will increase your efficiency of getting work done. Moreover, using the wrong tools will not only cost you time but can also waste valuable raw material.
Learn the skill
Ask a few friends or neighbors to teach you some basic DIY skills that can be used around your house. If no one volunteers to help, seek the help of the Internet. Make a list of all the problem areas in the home and watch videos to solve each problem. If you don’t understand how to solve a certain problem, then post your query online on DIY forums. Someone will definitely help you out.
Tackle one problem at a time
Anthony ‘models’ next to the new kitchen floor during Kelly’s kitchen remodeling in her home in Parsons, Kansas, USA. She says, “The floor is by Tarkett and requires no glue. It rolls off the tube flat and is just trimmed to shape. Each doorway has a metal strip holding it in place, and it just floats in between. It’s really supple and soft underfoot, and took less than an hour to lay. Plus, no fumes from glue or mastic!”. Photo Courtesy: Kelly K
Seeing so many broken things can be overwhelming. Therefore, the best way to go about it is tackling one issue at a time. Start with the simpler and most important areas. For example, you can get to work on a leaky faucet or a shower head that needs changing or other plumbing issues. You need to deal with them immediately. Once these are done, move over to complex projects like the kitchen or the bedroom.
Hire a handyman
If remodeling is taking longer than you expected, it is a wise option to hire a handyman to speed up the process. Ask the neighbors for the best handyman around and take proper feedback before hiring him. You can assign some bigger complex tasks to the handyman while you take over the simpler tasks. Don’t attempt projects that you feel you are not qualified for. There may be certain projects that require two people to work on it. In such cases, ensure that you have help before you begin the project.
Keep a tab on the budget
It is easy to get carried away when you are redecorating or redoing your home, but this could be lethal if you are on a tight budget. Therefore, keep a set budget for every task and make sure to stick to it. Also, be careful while purchasing raw materials. Don’t overstock raw materials and check a few hardware stores before making the purchase. Lastly, don’t forget to haggle, especially if you are buying something in large quantities.
Be patient
Remodeling will take time and you have to learn to be patient. If you are working through the week and dedicating just the weekends for remodeling your home, then it will take even more time. But no matter how long it takes; make sure you finish the project that you have started. There is nothing more disappointing than incomplete projects.
Jonathan Hendricks is a freelance writer who writes on a wide range of topics. He says he is a huge fan of Fein multimaster blades as they are really helpful around the house.
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