Thanks to hundreds of home improvement television shows and magazines dedicated to home renovations and decorating, the home improvement industry is exploding. So, if you’ve been thinking about breaking into a career in home improvement, now is a great time to do it.

There are a number of great career options in this fast-paced industry as well as entrepreneurial opportunities for those looking to start their own business. Keep reading for great ideas on new home improvement careers as well as how to get them going.

1. Tile/Bath Resurfacing

Tile and bathtub resurfacing is an easy skill to learn that can lead to significant rewards. With an easy learning curve and minimal up front costs, you can start a business refinishing tile and old bathtubs and showers.

2. Carpet Cleaning

Much like the tile and bath resurfacing business, carpet cleaning is easy to learn. Your up front costs will be your cleaning equipment, transportation and marketing costs. There are also many franchise opportunities, meaning you could purchase a carpet cleaning franchise and save yourself many of the marketing and advertising costs associated with running a business.

3. Home Organization

De-cluttering is the new buzz word in home decorating and home improvement. If you love to organize, put your skills to use by starting a home organization business. Think about all the cluttered garages desperate for some shelving units and a few well-placed labels or all the dusty attics in need of a good sorting. Your start up costs for this business will include some sector research, a minimal amount of equipment and a lot on advertising and marketing.

3. Instruction and Teaching

If you’re a home improvement buff or an expert at refinishing old pieces of furniture, you should consider teaching a class. You can teach online or apply to teach a course at your local community college or YMCA. There are many organizations that would love to host courses or workshops on everything from decorative painting to window treatments to building birdhouses.

4. Sew, Sew, Sew

Any whiz with a sewing machine can start a flourishing business in custom home draperies and upholstery. From window treatments to tablecloths, there is a large market for customized pieces that are sewn in your buyer’s chosen fabric and to her specified instructions. For a successful home sewing business to really take off, try marketing yourself directly to interior decorators and making your name familiar with local fabric shops.

By: Bill McCowen

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Are you wishing you could do that long-awaited home improvements but think that you cannot afford it? Let me show you how it is possible to finance your own home improvements, some of which may be at no cost! Have a look at what Linda did … (Although this is a South African example in ZAR currency, the principle is applicable anywhere in the world.)

Linda is just an average salaried employee …

Linda wanted to landscape her garden and install a swimming pool to the amount of 100,000. She also had other debts including a motor vehicle and credit cards she repaid to the value of 6,830 per month, and didn’t think she would be able to afford another instalment.

However, Linda heard from a friend that a product is available on the market showing you how to finance your own capital purchases through a technique called Hydraulic Debt Cancellation, if you are a property owner with equity.

Linda’s spirit of determination inspired her to investigate …

Linda decided to put it to the test and amazingly discovered that she was able to afford her garden landscaping and swimming pool without having to pay a single dime more per month than she was already paying! In addition, her short term debts are fully redeemed and she will be able to repay the mortgage on her home in 8 years and 8 months in stead of the 17 years repayment period that was still outstanding. In the process she will be saving 180,649 in interest (compared to her original mortgage) while the amount she borrowed to finance her garden landscaping and swimming pool only amounted to 100,000.

Not only does the interest she will be saving cover the cost of her home improvements, but she will be saving an additional 80,649 in interest!

She achieves all this without paying a single dime more than her previous monthly expense budget!

Smart lady! Wonder where she found the information to do such a clever budget?

By: Elmer Grobler

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Home Improvement

You can increase home value with these home improvement tips. The key to maintaining the maximum home value possible is to keep up with all the maintenance in your home and not letting anything slip.

Psychologically, we are more willing to do little home improvement jobs at reasonable costs through out the year. This keeps our home value high. On the other hand, we are more reluctant to dump thousands into repairs and maintenance that we have been avoiding for years.

What is the Condition of your Deck?

The condition of your deck can influence home value. Your deck needs yearly work done to it. Make sure that your deck is properly waterproofed and stained.

There are home improvement books devoted to building and maintaining decks. If you have a deck you should own one of these books and follow the suggestions therein for deck upkeep. To get the top sale price of your home the deck must be in good condition.

How Does the Kitchen Look?

Kitchens can be home improvement nightmares. This is because the kitchen is a huge factor that effects home value. A nice kitchen can get you top dollar while a dilapidated one will give the buyer some negotiation power.

Be sure to maintain the quality of your kitchen floor, counters and cabinets. There is no need to replace cabinets. A good furniture refinisher can have them looking new. However, be sure to check local cabinet sellers. There are some good deals out there.

Do You Know What Kind of Wiring Your House Has?

This can be a home improvement nightmare as well. Depending on the last time your house was rewired, you may be required to redo it before you can sell it. You can live in a house that is not up to code, but you can’t sell it.

It should not cost a lot to have someone come and do an inspection of the wiring and your fuse box. If this as not been done in a while then do it as soon as you can. Wiring can’t really effect the value of your home, but you will not be able to sell a home that is not up to code.

These home improvement tips can help you get maximum home value when you are ready to sell. A bad deck or kitchen can give the buyer a lot of leverage to buy at below market value, and bad wiring can delay the sale of your home altogether.

Try and do 2 or 3 home improvement projects each year. These are tax deductible and can therefore lower your taxes.

By: Jonathan G Higgins

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When considering a home remodeling project or building a new addition, one consideration should be the likely return on your investment. Even in the current housing market, the value of your home can be enhanced by the right home improvement. Though housing prices have slumped in recent years, the return on investment for home improvements has remained fairly stable. Thus, it can make good financial sense to build an addition or remodel your existing home rather than trading up to a new one. While recouping your financial investment should not be your primary reason for remodeling your home, it’s a factor to consider when deciding which project is right for you.

Generally, home improvements that add to the curb appeal of your house offer higher returns when you sell. In the 2009 Realtor Magazine “Cost vs. Value Report”, siding projects, replacement windows, and adding a new deck topped the list of best value-added projects, with kitchen remodeling rounding out the top ten.

Adding or replacing siding

In addition to improving the appearance of your house and reducing maintenance and upkeep, the right siding can provide additional insulation, reducing heating and cooling costs. Of the various kinds of siding, adding high-end fiber cement siding recoups most value when reselling your home, weighing at a return on investment of 86.7%. Fiber cement siding comes in various finishes and surfaces, resembling stucco or wood, but is fireproof and termite resistant.

Mid-range vinyl siding offers the next best return on investment at 80.7%, followed closely by high-end foam-backed vinyl. The most popular type of home siding, vinyl comes in a wide array of colors and finishes, allowing a custom look for your home. Foam-backed vinyl offers especially good insulating protection, increasing your savings and making it an even better deal.

Replacement windows

Generally, high-end vinyl windows outstripped traditional wood replacements, but all of these home improvement projects gave a return on investment of between 76% and 79%. Again, replacing your windows can also save you money on heating and cooling your home, making this home remodeling project a financially sound decision even if you don’t intend to sell your home anytime soon. Be sure to look into Federal energy tax credits, available when you purchase and install certain kinds of high-efficiency replacement windows; they can save you hundreds of dollars on the cost of your project.

Decks

Installing a deck can recoup 81.8% of its initial cost to build; these projects can add a great deal to your enjoyment of your home and yard, as well. Maintenance-free decks of pressure-treated wood last longer; these are usually constructed of Southern yellow pine, though cedar decks are also popular.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Minor and major improvements to kitchens were also good investments, typically adding between 76% and 80% to the value of homes. Refacing kitchen cabinets is becoming more popular and can add more to your home’s value than more elaborate alterations; replacing outdated appliances with newer models was also cost-effective in most cases. While minor cosmetic alterations are often cost-effective, larger scale bath remodeling was not one of the top projects for recouping the initial investment.

Making your home a more pleasant place to live is always the most important reason for a home improvement project. But when planning to remodel or add on to your home, the money you can recoup may help you decide which home improvement project is right for you.

By: Joe Cline

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Undertaking a home improvement project is not an easy thing to do. You need to consider a lot of aspects and these may include re-tiling the bathroom or kitchen, expanding the front porch or living room, or installing a new set of windows in the main bedroom. If you’re like most homeowners, then you should also be looking for innovative methods and ways for saving money and yet would still be able to undertake a major home improvement project.

Before you start a home improvement activity, spend considerable time in planning your project through. This includes doing a lot of research and window-shopping, so that you’ll have a better idea of how to save more money, as well as buy the right tools and equipment. One of the best ways for saving money on a home remodeling or reconstruction job is to do the job yourself. It’s true that most home improvement projects can be done by yourself, and all you need to do is spend time doing research, and compare the varying products and prices. There should be no reason why you won’t be able to re-tile your bathroom, or install the window blinds and kitchen tops. However, the do-it-yourself trick may be a bit costly, especially if you don’t have the right tools and equipment, as these may sometimes be costly to purchase.

If you lack the right pieces of equipment to do the home improvement project by yourself, you can try renting or borrowing the tools. You could save considerable sums of money by either renting or borrowing the required equipment or tools. For instance, if you need a set of ***** drivers or a cordless circular saw, you could borrow from your friends or neighbors, or get the supplies in online auctions, or rent them from a nearby shop. This should help to lower your project cost, as you won’t need to buy brand-new tools at the local hardware store.

Lastly, to save money, you could also auction-off your home improvement project. However, make sure that you sub-contract the project only to licensed professionals or reputable contractors. The Internet should also help you spot websites which connect homeowners to home remodeling contractors, who are eager to bid on new projects as well.

By: Lizette Provence

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Home Improvement

You hear about it after every major storm. Home improvement contractors move into an area and promise great work, only to leave behind a shoddy job if the job gets finished at all. What you may not realize is that this happens every day, not just after a major tragedy. If you are hiring someone for a job make sure you avoid these common home improvement mistakes.

All of the better contractors and business owners want each and every party involved in their business to do a good job. Unfortunately though home improvement and remodeling is one of the top industries for both fraud and consumer dissatisfaction. The question that a lot of people have is why? Yes much of the blame does in fact fall into the hands of the home improvement industry; there are also some more common mistakes that you as the homeowner commit that will contribute to your own dissatisfaction. If you learn to avoid these mistakes, it can make the difference between a great home improvement project and a nightmare.

1. Falling In Love With The Salesman. Since you are probably like many and not an expert in the field of home improvement, you will begin to rely heavily on the friendliness and the so called credibility of the salesperson in an effort to determine the type of people that will be doing the project. Your dissatisfaction is guaranteed when either the employees or the subcontractors do not live up to the total expectations set by the salesperson. When you are ready to invite someone into your home, you need to make sure they are skilled in home improvement and not just someone who has been commissioned by a salesman whose main interest is to sell you improvements that you do not actually need.

2. Neglecting The Family Safety. You might be appalled to learn of the criminal history of some of the employees of home improvement companies. You will find such things as felony records, drug convictions, *** offenses, and domestic violence among others. Yes it is true that every prior criminal has the right to work, but they have no business being in your family’s home where it can put your belongings and family safety into question. You have the right to demand to see any employee records of individuals that are going to be coming into your home. The record should also contain a background check on the employee as well. This will help ensure that your family’s safety is well secure.

3. Asking The Wrong Questions. There are basic questions that you need to ask every contractor that comes into your home. But sadly these are often neglected. Some of these questions include things like “How long have you been in business?” “Where are you located?” among others. These are some of the most important questions that you can ask. The more questions that you ask, the better your chances of having the job done right by qualified individuals. Always ask to see references, and make sure the references you get are from someone in your community. Then make sure you call them up to verify or even go by to look at the work that was completed.

Home improvement does not have to be a nightmare. Avoiding these mistakes will increase the odds that the job is done to your satisfaction.

By: Ned D’Agostino

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Home Improvement

Home is where your heart should be. Your home should be the best place and the only place you wanted to be after a hectic day at work. Therefore, your home should constantly be inviting for you to feel comfortable living in it. The first step on making a house comfortable to be inhabited is to make it well-organized. One misconception about organizing a home is that, it takes too much effort. That is absolutely wrong!

Here are some home improvement tips for you to organize your home without shedding much sweat.

1) Minimize your furniture

A home with too much furniture and decorations will only make you suffocate. It is advisable to fill your home with only the things you need. Forget about what others might think. The most important thing is that your home is cozy and spacious enough for you and your family.

2) Make it a habit

Do not clean your home once a month or only when the festive season is coming. Make it a habit to clean as you go. If you return everything back to its place after using them, there would not be a mess at all.

3) Educate your family

To educate your family, you must show them the good example first. If you do not want your children to make a mess, you have to tell them to tidy up their things and teach them how to do it correctly.

4) A place for everything

To make a home well-organized, you must allocate a special place for everything. There should be a designated place to store things such as the children’s toys, old newspapers and tools. You must also be disciplined enough to make sure everything is returned back on its place after being used.

5) Throw away damaged goods

It has always been most people’s habit to keep damaged or broken things at home. They say that it has sentimental value. But the truth is; those things are cluttering your home. If those things can no longer be used or has lost their function, just let them go. There is no point on keeping sentimental values when your comfort is being neglected.

With all these simple home improvement tips, rest assured that home will be the place you would want to be at all times.

By: Will Speer

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