| Home improvements don't have to be major | | | | |
| undertakings and you don't need to uproot | | | | Once a year, spend a few days attending to |
| your family, tear down your house or go | | | | your home's plumbing. Unplug any clogs, |
| thousands of dollars in debt just to get a | | | | tighten any dripping pipes, clean up under |
| new look for your home. | | | | the sinks and update or replace any old and |
| | | | tired faucets. |
| There are a couple of great ways to make home | | | | |
| improvement easier. One is to take on a | | | | You'll bring new life to your bathrooms and |
| project in small stages. The other is to do | | | | kitchen and stay on top of any potential |
| quick and easy projects that may seem small, | | | | plumbing problems. If you do encounter a |
| but still punch a lot of "wow" factor. | | | | major plumbing issue, don't be afraid to call |
| | | | in a professional. Doing so is not an |
| If you decide to take on a major home | | | | admission of failure (guys)! |
| renovation plan and want to try splitting it | | | | |
| into small stages, go for it. This is a great | | | | 2. Check Your Electricals |
| way to balance your money and life. By | | | | |
| spreading your renovation over a few months | | | | While you shouldn't undertake any electrical |
| and a few projects, you won't feel like your | | | | work that you're not trained for, there are a |
| life has been taken over by the renovations, | | | | few tasks you can handle around the house to |
| and you can avoid going into debt. | | | | stay on top of it. |
| | | | |
| To do this, start with a plan. For example, | | | | First, replace any old or burned out bulbs in |
| you can begin by redoing the windows. In a | | | | the house, taking time to dust and clean all |
| few weeks, you can then start painting, | | | | your light fixtures. Try replacing all your |
| tearing down or rebuilding any walls. For | | | | bulbs with energy efficient ones for big |
| your next step, update any light fixtures or | | | | savings over time. Then, check all your fuses |
| plumbing. Then, redo your floors | | | | and replace any that are worn down or broken. |
| room-by-room. Finally, add the finishing | | | | |
| touches of new appliances or updated | | | | 3. Wash or Paint Your Walls |
| furniture. | | | | |
| | | | Painting a wall will freshen up a room |
| You can actually attack your projects in any | | | | instantly. Start by covering up any holes or |
| order you prefer. The point is to do the work | | | | scratches in the wall and remember to use a |
| in sufficiently small phases that they | | | | few coats to get an attractive, professional |
| neither leave your time or wallet depleted! | | | | finish. |
| | | | |
| If you're not ready for a major home | | | | If you're not up for a full day of painting, |
| improvement schedule, try taking on smaller | | | | try washing your walls with a very diluted |
| renovation projects that can bring satisfying | | | | bleach and water, or soap and water solution. |
| rewards. Keep reading for some suggestions. | | | | This will brighten the room, get rid of odors |
| | | | and wash out smells from pets, cooking or |
| 1. Spring Clean Your Plumbing | | | | smoking. |