Home Renovation

10 Ways to Spruce Up Your Property

September 9, 2022 Comments Off

Are you in the market to sell or rent your Bahamas real estate? Do you want to get the most out of your sale or rental? If you are in the market to sell or rent your property it is in your best interest to spruce it up by removing any signs of age and injecting a warm inviting appeal to your open space.
Below are ten ways to spruce up your property to get your place rented or sold:
1) Unclutter your Space
When someone rents a space and especially when they purchase, they want this space (whether it’s a condo, apartment, home or other) to reflect them and not the previous owner or the landlord. In order to achieve this, personal affects from the owner/landlord need to be removed so that there is space for the tenant or the new owner to display their personal affects.
Take a look at your space with different eyes. If you are renting your space with a lot of your personal items remaining on the premises, you must purge these items for the tenant’s sake. Do you have family portraits or framed photos of you and your family in the space? Do you have any sort of collection of ornaments on display like ceramic ducks, dolls, plates, silver spoons, medieval characters, sports memorabilia et cetera?
If you do, you must remove these items. Nobody wants to rent a space with personal objects there; they want a space for themselves. Remove your personal items and remove items in storage so they have the opportunity to store their items.
2) Fresh Paint Job
A fresh coat of paint goes a long way! That’s right. Did you know that this is the best way one can see a whole new space? A fresh coat of paint looks bright and clean, and smells new giving your space an immediate update. It is often a very good investment and really spruces up the appearance, adding dollars to offers.
When choosing your paint colours, rather stick with the neutral spectrum. Bright and dark colours change the feel of the size of any given room, and these colours are not the easiest on the eyes. Neutral paint colours will satisfy more people than bright and dark ones.
Painting the exterior? If the paint still looks good on the walls just repaint the roof boxing. The boxing should be painted an offset colour to the rest of the building.
3) Crown and Floor Molding – Install and Paint
Do you have crown moldings or floor moldings in your space? If you do, do they need to be painted? If your walls do not need a paint job, then consider just painting your crown and floor moldings to improve the space.
Crown moldings create a great first impression if installed in your entry and living / family rooms.
4) New Electrical and Light Switch Plates
This is such a minor, yet overlooked improvement. A lot of landlords leave the old faded and chipped electrical and/or light switch plates in their space. Most of the time if a painter is hired he/she will usually paint over these plates, which doesn’t make it look any better. This is the cheapest improvement in this list. Be sure to replace your plates.
5) Front Door
The first thing that is seen when entering a building whether it’s a home, condo, townhouse or the like, is the front door. It is the first impression into the space you want to rent or sell and so it must be in great condition. If the door shouts “Help me! I’m falling apart. I have termites. Please paint me. Look at my mold” or the like, your door is not leaving a very good impression on the rest of the space.
Assess the damage to the door and replace it if it’s necessary. Sand and paint the current door and leave open to dry properly, otherwise the paint will stick to the door frame.
If the door handle has a copper finish, polish it. Perhaps you may also want to change the handle if it looks old.
6) Update the Kitchen
The kitchen is usually one of the first major renovations / updates a house would have. Updating the entire kitchen will cost anywhere up from $30,000. One of the cheapest and easiest steps in updating your kitchen would be to update the faucets. If your cupboards look old and worn, try a coat of paint to breathe some life into them. Replacing the knobs on the cupboards is an inexpensive update that will transform the look of the entire kitchen. If you would like to spend some more money to make a dramatic difference, add a beautiful tile backsplash. The backsplash adds colour and dimension to your kitchen …

Bathroom Remodeling Ideas – Transition it to a Room That is Comfortable

May 18, 2022 Comments Off

Bathrooms are often the one room in the house that gets neglected when you are in the mood to spruce things up. Bathroom remodeling is one of the most popular home improvement projects in the nation today. A remodeled bathroom will surely provide increased enjoyment of your home, and it is among the home improvements with the highest return on investment.
With so many options for your bathroom renovation, where do you begin? First, you may want to start an ideas folder. At this stage you may need help from a professional – architects, general contractors, design/build firms or bathroom designers, depending on the scope of your project. Your bathroom remodeling contractor will be able to make suggestions about the design and features and help you prioritize the improvements. Remodeling a bathroom can take a few days or a few weeks, depending upon the type of bathroom remodeling plans you choose to work with.
Large bathroom remodeling projects often involve isolating the toilet area from the rest of the bathroom, installing urinals or bidets, and even enlarging the bathroom area by expanding it into an unused room or closet. If you have a small bathroom that you want to remodel, you will find that it can be a bit challenging for you. You will want to spend plenty of time planning out the remodel and making sure you use the budget you have wisely.
The main thing to remember with bathroom remodeling ideas is that you can always redecorate. No matter what bathroom remodeling ideas you are tossing around, your best bet is to make a good investment in the project. Making a sound investment in your home is ideal especially when working with this kind of room. Even if your budget is on the small side, there are a variety of ways to accentuate what you have and make it look like you paid a fortune. Bath remodel can be fun and challenging task that can take your standard bathroom and transition it into a room that is comfortable, and has your personal signature on it!…

How to Do a Good Bathroom Remodel

January 8, 2022 Comments Off

When you come right down to it, remodeling or redesigning a bathroom is simple. What you are doing is redesigning a plain box to maximize attractiveness, efficiency, and usability.
Don’t think of a bathroom remodel as starting over. In fact, many of your fittings and fixtures can be used in your new design. Instead, think of how to change the overall design, incorporating items that you currently use if appropriate. This article describes how to remodel your bathroom without starting from scratch.
Start by picking your theme or style. This is the first and most important element to redesigning a bathroom. Generally you will want to choose either a contemporary or a traditional design. You will then use this first choice to guide future choices, such as what colors and fabrics to use.
Part of choosing style is to consider what type of feel you want to evoke. Do you want a calm space, an elegant space, a romantic space, a relaxed space? Having a sense of the overall effect you are trying to achieve, while still early in planning, helps ensure that you will be successful in your design.
Pay attention to scale. Not only do you want to choose the right items for the feel and style of the room, you also want to choose items that fit and are easily usable. All furniture and fixtures in the bathroom should fit without making the space feel crowded.
If you have a smaller room, don’t use huge pieces of furniture. For instance, filling a small bedroom with a king sized bed is a mistake. Similarly, you don’t want to use as much furniture as you possibly can in a room. It is better to leave room to walk around. More space in a room makes for a more relaxing feeling.
The next element you’ll want to consider is color. Colors have different feels that they bring. Some colors, such as reds or bright blues, are energizing and vibrant. You would not want to choose one of these colors if you were going for a relaxing or soothing feel in the room. In that case, a better choice might be a pale color or earth tones.
Pattern and texture can add visual interest to the room but don’t overdo it. For instance, a jacquard weave on a bedspread can add texture without being garish and overwhelming. Too many competing patterns and textures can be tiring on the eyes.
Accessories. With accessories, go for impact rather than volume. A single, stunning piece can often have more effect on the overall look of a room than can a collection of smaller items.
Artwork. Don’t go overboard here. As with accessories, you want to have maximum impact with minimum clutter. One well-chosen piece of art is a better investment than several mediocre pieces scattered on the walls.…

The Easiest Way to Remodel Your Kitchen

October 4, 2021 Comments Off

To get started, go through kitchen magazines or search online to define your unique style. The design process includes many stages with attention to detail every step of the way. When you remodel a kitchen it is not an exact science, it’s a creative process. Things can change while the kitchen is being built, so be flexible and if things do change, look for easy solutions.
Begin with the budget, but remember, the budget represents materials with delivery charges, then time and labor costs. Whether you select hi-end products or are more budget conscious, the cost of a kitchen remodel can start to add up if you don’t have a plan. The first stage is to plan and design the space, then the selection and purchase of the materials and after that you must schedule all materials to be at the jobsite on time.
You can DIY and act as your own General Contractor. This is a way to save money, but if this is the first time you are remodeling your kitchen it may not be the easiest way. In this case you have to sub-contract out, the electric, plumbing and carpentry to skilled tradepeople. It is an ambitious challenge for your first kitchen remodel.
If you are first timers the easiest way to remodel your kitchen is to hire a General Contractor that has his own sub-contractors. It usually is more expensive, but using a GC can offer fresh ideas with new approaches and a valuable learning experiences.
The kitchen design business is a fun business, but it is the type of work, where the details are so numerous for the first time Do It Yourselfer or novice kitchen designer. Even with a GC you are still responsible to select all the wonderful materials that will make your kitchen your own… A master list of all the categories should be included in your budget so you can then see how you can save money. It is fun, and can be easy if you have a plan.
Whether you act as the general contractor yourself or you hire one, the coordination of materials and labor to remodel, includes more than just installing the kitchen cabinets. Remodeling and upgrading the old kitchen appliances, cabinets, counter-tops, lighting, plumbing fixtures and flooring, is a major part of the project. There are so may choices to be made, your head will spin…
Even with the help of a good general contractor engaged in the success of your remodeling project, as a home owner you will still want to know the process. If you do hire a GC, they should have references available and be licensed and insured.
Stay in charge of your kitchen remodel with helpful tools that will guide you as you design your own new kitchen, update your old kitchen or help others do the same.…

Simple Methods to Locate and Fix Drafty Spots Where Heat Can Escape

September 14, 2021 Comments Off

We want our homes to be as comfortable as we can. That is the why we want to make sure that our home is cool inside when it is hot outside and warm enough inside when it is cold outdoors.
The cooling and heating system works well when our house is free from any gaps and leaks that may release unwanted energy. No matter how well we maintain our homes gaps, cracks and leaks will result and not necessarily due to the elements. That is why it is important that we always make time for a regular inspection inside and outside our homes. Do not be so relaxed indoors and neglect signs that may tell us that there are gaps in our walls letting the cool breeze inside.
Have a feel on the wall. Walls covered with wall paper can easily hide cracks. Once in a while, touch the walls and feel any cracks beneath it. Do it from side to side bottom to top. This way you can cover a big part of the wall. If you think that there is a crack, work your way from where it starts and end. Mark the part where you feel the gap and you can tear just the part where there is damage. You can also use light to see if there are cracks on your walls.
Another spot where draft might come in is the electrical outlet. Look at gaps where the outlets are. You can place outlet sealer that is easy to attach. Simply place them behind the plate cover over top the receptacle helping create an air tight so that air cannot come through. The holes in the outlet sealers are made in the exact specification of a standard plug.
If you prefer something even much easier, a can of Styrofoam spray may just do the job. Once you found the crack or gap usually in door panels and window sills, simply spray the can over it and clean the excess with acetone.
The location of your attic stairs can also be a source of air infiltration. It can really affect your heating and cooling system. You can take a foam weather strip that you may use on your doors or windows and install it right along the perimeter where the door of the attic stairs folds up against the opening. This will seal a lot of that air infiltration. Also, some people have used foam board or insulation itself and tried to position it over the attic stairs and that can be a mess. Instead, homeowners can opt to use an attic tent that is also easy to install right by following the attached instructions on the pack.
Making minor repairs on the small leaks in and around your home can be menial, but it can save you a lot of money in the future. Doing a regular inspection and maintenance also assures your home stay in top shape and increases its value in the long run.…

Prepare Your House to Avoid Winter Damage – Roofing

September 24, 2020 Comments Off

It seems like we just can’t ever get away from home maintenance. If you own your home, you can always plan on preparing it for the summer and winter. It seems like we’re never going to be able to get away from this, so let’s just do it.
One of the most important parts of your home, that need to be prepared for this coming winter, will be your roofing. If your roof isn’t ready for the winner, there is a good chance that your home will suffer. How much it actually sufferers, is going to depend largely upon the condition of your roof.
The best time to check your roof is going to be before it rains or snows. Once the roof becomes damp, it’s going to be difficult to walk on and inspect. The best time to inspect any roof for damage is going to be when the roof is dry. I never recommend going up on a wet roof, without any experience. Even if you’re planning on inspecting a dry roof, you should still be extremely careful.
If you haven’t ever had any problems with your roof and it’s still in good shape, there’s a good chance that you won’t have problems in the near future. The older the roof the more time you should spend inspecting it.
Remember to keep one thing in mind, when you’re inspecting your roof. You’re going to be looking for any types of damage to the roofing, metal flashing, pipes that are protruding out of the roof, gutters and general wear and tear on the roofing shingles.
If any one of these items have any cracks, gaps or any other type of damage, these issues should be addressed to prevent any possible damage from water leaking through your roof, into your attic, through the ceiling and onto your flooring, during the winter months.
The more that you prepare your house for the winter, the better your chances will be for surviving through it. Remember that the roof protects your house and if it isn’t in good shape, you could find yourself dealing with some big problems.
A little preparation goes a long way, especially when it comes to home maintenance.…

Want To Become A Great Gardener? Read These Tips!

February 10, 2019 Comments Off

Today, gardening is a hobby and a very popular and growing career. Demand for products derived from plants and plants that grow very much. Now it’s time to get into it. Here are some tips you can use to get started with your gardening plan.

Empty the Container Garden

Autumn has arrived and the task of emptying our container garden is a task. However, instead of storing your clay pots in the garden shed for the winter, why not replace the summer with edible fall vegetables. Once the mother in your favorite clay pot signifies a fall, consider adding edible alternative plants such as lettuce leaves such as arugula, endive, bok choy, and radicchio. When it’s time for a quick salad, just grab some leaves, and you’ll instantly have a tasty fast-food salad.

Paying attention to Nutrition

Feed your plants. The way your plants grow can tell you what is a nutritional deficit and needs to be replaced. Some plants take a lot of nutrients early in the growing season and quickly need new supplies. Look for signs of deficiency such as yellowing of leaves and stunted growth. Feed the plant with a general purpose fertilizer, unless it has special requirements. Seed plants, for example, prefer high-nitrogen fertilizers.

Plant new and different foods every week. Eating tomatoes or corn every day can be very fast, but if varieties are planted, this problem will never happen. The park can offer a wide variety of edible plants and if they come at the same time, the variety will make the park more enjoyable and more enjoyable.

Slide your nails into the soap to prevent dirt under your nails. Dirt does not always hurt you, but you will save time and effort when cleaning your hands later. Instead of having to dig under your fingernails, you can use a nail brush to remove the residual soap quickly.

Trimming Regularly

Make sure you trim your trees regularly. Dead wood on trees can attract pests that can infect your trees. Also, when you prune the small branches in the tree, it will increase the airflow between the branches and allow larger branches to develop more. This will result in a stronger and healthier tree overall.

When gardening, it is important to protect your ears. If you can not hear someone around you while you work with the machine, than the sound can damage your ears. An easy way to help alleviate this problem is to wear earplugs when using a hard machine.

If you have a vegetable garden, it is quite difficult to decide what to do about pest control. Vegetables are meant to be eaten, so you should refrain from the use of pesticides and harsh chemicals. One way to control gardening pests is to be alert. By paying attention to them at an early stage, you simply pick them from your plants with your fingers.

You should now see why these hobbies and careers are so popular and in great demand. There are many things you can do in it! There is a lot of information on how to start enjoying the benefits. By following these tips, you are on the right track to become a successful gardener.…

CASTLEMANAGER

Because Care begins at Home