Home improvement goes beyond mere nesting instinct. Home improvements not only increase the comfort and enjoyment of your home, they can also increase the value of your home (if you play your cards right). That means that your investment in home improvement has both immediate rewards and long term payoff. But as with all investments, getting the most for your money takes some consideration. The first step is to set a budget. Many times, there are certain tax incentives and rebates available through federal, state and local governments that can help you offset the costs of home improvements—particularly for improvements that increase the energy efficiency of your home. You may also be able to get low-cost financing options guaranteed by federal institutions. Your next step is choosing the best man, woman or company for the job—whether it’s a contractor, a group of friends or your self. A skilled professional should be able to give you a reasonable quote as well as a rundown of your viable options. Lastly, it’s important to know how to maintain your new addition or improvement to your home so it retains its value and usefulness for years to come.
Why do we mention all of these important steps towards home improvement projects? We’re not trying to scare you away from investing in your home—we’re bringing these issues up because the pages, links, articles, websites and resources in our Home Improvement subcategory of our Home directory will help you make your house more of a home without breaking the bank.