Everyone wants to have a home that looks and feels personal in order for them to be able to think of it as their haven. This is especially the case for older homes which may not have all the amenities and details that make a modern home safe, cozy, and fully functional. For this, you might be wondering about how to update older built-ins to get the best outcome and end up with a home that looks great and has a higher value to boot. Here are a few suggestions that you can use to create a personalized home by updating old built-ins the right way.
Make Sure You Have Insurance
The first step that you should take when thinking about how to update old built-ins is one that you ought to take, bearing in mind the fact that it’s crucial to safeguard your hard work. The right way in which you should do this is by getting proper homeowners insurance coverage. With one, you can be sure that your hard work won’t go down the drain as a result of something that you could have gotten insurance coverage for. This means that it’s important to look into the details of the particular homeowner’s insurance that you get. By doing this, you can make improvements and upgrades with the knowledge that your home will be safe, and in case of something that you have coverage for, you won’t have to break the bank by redoing the work you did.
This can best be done by talking to a professional who will give you guidance on the main things against which it’s best to get coverage. Approach your neighbors and other people in your area as well and ask them about what they have so that you get a good idea of what you ought to get yourself. This is the best way to do the right thing if you recently moved into the area and aren’t quite sure about the details of the weather as seasons change. With the right coverage, you should be in a position to recoup any money that you’d invested, and you, therefore won’t be forced to redo the project out of pocket. Don’t begin any major project before you have this in place since prevention is generally better than cure, especially where finances are involved.
Dream Big
Another helpful tip to keep in mind when thinking about how to update old built-ins is to dream big. That’s because by updating your home, you have the chance to get an amazing space that has all the qualities that you’d like in a home, so why stop at a basic level? Take the steps to make sure that your home becomes an amazing space for you and your family by making improvements that are going to allow you to get the home of your dreams. While these may seem insurmountable, you can try and lower the pressure of having to pay a lump sum in a number of ways. One of these is to simply talk to the professionals to find out if they can break the project down into a number of steps so that you can pay a more manageable figure at the end of each milestone.
One of the main reasons why it’s best to dream big and plan to get as much done as you possibly can is because calling experts back to your house for another project after they’ve finalized one may introduce unnecessary complications. You might also find that the home building services you intended to work with are occupied elsewhere by the time that you think about how to update old built-ins in a different way from what you’d done. With big dreams, you may have a great chance of achieving an outcome that’s going to leave you with a home that most, if not all, home buyers will be impressed with if you put your home up for sale. That said, you stand to get back what you’d put into the project if you decide to sell the house after you’ve improved it.
Fix Up the Plumbing
Don’t forget to add drain services to your list of the professionals that you need to hire when thinking about how to update old built-ins. This is because the drains in a home can lead to a number of issues if they fail for one reason or another. One of these is leading to a colony of flies in areas like the kitchen if the blockage is in the plumbing installed in this space. A collection of things like small food particles and grease can end up clogging the drains and leave you with a mess on your hands that you can’t remedy with a bottle or two of drain cleaner. This is an option that could work for smaller clogs that occur infrequently because this shows that the problem is not too serious.
If, however, you’ve had to hire a 24 hour emergency plumber more than once in a short time, this is one of the signs that you need the help of an expert who will do a more thorough job. With proper plumbing in your home, you’ll be a number of steps closer to achieving the home of your dreams. Your home is also going to be safer from water damage, especially if you follow through with measures like waterproofing your home and sealing any gaps or spaces through which water can get into your house. That said, plumbing is one of the main things to think about when thinking about how to update old built-ins, as it can help you improve your home and also secure it from possible issues down the road.
Invest in Privacy Measures
By making sure that your home is private, you can make it more comfortable for yourself and your family. When everyone in your family knows that they can be themselves when they get home and do as they please without prying eyes intruding on their privacy, they’ll be more at ease. Even the guests that you invite to your home for parties and events are going to feel happier socializing and having a great time when they don’t have to deal with the possibility of attracting unwarranted attention. Bearing this in mind, you should look into measures like fence installation. The right fencing contractors can help you install a fence that’s going to serve you perfectly.
With the help of an expert, you can pick a fence that’s going to be durable and serve your home well for a long time, paying for itself. The right fence will also give your home’s curb appeal a major boost and help you increase its value at the same time. Don’t forget the fact that a good fence can help you keep your home safer from harsh weather like strong winds and scorching sunlight. This is because the fence will act as a barrier against these elements, and they’re not going to impact the interior temperatures of your home as greatly as they would have if they reached your home’s exterior without being toned down. Don’t forget to ask the experts to share with you the maintenance that the fence you pick will need so that you can take proper care of it for as long as you can.
Protect Your Home From the Elements
As mentioned, the elements can actually impact the state of your home’s interior, even if they don’t directly make their way into your house. This is because they interact with the parts of your home that are meant to shelter you, meaning that these parts of your house should be kept in good shape all through. One of these is the roof of your home, which bears the brunt against all kinds of weather and is therefore at a higher risk of damage than your home’s other parts. That said, when thinking of how to update old built-ins, don’t leave the roof out of the list that you compile. Talk to your local roofing contractors so that they can help you repair your roof if it’s damaged and tell you how to protect it from this point.
It’s best to work with local roofing contractors because they’re the most familiar with the weather patterns in your area, and they most likely know the main issues as well as the perfect solutions. Remember that the best measure is not to wait until an issue comes up so that you can hurry to find a roofer. Instead, make sure that you have a professional at the ready and ask them to inspect your roof regularly. This way, they can discover a potential issue long before it gets out of hand and exposes your property and family to a massive risk.
Get Routine Inspections
Inspections are a part of the formula that you should use when wondering how to update old built-ins. That’s because, as mentioned in the case of the roof, they can help you catch a problem long before it gets out of hand. This will make the issue easier to repair and more affordable as well. To this end, if your home relies on a well for its water supply, you want to call a water well service to help you figure out if anything is the matter. They’re going to inspect the well itself and also test the water quality to see if it’s safe for consumption by your family.
You should get plumbing inspections done regularly in general so that you don’t end up having to deal with the serious effects of water damage. On top of having inspections done regularly, it’s a good idea for you also to know the signs that you need to look out for to know if there’s an issue. For plumbing, these issues include things like strange, gurgling noises coming from the drains and pipes, getting discolored or smelly water from the taps, and even low water pressure in the house. If you notice one or more of these signs, it’s a good idea for you to call a plumber right away. They may be able to reverse the issue and save you from a massive water bill and the possibility of lacking water in your house.
Paint It However You Like
Last but not least, it’s a good idea for you to paint the old built-in as an update that’s going to have a major positive impact on the house. This is despite the fact that painting is generally one of the fastest and most affordable home renovation projects that you could ever do. Look into various types of paint and learn about things like exterior electrostatic painting as a part of the research that you do when thinking about how to update old built-ins. If you don’t know the right color to pick, search online to see what houses that have a similar design to yours are doing. You should also ask the professional painters that you hire for suggestions as they may have a better idea of how various colors will look on your home, thanks to experience.
Once you repaint the exterior of the house, you can maintain its appearance over a few seasons with a simple but thorough session of pressure washing. This is another task that can cost you a small amount of money but have a big impact. The best part is that you can actually do it yourself if you have the time and willingness to do research and do a good job. With the help of a friend or other person, this may take you a shorter time and give you the gratification of knowing that you handled the task yourself.
These are some of the things to plan for when thinking about how to update old built-ins. When you get all these ducks in a row, you’ll soon have a home that you rarely want to leave and always look forward to coming back to at the end of the day. Remember to prepare proper plans, set aside a reasonable budget, and look for the right experts to hire, as these are all details that will impact the final outcome of the various projects that you do
