KITCHEN FIXES AND UPGRADES ON A BUDGET – FRESH PAINT, STAIN, NEW FAUCETS, & CABINET HARDWARE

” …today’s American kitchen — no longer a place to simply cook and eat, it’s now the “real” living room — a place for living, working and entertaining.

Given the current recession, it’s no surprise that consumers are saving rather than spending. And when they do spend, they’re doing so from cash on hand; rather than credit,” said Jack Suvak, senior director of research and insights, Moen. “This change in spending behavior has had a dramatic impact on remodeling projects. Most homeowners are choosing to perform ‘room lifts’ — small updates to personalize a room — rather than undertake major remodels.

…Plus, homeowners are choosing to personalize renovations to fit their needs, rather than update a room for the next family that will be living in the house. In the kitchen, this might include everything from creating solutions that better integrate the management of electronic devices…to creating ‘kid level’ storage areas…to adding safety features for aging boomers.”

Except from: MOEN… New Research Finds Homeowners are Renovating to Create “Live-In Value;” Rather than to Sell – April 26, 2011

Here’s a Handyman Tip: Whether you Do-it-Yourself or decide to hire a professional handyman, carpenter, plumber, electrician, painter, tile installer or general contractor…

Create a Plan and a Realistic Budget.

The plan should be influenced by your lifestyle and your personal style (Look at images in publications for ideas until you have a heartfelt “yes. that’s it!”) Creating a realistic budget does not necessarily mean sacrifice… often it means being a smart shopper. ( Shop sales in stores in person or online as well a internet sites such as ebay.com, Amazon.com, lowes.com, homedepot.com and more).

If you plan to Do-it-Yourself ( DIY) be honest with yourself about your skills and do what you can and get help with the rest.

 

Sell Your House – Make it Memorable – Create a First Impression and a Lasting Impression

With so many houses on the market, how do you capture a prospective buyers attention in a manner that is immediate and lasting?

Stage your home in a manner that reveals it’s most appealing features for a first impression that allows prospective buyers to imagine “making it their own”. Sometimes a buyer will just “know” they have to have this house and not want to take a chance on loosing it to another buyer. But with so many homes choose from, it makes sense to find as many ways as you can to make your house memorable.

How do you do that?

1. Look around and choose your homes best features and be sure they are presented in a clean, uncluttered, appealing manner. First impressions usually start at the curb, so take an objective look and correct and enhance your properties appeal.

2. Open your front door, pause, and take a good look around as if you have never seen this home before. If you do not see an immaculately clean, uncluttered, spacious, beautifully lit, color neutral environment, with appealing furniture and window treatments, create a detailed to-do list and get busy.

3. Kitchens are a big selling feature. There is a lot you can do to enhance your kitchen to create a great first and lasting impression. Clean, polish, shine and de-clutter. Countertops should have only a few items on them enhanced by an accent of color from a fruit bowl or flowers. Repair or replace countertops as needed. Organize the inside of your cabinets – box what you are not using. Investing in painting if walls and cabinets that are worn and tired looking will help you sell faster and put money in your pocket. Consider replacing the floor if it is very worn or torn. Upgrading faucets can make a kitchen feel new and updated with just a modest outlay of money.

4. Bathrooms are easy to enhance. Repair tile and grout. Make sure your sink, bath, shower doors and toilets are unbroken, immaculate and shinning. If beyond repair … replace. Paint if tired and old looking. Consider upgrading faucets, lighting and mirror as needed. Accessorize with fresh towels, a picture, a soap dish, and perhaps a small dried or silk flower arrangement on the countertop.

5. Doors and windows should all be operable, clean and fresh looking.

6. For all other rooms approach them as suggested in #1 above. Wash walls so they are clean or paint. Be sure to use NO VOC paint that is better to your health, the the health of future owners, and does not create noxious unpleasant oder.

7. De-clutter and de-personalize every room, closet, storage space and garage. This is a wonderful opportunity to lighten your load. Keep only that which you love, has value and is essential to you life. Donate to a charity of your choice. Find your local recycling center for the rest – earth911.com makes this easy.

Do-it-Yourself and/or get professional help.

See YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec7QCZAxidY

 

Home Safety Tips – Children, Seniors and Everyone Else too…

Home Safety from UL

Meet UL

Since 1894, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has been testing, verifying, validating and inspecting thousands of everyday things to keep your family safe and give you peace of mind. We are an independent product safety certification organization. That means we have no affiliation with a brand, product or company – our only concern is your safety. Excerpt from: Meet UL http://safetyathome.com/meet-ul/

At UL, safety is important to us because we know it’s important to you. And there’s no place more important to keep safe than your home. To keep your family protected, check off our Safety Checklist, read more articles and explore our site for valuable safety tips. With safety taken care of, you’ll have more time to spend on the important things – like your family. Excerpt from: http://safetyathome.com/home-safety/home-safety-articles/commit-a-minute-100-things-to-make-your-home-safer/

Commit a Minute: 100 Things to Make Your Home Safer

Safety doesn’t take a lot of time, but it does take thought and planning. Not sure how to Commit a Minute to Safety? Pick one, 10 or 100 of the things below and get started today. You’ll see that sometimes it just takes a minute to avoid what could be a lifetime of regret. Click here and tell us what you commit to do.

1. Test each smoke alarm in your home
2. Replace the batteries in each smoke alarm
3. Count how many smoke alarms you have in your house. If you do not have one on every level and near sleeping areas, purchase additional smoke alarms
4. Designate an outside meeting place for your family (for example: the mailbox) in case of a fire or emergency
5. Blow out candles before leaving the room or going to sleep
6. Use a sturdy candle holder or hurricane lamp
7. Turn down your hot water heater to 120 degrees or less to prevent burns
8. Roll up your sleeves before you start cooking
9. Have oven mitts nearby when cooking
10. Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove
11. Store all matches and lighters out of reach of children
12. Put hot food and drinks near the center of the table only
13. Put down your hot drink when carrying your baby
14. Test hot water with an elbow before allowing a child to touch
15. Post your fire escape plan on your refrigerator
16. Put water on cigarette butts before throwing them away
17. Unplug small appliances such as hair dryers and toasters after using them
18. Use flameless candles
19. Move anything that can burn, such as dish towels, at least three feet away from the stove
20. Practice “Stop, Drop and Roll” with your kids
21. Schedule an appointment to have your furnace cleaned and inspected
22. Look for the UL Mark when you buy appliances
23. Tell kids to stay away from the stove/oven
24. Turn space heaters off before going to bed
25. Remove any gasoline from your home
26. Put non-slip strips in your tub and shower
27. Install night lights in the hallway
28. Put a flashlight in each bedroom
29. Wipe up spills as soon as they happen to prevent slips and falls
30. Use a sturdy Christmas tree stand
31. Water your Christmas tree every day
32. Keep your Christmas tree at least three feet away from any heat source
33. Inspect your Christmas lights for signs of damage
34. Flip over large buckets so water cannot accumulate and become a drowning danger
35. Store cleaners and other poisons away from food
36. Post the Poison Control hotline number (1-800-222-1222) next to your phone
37. If you have young children, use cabinet locks on cabinets that have poisons such as antifreeze, cleaners, detergents, etc.
38. Keep medicine in its original containers
39. Purchase a carbon monoxide detector for your home
40. Test your carbon monoxide (CO) alarm
41. Put your infant to sleep on his/her back
42. Remove any soft bedding, stuffed animals and pillows from your infant’s crib
43. Cut your toddler’s food into small bites
44. Use safety straps on high chairs and changing tables
45. Check www.recalls.gov to see if any items in your home (including cribs) have been recalled
46. Move cribs away from windows
47. Use safety covers on unused electrical outlets
48. Test small toys for choking hazards – if it fits in a toilet paper roll, it’s too small
49. Remove all plastic bags from the nursery
50. Pick up any small items, such as coins or buttons, that can be choking hazards for infants and toddlers
51. Write down emergency contact information for your family and make sure everyone has these numbers
52. If young children live in or visit your home, move furniture away from windows so they don’t climb up to look out and accidentally fall
53. Tie window cords out of a child’s reach
54. Check your child’s bath water temperature (use your wrist or elbow) to make sure it is not too hot
55. Remove drawstrings from your baby’s clothing
56. Keep the toilet lid shut to prevent little fingers from getting slammed by a falling lid
57. If you have toddlers, install a toilet seat lock
58. If you have young children, install door knob covers on bathroom doors
59. Use a fireplace screen
60. Put toys away after playing
61. Don’t refer to medicine or vitamins as “candy”
62. Put on safety glasses before any DIY project
63. Put tools away after your DIY project is complete
64. Post emergency numbers near your phone
65. Pick up one new thing for your family’s emergency preparedness kit
66. Use a ladder, not a chair, when climbing to reach something
67. Use plastic instead of glass near the pool
68. Cover any spa or hot tub when it is not in use
69. Purchase a first aid kit
70. Drain the bath tub immediately after bathing
71. Remove clutter from the stairs
72. Use the handrail when you are walking up or down the stairs
73. If the power goes out, use flashlights instead of candles
74. Ask smokers to smoke outside
75. Wear proper shoes when climbing a ladder
76. Check your home for too many plugs in one socket and fix the problem
77. Install baby gates at the top and bottom of stairs if you have young children
78. Never leave food cooking unattended
79. Make sure pools or spas are properly fenced to keep out small children
80. Teach kids to tell you when they see matches or lighters
81. Turn out the lights when you leave the room
82. Unplug appliances that aren’t in use (especially in the kitchen)
83. Take your hair dryer off of the bathroom counter and store it safely
84. Check your electronics for the UL Mark
85. Identify two exits from every room with your kids in case of fire
86. Check your holiday decorations – keep breakable decorations out of reach of young children
87. Replace an old light bulb with a new energy-efficient option
88. Check the walls for loose paint chips and re-paint with low-VOC or VOC-free paint
89. Check all the outlets in your home for overloaded sockets or extension cords
90. Remove any extension cords that are pulled under rugs or tacked up
91. Place fire extinguishers in key areas of your home
92. Place an escape ladder in an upstairs room that might not have an easy exit
93. Remove any painted furniture that is pre-1978 to avoid possible lead exposure
94. Lock medications safely in a cabinet
95. Consider low-flow toilets
96. Check that all major appliances are grounded and test your GFCIs
97. Clean the lint trap and hose on your dryer
98. Check your swing set for sharp edges or dangerous S-hooks
99. Take a tour of your home from your child’s perspective looking for hazards
100. Hold a family fire drill

 

What Kinds of Projects Does a Handyman Do?

Wikipedia Defines a Handyman as…

A handyman, increasingly known as a handyperson or handywoman, is a person skilled at a wide range of repairs, typically around the home. These tasks include trade skills, repair work, maintenance work, both interior and exterior, and are sometimes described as “odd jobs”, “fix-up tasks”, and include light plumbing jobs such as fixing a leaky toilet or light electric jobs such as changing a light fixture.

Handyman projects

The term handyman increasingly describes a paid worker, but it also includes non-paid homeowners or do-it-yourselfers. Tasks range from minor to major, from unskilled to highly skilled, and include painting, drywall repair, remodeling, minor plumbing work, minor electrical work, and furniture assembly (see more complete list below.) The term handyman is occasionally applied as an adjective to describe politicians or business leaders who make substantial organizational changes, such as overhauling a business structure or administrative division.^[1][2] In the past, handypersons have usually been men, and home repair tasks have been seen as a male-oriented activity, but handywomen are becoming more prevalent as well as women using the term handypersons to describe themselves.

List of handyman jobs

The list of projects which handymen can do is extensive, and varies from easy-to-learn tasks which take little time such as changing a light bulb, to extensive projects which require multiple steps, such as kitchen remodeling. Here is a partial list:

Air conditioner installation Appraising of property Barbecue pit maintenance Cabinet refacing Carpentry Ceiling repair Ceramic tile repair Cleaning Concrete work Countertops Curtain hanging Decks Door installation Door repair Drain cleaning Dryer repair Dryer vent cleaning Dryer vent installation Drywall Installation Drywall repair Electrical wiring Energy Updates Fan installation Fence fixing Fireplace cleaning Flooring Installation and Repair Foundations

Framing Garage door openers Garage doors General Maintenance Gutter Cleaning Gutter Repair Heating system tune-up Home inspections Home security systems Hot tubs and spas Insulation installation (batts) Insulation installation (blown-in) Lamp repairs Landscaping Lawncare Lockset adjustment Molding installation Moving Paint removal Painting Patio stone installation Pest control Photography Plumbing repairs Porches Remodeling basements Remodeling bathrooms

Remodeling kitchens Safety modifications Sealing driveways Senior Living Modifications Septic system repair Shelf installation Shelving Skylight installation Solar panels Soundproofing Sprinkler repair Sprinkler system installation Stain removal Staining furniture Stone work Storage area construction Storage area repair Swapping a toilet Swimming pool maintenance Tiling Wall building Waste and junk removal Water purification Water softening Window cleaning Window installation Window repair

Note: this is a partial list

Excerpt from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handyman

 

Home Sells Quickly at a Good Price with an Inexpensive Face Lift

Stage for Sale Tip: A Simple Face Lift Adds Value and Help Sell Quickly

A little imagination, effort, and money can go a long way to helping you get your best price.

What was done in this condo for example was the following: 1) worn dry looking cabinetry was renewed by light washing and then cleaning and polishing with a non toxic product called Howard’s Furniture Polish available at Home Depot 2) the old dated oak stock cabinets that had no hardware were given a further face lift by adding beautiful pewter ones 3) two key walls were painted with a no VOC soft sage green paint. 4) a simply focal point was created with a colorful hand painted Italian ceramic plate 5) under counter task light and track light were added for more drama and function 6) the old worn sheet vinyl flooring was replaced with a rich looking snap and lock laminate floor that extended into the front entry foyer.

Flooring: Manufacturer: http://www.lamett.us/

Available at:

Fast Floors: http://www.fastfloors.com/lp_26691,0,182422/Lamett-Laminate-Flooring/_/Santorini-Collection-Palissandro/product.htm#NAV

Floor One: http://www.floorone.com/product.asp?pn=LAMS052&name=Palissandro

Floor Mall: http://www.floormall.com/laminates/lamett-laminates/lamett-laminate-santorini-black-bevel/

Under Counter Lighting: http://www.homedepot.com/Kitchen-Kitchen-Lighting-Under-Cabinet-Lighting/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhcZbn5uZ1z115eqZ1z1153m/R-202103072/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Paint:

Benjamin Moore Paints:  Aura Interior – Green Promise

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=fh_aura_hiddenPage&NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F518032

Wood Polish: Orange Oil or Feed-n-Wax

Available online at: http://www.howardproducts.com/links.asp

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xhc/R-100592963/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

Note: A gentle product that works great in my experience. Use at your own risk. Always test first.

See My Pro Handyman Can on: http://www.trulia.com/myprofile/