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Add Value to Your Home With These 5 Projects

As the New Year approaches, it’s a perfect time to think about how you can add value to your home. In this article, we’ve compiled some projects proven to increase your home’s value, some of which can be done inside over the colder winter months. Read on for just a few ideas on how to improve your property.

Replace the Front Door to Add Value to Your Home

Is your home older and the front door has seen better days? Consider investing in a new insulated steel front door. A new front door will not only improve your home’s energy efficiency all year long, but it will also enhance security. Paint the new door a bold color that complements your home’s style and be prepared for a great transformation of your entryway.

Add Insulation

Believe it or not, adding insulation provides a great return on investment. Over the years, insulation deteriorates and makes it difficult for your home to maintain a comfortable temperature. Simply adding insulation to your attic will help your family stay warmer in cold weather and cooler during the summer months.

While you’re at it, seal up any drafts around doors and windows with caulk or weatherstripping. These winterizing tasks will not just add value to your home, you’ll also see lower utility bills and your HVAC system won’t have to work as hard to keep your family comfortable.

Garage Door Replacement

While garage doors are not the first thing on people’s minds, they are an important access point to your home and also affect your curb appeal. If you have an old garage door, replace it with a newer model to add value to your home. A new garage door will look great from the curb, be more secure, and will better insulate your garage.

Paint the Interior to Add Value to Your Home

Interior painting is a great project for the winter months. A new coat of paint will completely freshen up your home and give a room a whole new look. If you can’t remember the last time you painted, it’s likely time to refresh your space. Choose light-colored neutrals to update and open up a room. Instead of using paint for color, opt for vibrant accent colors in your pillows, rugs, and other decor. The neutral palette will make your home feel clean, modern, and fresh.

Work on Your Curb Appeal

Now is a good time to start planning for your outdoor curb appeal projects once the weather warms up. Along with replacing the front door and garage door, also consider other ways you can make your home more appealing. Give your lawn furniture a fresh coat of paint, pressure wash the siding, walkways, and deck, and add an outdoor rug, comfortable seating, and seasonal plants to add value to your home.

Premier Home Inspection Services provides home inspections to Northern New Jersey. Contact us to schedule our services.

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5 Easy Ways to Save Water at Home

We live in a time when access to clean water is often taken for granted. Wasting water is not sustainable and leads to high utility bills. To start saving money, track usage to monitor how much water you normally use. From there you can determine how to cut back. Here are a few easy ways to save water at home.

Save Water at Home by Turning off the Tap

Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or scrubbing your hands. Leaving the tap running wastes an average of four gallons of water every time the water is left on. A five-member household that brushes twice a day can waste about 40 gallons daily by not shutting off the tap.

To save water, dampen your hands or toothbrush, then turn off the tap. Brush your teeth or wash your hands. Turn the water back on when you’re ready to rinse.

Inspect Faucets for Leaks

It’s easy to ignore a faucet with a slow drip. A faucet that leaks 15 drips a minute wastes about 400 gallons of water each year. This seems like a minor leak, but it adds to your water bill each month. To save water and reduce utility bills, repair a leaking faucet as soon as possible.

Only Run Full Loads to Save Water at Home

If you only have a couple of dirty dishes, washing them by hand is an easy way to save water. If you have a full load of dishes, using the dishwashing machine is the more efficient option. This also applies to your clothes washing machine. Only run the machine when you have a full load to save water.

Check Toilets for Leaks

To check your toilet for leaks, put food coloring in the tank. Wait 15 minutes and if you notice any color in the bowl, you have a leak that needs repairing. Fixing a leaky toilet can save hundreds of gallons of water each month. Another way to save water is to add weighted bottles to your toilet tank, keeping them away from mechanical parts. The bottles will displace water and less will be used every time you flush.

Recycle and Reuse Water

People often discard the water that they could reuse. Use the rinse water after washing dishes to finish cleaning countertops, floors, and toilets. After boiling pasta, the water can be cooled and re-purposed to water plants. You can also save on your water bills by directing rainwater from your gutters into a barrel. This will capture water that would have otherwise ended up in the sewer system.

Premier Home Inspection Services provides home inspection services to northern New Jersey. Contact us to request an appointment.