However, forfeiting some renovation projects and important repairs might not be the smartest choice. That outdated HVAC system, the old windows, and cold basement might be costing you big bucks. The next rainstorm may flood your basement. In other words, the money you’re trying to save in repairs might be being spent instead in utility bills or depleted in bigger repairs later on due to the lack of proper preventive measures.
Even in tough times, there are some improvements that actually pay off, lowering your energy consumption, preserving or increasing the property value, and giving you much-needed peace of mind.
Below is a list of the five of the most cost-effective home improvements and the best investments you can ever make in your home.

Basement Finishing
Finishing your basement will do more that just add living space to your home. It will actually pay you back and eventually, even prove itself profitable! To sweeten the deal, it can be done at half the cost of building an addition.

Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value report lists basement finishing as one of the few investments in which you will be recovering most of your money right away in added property value. You can recover an average of 75% of the cost if you sell the property immediately.

However, the most significant benefit of a finished basement is the ability to improve the home’s energy efficiency. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that an average 1,500 square-foot home that has a finished basement with R-10 insulation, and is heated by natural gas (at $0.72/therm) can save anywhere between $200 to $400 a year.

Add to that the fact that, even considering ups and downs in the housing market, the U.S. Census Bureau shows home prices tend to increase in average 251.69% every 20 years interval. Therefore, in 20 years, the added value to your property will not only fully cover the remodeling costs; it will prove profitable!

Crawl Space Encapsulation
That moldy, filthy, rotten crawl space is more than just unsightly and unpleasant. It’s a black hole in which not only your money disappears, but also your home’s value, structural integrity, indoor air quality, and your family’s health.

Because of the way the air moves inside buildings, everything that goes on in the crawl space has significant impact on how structurally sound, comfortable, healthy, and energy efficient your home is.

As the air in the house is heated, it rises and escapes through any openings in the upper floors. To replenish the air supply, new air is sucked from the lower levels, mainly from your basement or crawl space. That is called the “stack-effect” and because of it, everything that is in that filthy crawl space air, including mold spores and dust mites, is consistently entering your home.

It is estimated that 1/3 of the air you breathe inside the home is crawl space air. In addition, the typical crawl space moisture that is also being carried in with the air makes your home harder to cool and heat. During the winter, cold air is also sucked in through the floor. If air ducts run through the crawl space, energy losses can amount to as high as 50% – half of the money you pay in to heat and cool your home is literally wasted.

Crawl space encapsulation is a relatively inexpensive new technology that can control moisture and prevent moisture-related problems in this space. It protects your floor joists and wooden structures from mold and rot, and keep dust mites and other moisture loving pests at bay. Furthermore, according to studies conducted by Advanced Energy and Habitat for Humanity, sealing and conditioning a crawl space can make your home an average of 18% more energy efficient.

Battery Operated Backup Sump Pump
Say that you have a very good drainage system and a quality sump pump, which is well maintained and in great condition. Nevertheless, one morning, after a big storm, you wake up to a flooded basement and thousand of dollars in damaged property. The storm knocked down the power, and with it, the sump pump was rendered useless.

There is no way to fully protect your basement from flooding without a backup sump pump system, preferably one that does not run on electricity or depend on a generator.
During a long-lasting power outage, you will want the generator to spend its energy keeping your refrigerator, appliances and lights running.

A battery-operated backup sump pump is, in that case, your best option. If you have a finished basement, or you store anything of value in your basement, a battery-operated backup pump is a must. It saves you a lot of money and lets you sleep better, knowing that your basement is protected.

Replacement Windows
Replacing your old, obsolete windows with new Energy Star rated windows can help save a lot of money in energy bills.
According to the Alliance to Save Energy, a non-profit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders, installing energy-efficient replacement windows can reduce your heating and cooling bills by up to 30 percent! New double-hung, wood-clad windows with double-pane low-E glass, can reduce drastically your heating and cooling costs, besides improving significantly the looks of your home and adding value to the property.

HVAC Upgrades
Replacing obsolete furnaces, which usually operate at only 60 percent efficiency or worse for a new, high-efficiency two-stage unit, that rates at least 90% efficiency, can save you hundreds of dollars each year.

Likewise, replacing your old A/C system with a new unit that achieves a minimum of 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) can save you big bucks in cooling costs during summer. In addition, most new models use non-ozone-depleting refrigerants, making them more environmentally-friendly than older units.

In addition to all the benefits, some of these improvements, such as basement insulation and HVAC upgrades, may qualify for loans, grants and tax incentives under different local, state, and federal government energy efficiency programs.

In conclusion, a good assessment of your home’s overall condition is fundamental in times like these. You can’t afford to let your property, which is probably your most valuable asset, lose value. Sometimes, the best way to save money is to invest in technologies and repairs that will keep you from wasting it.

Kitchen Cabinets

There are many different types of kitchen cabinets available to homeowners in Connecticut. Depending on the kitchen, some cabinets may work better than others. HGTV writes that custom cabinets are an expensive option, but they are built to the exact specifications of a kitchen, and have a wider range of options for materials, designs, finishes and accessories.

There are also semi-custom cabinets that are made to a homeowner’s size requirements but are produced in predetermined steps. Stock cabinets are the cheapest option as they are already made and only come in standard sizes. There are also framed cabinets and frameless cabinets available.

Hardware adds a finishing touch of glamour and elegance to any kitchen. Pick out your favorite style of knobs and handles to match the current theme or to add some diversity to the kitchen. There are many relatively inexpensive handles available that can still look good.

If you think your cabinets are in good shape right now, HGTV recommends that you freshen them up a bit to make your kitchen look newer. You can re-stain or paint your cabinets, or even re-face them. Re-facing cabinets is an inexpensive alternative to getting new cabinets altogether.

Kitchen Countertops

Your kitchen countertops can add color and flair to your Connecticut kitchen. A local kitchen countertop contractor can help ensure this job gets done correctly. The options for kitchen countertops range from glamorous and expensive to fairly basic and moderately priced.

A high-end option for your kitchen would be granite countertops. Granite is available in polished and matte finishes, and come in a variety of colors including whites, greens, corals and beiges. HGTV writes that the cost of granite depends on color, finish and where the stone came from. Engineered stone countertops come in a wider variety of colors, but are usually the same price as granite.

Marble, limestone and soapstone countertops are softer than granite so homeowners need to be more delicate with these surfaces. There are also solid surface countertops that come in many colors and resist stains, but hot pots or pans can damage them. Concrete countertops are seen more often nowadays and can come in different pigments and finishes. However, changes in temperature can cause concrete to warp and maintenance can be daunting. To keep concrete looking great, homeowners would need to seal it four times a year and wax it every two to three months.

Wood countertops can create a warm look in a kitchen and are relatively easy to clean and sand to get rid of scratches, but water damages them so they need to be oiled. Laminate is the least expensive option and comes in many colors and designs, but laminate is easily damaged by hot pans and scratched.

Article originally posted here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/article_view.php?articleid=13

HGTV offers these steps you should take when remodeling your kitchen:

• Find inspiration for your new kitchen.
• Plan your total remodel budget.
• Locate, hire and manage a contractor.
• Determine your kitchen layout.
• Choose the right flooring material.
• Decide whether to replace or reface your cabinets.
• Buy appliances that match your needs.
• Pick a countertop surface that fits your lifestyle.
• Select faucets and sinks with style and utility.
• Complete your new kitchen with proper lighting.

The key to successful kitchen remodeling is organized planning and hiring high-quality professional help. Before you even contact a contractor, make sure you have a clear vision in your mind of what you want your kitchen to look like. Browse through design websites and magazines for inspiration. Just remember, though, that it’s always more rewarding and fun to design a unique living space for yourself rather than copying a room from a catalogue.

Along with budgeting money properly, you should also make sure that you budget time correctly. If your kitchen remodeling project falls during an important event that you need your kitchen for, you will run into problems. Check your calendar before scheduling any work to be done.

Kitchen remodeling doesn’t always have to cost an arm and a leg. There are many budget-friendly ways to make your kitchen look like new! Instead of replacing all of the cabinets, you can just have them refaced if they are in good condition. You can also go for more affordable products such as laminate countertops rather than granite. If you get the right color and style to go with your home, it will look good and no one will know how much was spent.

Article originally published here: http://www.homeremodelingct.org/article_view.php?articleid=10