Selling your home in 2011? Tips to add value

Major home renovations can be overwhelming, but there are a few fundamental repairs that can update your home's appearance and increase its value. If you're planning to sell your home in 2011, take advantage of the colder winter months to prepare your home for a spring sale by focusing on a few key projects brought to you by Handyman Matters.

Make a first impression.

The entryway is the first up-close encounter a potential homebuyer will have with your home. Manicure your front yard and update or even replace your front door to complement your home's exterior. Select a rich, dark stained wood or bold white door to draw attention to the main entry and add personality to your home. If your door is already in great shape, consider a simple replacement of weak or older-looking hardware that will impress buyers at first sight.

Get cookin' in the kitchen.

Experts agree that a kitchen can significantly impact a home's perceived value. An outdated kitchen can be a deal breaker for many homebuyers. Naturally, then, it's the place you might spend the most amount of time updating. To increase the appeal of your kitchen, consider investing in updated, matching appliances that match the style of your kitchen. Some manufacturers even offer replacement panels to update the exteriors of older appliances.

Next, if you can't afford to add new cabinetry, change out the hardware so the knobs, drawer pulls and handles match your decor and add a modern flair. Adding technology-driven fixtures, including built-in water filtration systems, garbage disposals and high-tech faucets is another great way to increase the room's appeal and add a sense of luxury.  Updated technology enables users to turn the faucet on and off with just a touch anywhere on the spout or handle, and is available on a variety of models.

Update and upgrade light fixtures.

Lighting is key. It can drastically change the look and feel of a room, and lighting fixtures are affordable and relatively simple to install on your own. Shop discount stores and home improvement depots to find a statement piece to add spice to your living room. A beautiful ceiling fan with lighting can serve double-duty to update your family room. Remember, well-lit and bright rooms appear larger and more open.

Step on it.

Flooring is one of the first things that potential homebuyers notice. Make sure you dust, vacuum and clean so that you show off the flooring to its best advantage. If you have carpet, consider replacing it with wood floors or wood alternatives. If you already have hardwood floors, polish and protect your flooring so that it gleams when potential buyers step into the home.

Whether you're trying to sell your home this winter or simply want to update its look, you don't have to wait until the spring thaws. When the cold weather drives you inside, take advantage of the time to make attractive upgrades that can increase the appeal and value to your home. The professional craftsmen at Handyman Matters can help get your home ready to sell in 2011. Click here to find a location near you or call us locally at (281) 358-6666.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Aging in place allows you to keep your heart at home

Home really is where the heart is. Upon retirement - when all of their children have moved out of the house - 90 percent of Americans age 60 and older choose to stay right where they are, according to 20 years of data from the U.S. Census Bureau.


And because so many Americans are aging in place, they're looking for ways to make their homes safe and comfortable for the long term. With just a few modifications, retired couples can make their homes perfect sanctuaries for their golden years. Here are some modification ideas from Handyman Matters to help you keep your heart right at home:


* Staying connected is important for many seniors, especially if they aren't able to get out of the house as frequently as they used to. There are video/television systems and services available that allow you to chat with a person from a care program while sitting at your dining room table. Program staff can also monitor your house and contact a relative or emergency service if they notice you haven't moved in awhile. Some couples enjoy the interaction they have with the person on the other end of the video cameras, while others appreciate knowing that if they were to fall or get sick, someone would notice and respond immediately.


* Independence is also very important for seniors, and this is especially true in the bathroom. Climbing over a bathtub wall becomes more difficult as people age, and can also make the bathroom very dangerous for slips and falls. There are now a variety of walk-in bathtubs on the market. These have an easy step-in, step-out design with anti-slip floors and internal grip bars that allow you to safely - and independently - bathe in your own home. Because the door opens and seals shut, this walk-in bath allows you to sit down prior to running any water, which can help prevent a slip or fall. Hydrotherapy jets also add additional health benefits, so you can comfortably soak as long as you want.


* If you plan to stay active in your community, you may need to make adjustments to your vehicle so you can safely and easily negotiate the controls from behind the wheel. Car manufacturers are adapting vehicles to accommodate seniors with such options as seats that swivel to face out the door so you can sit down or stand up easily and not have to bend down at an angle to climb into the seat. Other available adapters are dashboards that push back until the driver is in the seat and ready to start the car, buttons to control the radio and temperature on the steering wheel, and sliding cabinets that help a person load items into the trunk - and get them out easier.


* Make your home easily accessible. At least one entrance should be level with the walkway - you may need to build a ramp to accomplish this. Also consider changing the door handles to lever style so if a person is suffering from arthritis, they can still easily open the door. Remote locks and a covered walkway are also a good idea, because you won't have to be standing out in the elements while you attempt to unlock the door with a key. The covering also helps prevent ice from building up along the walkway. Finally, installing a good light at all the entrances will allow you to easily see where you are going and any potential obstacles that might be in your way.


With a few modifications, your house can be a very comfortable and safe haven for many years to come. And since it's already a place you call "home," why not enjoy it during your retirement years? Contact the professionals at Handyman Matters today to get your home prepared for aging in place. Click here to find a location near you or call 281-358-6666.


To receive $25 off your next service call from Handyman Matters click here to download the coupon.


Courtesy of ARAcontent

Handyman Matters Offers Free Service To New Customers

Thanks to our buddy Mike Durr TheKingwoodMortgageGuy! Check us out!

How to make small baths live larger and work better

Bathroom remodeling remains America's most popular - and profitable - home improvement. Recession aside, homeowners - and prospective buyers - still want stylish bathrooms that offer a relaxing, comfortable place to recharge and rejuvenate.

While today's bathrooms are likely smaller in overall square footage, they can feel larger through better space planning and innovative solutions.

With some clever forethought, small bathrooms can be just as enjoyable as their larger, more extravagant counterparts.  It starts by designing an efficient floor plan that is as inviting as it is efficient and leverages available space.

Select fixtures that extend your room's size. There are now wall-mounted flush toilets that conserve water and save valuable real estate by placing the toilet's water reservoir in the wall.  Such wall-hung lavatories are the perfect small-space solution for a down-sized, but feature-rich, bathroom.

You can extend a room’s physical square footage through built-in or wall-mounted fixtures that provide a 'big-bathroom' feel to smaller spaces.  Likewise, shifting from a tub to a shower is a better match for how we live today, as well as a means of adding more features in less square footage.

Multi-function showerheads and hand showers provide the same relaxation as a soaking tub in far less time and with significantly less clean-up.  Another luxury easily incorporated into a small bathroom is a residential steam shower, which offers a spa-like experience in the same footprint as a conventional shower. The steam generator can be located away from the bathroom, so that even in a downsized space, homeowners are able to relieve tired muscles, enhance skin tone and treat respiratory conditions.

Radiant floor heating is a way to deliver consistent room temperatures more efficiently and in a healthier way than conventional systems provide. Ideal for new construction and retrofit applications, modern radiant systems heat objects instead of air. In fact, people with radiant heating systems can be comfortable at temperatures six to eight degrees lower than with traditional forced-air heat.

Finally, small spaces seem larger and more inviting when filled with natural light - a task easily accomplished through the use of operable acrylic block and decorative glass windows. The fully-customizable windows come in a broad range of styles, helping homeowners add natural light and fresh air to a room without sacrificing privacy. Operable acrylic block windows are Energy Star-qualified in most areas of the country and make privacy a breeze in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways and other living spaces.

With upfront planning, small bathrooms can feel larger and more luxurious, as well as maximizing functionality and providing a strong resale investment. Don't wait, the time is now to take advantage of the tips to make your small bathrooms feel and live larger. Contact the professionals at Handyman Matters today - click here to find a location near you or call (281) 358-6666.

To receive $25 off your next service call from Handyman Matters click here to download the coupon.