Since winter is upon us and the weather is cooling down, you may be inclined to spend more time indoors settling into your comfortable home. And while it might not seem like the best time of year to start any big projects around the house, winter can actually be a great season for getting some renovations done.
The freezing temperatures, innumerable snowstorms and busy holiday schedules may lead you to presume that there are no perks to starting a home improvement project during the winter months. Nevertheless, there are several advantages. To begin with, winter is generally the off-season for contractors, so you could get lower rates. You might also find more reasonable prices on materials. And because it’s a quieter time of year for renovations overall, securing permit approval for the work you plan on doing will take less time in comparison
Some projects are more doable in the winter than others. If you’re feeling ambitious to tackle some remodeling this season, take a look at these ideas for inspiration.
Room Remodel
Now that you have some extra time inside, why not take on a remodeling project in the kitchen or bathroom? These are usually great home improvement choices because they tend to increase your property value. However, before spending a lot of money, do your research and figure out how much potential value you could be adding. This will help you decide if it’s worth putting significant funds into improving your home.
By making a few smaller, more affordable changes, you can still have a big impact without breaking the bank. For example, painting your walls or cabinets, or changing out the hardware on your sink or cabinetry. Or if you’re looking for something with an even bigger visual impact, try hanging a new mirror or updating your light fixtures.
Add Insulation
No one likes paying extra on their utility bills, so if you’re in dire need of some winter proofing for your home, now’s the time to do it. It’ll cost money depending on what kind of insulation, but that investment will be worth it in the long run when you see lowered energy bills. Also, we recommend doing a home energy audit before making any final decisions about installation type or places. By taking this assessment, you will be able to understand where your home is losing energy. In doing so, you’ll know which areas of your house need more insulation, making your home renovation project much more effective.
Room Addition
You might want to add an extra room to your house instead of moving if you need more space, but that’s not a decision to take lightly. Room additions can be expensive and must be done carefully so you don’t cut any corners. You should especially consider this during winter because the frozen ground is perfect for foundations. Hiring skilled, experienced designers is important if you don’t want your home to look in-cohesive from the outside. Without professional help, your new room could stand out awkwardly.
Before making such a large investment, you should think about whether the value of your home will increase as a result. Room additions often pay for themselves through increased value. However, occasionally there are mitigating circumstances where improvements won’t make much of a difference. For example, if you live in the most expensive house in the neighborhood, then an expensive renovation probably wouldn’t add much overall value to your home.
Make Your House Smarter
Upgrading the tech in your house is a project you can easily do on your own that will have a huge impact on reducing utility bills and improving day-to-day life. If you’re just getting into smart home technology, a great place to start is with a thermostat. Many models will let you use your phone to adjust the temperature in your house and can even learn from your behavior over time. This not only helps keep energy costs down but it’s also really convenient and customizable.
By utilizing various devices, you can have a fully decked-out home, such as cameras to monitor your residence remotely from your smartphone. You can also receive alerts about smoke or carbon monoxide if you’re away from home with smart detectors. Don’t ever worry about locking the door again by using a smart lock on your door. And last but not least, control everything in your home hands-free with an ubiquitous and affordable smart speaker.
With over 10 years of being in business JC Smith LLC can help you with your next renovation project. Contact us HERE today, and we will help you get started!
