Clear Signs You Should Invest in Home Renovation Resources

Sometimes, your home tells you it needs a renovation without using words. In other situations, your neighbors let you know directly or indirectly. Although in most cases the homeowner decides to renovate out of a desire for a new look for their abode or extra space, in every situation, finding the right home renovation resources leads to the best outcome. Let’s consider the many ways you might realize your home needs renovation and where to find the best resources to address the renovation needs.

Complaining Neighbors

Let’s consider the least enjoyable of the renovation reasons, neighbors complaining about your home. Some neighbors might confront you directly, but most simply file a complaint with the homeowners association (HOA). The HOA either sends you a letter or an email explaining the problem and what you will need to do to resolve it.

Many associations place their bylaws, building code requirements, and neighborhood requirements in a password-protected area on the HOA website. This information tops the list of vital home renovation resources needed to ensure the homeowner corrects the problem because it provides the minimum requirements and the type of professional that performs the work, such as an arborist or tree trimmer. The HOA typically provides a deadline by which the homeowner must address the problem, whether it relates to trash in the driveway, inappropriate yard signs, or something more unusual.

Lack of Storage

A more amenable situation occurs when you realize on your own that you need to renovate. One day, you enter your home’s attic, basement, or storage shed with a box and realize that no space exists for the box. You need to renovate so your home provides more storage space.

In this case, you need to locate both temporary and permanent home renovation resources. Rent a storage container as a temporary solution, so you have somewhere to put the box and other items currently without a home in the attic or basement. This frees you from the emergency situation involving storage space, so you can create a permanent solution.

The permanent solution could involve adding a storage shed to the backyard or having a contractor redesign and remodel the attic or basement. These rooms typically start as vast open spaces with basic flooring. Renovating them to include floor-to-ceiling shelving or bookcases can provide more space than an open room. A professional architect can design a storage room that accommodates all of your stuff in an organized and easy-to-access manner.

Some homes offer a spacious garage that can hold much more than the family cars. Renovate the garage to include ceiling-mounted storage that lets you store the least frequently used items you own in the most out-of-the-way area. Devote one or more of the garage’s walls to shelving that lets you place boxes, bins, and buckets off of the floor and organize them for improved access.

Creaking Garage Door

Another sign that you need to renovate might lead you to the garage first. A creaking garage door that neither oil nor WD-40 can fix signals a need to shop for residential garage doors. Start your search for home renovation resources on Bing or Google using the shopping tab. Search for “residential garage door” or “home garage door” and consider your many choices.

Starting on a search engine’s shopping tab helps you discover which stores carry garage doors and the typical prices for them across retail options. Typically, the cost of a garage door ranges from $800 to $5,000. The wide range stems from differences in designs and materials.

The most expensive doors typically feature designs such as barn doors, carriage doors, or architectural garage doors. The least expensive options usually consist of aluminum or stainless steel doors that roll up. Many options exist between these two extremes that offer secure, stylish designs at reasonable price points. Upgrading the home’s garage door also increases the home’s value at resale for a comparatively small investment.

Cracking Foundation

Some homeowners discover the need to explore home renovation resources when they file for bankruptcy. In many types of bankruptcy, the individual declaring it must sell off their assets to gather together as much funds as possible to pay off creditors. In the process, the homeowner finds issues, such as an eroding foundation that they must repair before selling the home.

In cases where the homeowner has already taken on so much debt, they might research home renovation resources for low-income individuals. These organizations include Habitat for Humanity and Christmas in April, also known as Rebuilding America. Local churches may help with home repairs, too. To quickly identify options in your area, contact the local Community Action Agency office.

Cold Drafts

When you feel cold drafts at your windows or door, you might think you need to call the HVAC company, but first, have a general contractor update your windows and doors. Installing Low-E, energy-efficient windows with double-pane or triple-pane glass better insulate the home. Replacing old doors with solid-core steel doors also improves the weatherization of the home.

Once a professional contractor has replaced those items, consider the home’s warmth and cooling. If you still notice an unexpected temperature differential, then you need to pursue home renovation resources for HVAC services. The system may require maintenance or duct cleaning, or it may need replacing. To find the best services, search online or ask friends and family for suggestions.

Peeling Walls

When you notice peeling walls, the part experiencing the peeling tells you which home renovation resources to contact. If wallpaper peels in the bathroom, kitchen, or breakfast nook, contact a general contractor or home remodeler to remove the old wallpaper and replace it, or to add new adhesive and re-adhere it properly if you want to keep its current look. If the paint peels from the wall, you’ll need to repaint the area with paint intended for high-humidity areas. If the paper topper of a piece of drywall peels away, you may need to patch a small peel or phone a drywall company for a large portion that peels off.

Addressing the extreme humidity in the room will prevent the problem from occurring again. This may require a general contractor to install a fan or a dehumidifier. Adding improved ventilation can also address the problem. In some cases, peeling walls indicate a flood event; high-water floods or extensive damage require drywall replacement and could require mildew and mold abatement.

Outdated Appliances

Perhaps you discovered your appliances need replacing when you phoned your local appliance repair services for what you thought would be a simple fix. They informed you that your appliance had worn out completely and noted the age of more than one appliance in the home. All home appliances except dishwashers have a life expectancy of 15 years. Dishwashers need replacing after nine years of service.

Consider your local home improvement or hardware store the frontline home renovation resources needed for this task. For washers, dryers, and dishwashers, also consider Sears, which still maintains catalog pick-up locations in many rural communities that lack local malls or large shopping centers. The ship-to-store option can help a homeowner find a great bargain on a new appliance while avoiding paying for shipping.

Many retailers offer installation by trained professionals with purchase or for a nominal fee. Taking advantage of these service professionals can preserve or add to the appliance’s warranty. In some cases, the service personnel who partner with the retailer receive installation training directly from the appliance manufacturer.

Sagging Roof

Guests staying overnight in your extra bedroom might point out a sagging ceiling area to you. Maybe you noticed a sagging area after a particularly brutal storm. Either way, address that sagging roof quickly by hiring a local roofing company. The roofer will conduct an inspection of the roof and determine whether it requires repair or replacement.

Typically, a roof of asphalt shingles lasts about 15 years. A metal or clay tile roof lasts about 50 years. Most U.S. homes feature asphalt roofs because they cost the least, but if you can invest in a metal roof, the materials will last much longer and usually require fewer repairs.

In these cases, the homeowner might not consider finding a roofer the need for home renovation resources, but finding help paying for it. When interviewing potential roofers, ask whether they offer financing or payment plans. Also inquire about discounts for special groups, such as the military or teachers. Accessing these programs can help a homeowner afford a better, longer-lasting roof.

Sticking Doors

Doors don’t stick in a new home, so before pursuing home renovation resources to solve this issue, determine its underlying cause. When a door sticks, the first thought might be to contact door contractors, but the reason for the sticking door might stem from door swelling, a rotted door frame, or sub-floor damage that blocks the door from opening fully. Re-hanging the door won’t address the much larger problem that the sticking door indicates.

In this case, contact a general contractor to examine the area around the doorway and its walls. They should inspect the interior and exterior of the home. Address the underlying cause of the sticking door first, then have the door re-hung.

A Crowded Home

Any number of situations can lead to a crowded house. Growing your family through childbirth, adoption, fostering, or by having one or both spouse’s parents move in can trigger a need for a home addition. Look for a local architect as your first line of home renovation resources.

An architect determines the best way to expand the home. Home additions can build downward, upward, or outward. Which a homeowner chooses typically depends on their home, their lot, and the city’s building code. If the homeowner has not already used the available space on their lot, according to the building code, then they can choose to build outward. If they already used all of their lot’s availability, building up or down lets them expand.

Homes with an unfinished attic or basement offer the simplest solutions. The architect can design a home office or bedroom suite in either area. In some cases, the homeowner renovates both the attic and basement to quickly increase the home’s living space. Once the architect has the building plans confirmed by an engineering firm, the homeowner can hire a general contractor and subcontractors.

Sometimes, an architect recommends a building contractor. In other situations, the homeowner chooses for themselves. Start a search for a general contractor by contacting the local chamber of commerce or the local construction union. Another option takes you online to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which keeps records of this type of service-based business.

Many general contractors partner with subcontractors who perform specialty work. Using these subcontractors can speed up the project, but the homeowner may know someone they want to hire, for example, the flooring installer who laid the hardwood flooring at their parents’ home. General contractors work with a wide array of professionals, so using a contractor that they have not previously worked with should not create a problem, but do apprise them of your intentions at your initial meeting.

The general contractor does not do all of the work alone. They do schedule all of the work that occurs though in the order that it needs to happen. For an addition that adds a bedroom and bathroom, for instance, the general contractor would need a plumber, an electrician, a flooring and/or tile installer, and a master carpenter. They typically handle the drywall and ceiling installation themselves.

Renovating When Your Home Needs It

When you notice problems with your home that indicate the need for renovations, find the right resources to address them by starting with your HOA or local city planning office. Interview local general contractors or home improvement professionals and hire the one that best meets your needs. Maintaining your home helps you draw more enjoyment from it. Sometimes, your renovation relates to adding space, so you need to build an addition to provide ample space for a growing family.