Small Projects with Big Impacts

Most people have a mental list of “if money weren’t an issue” renovations they would tackle throughout their homes.  However, just because most of us aren’t winning the lottery any time soon doesn’t mean we can’t do any improvements to make our homes more customized for our living.  Many times small projects on small budgets will make a huge impact that will make your house feel more your home.  If you don’t personally have the skills to do some of these small home improvement projects yourself, consider hiring a handyman to cross some of these items off of your “Honey-Do” List.  The following are 5 small projects that can be accomplished in a few days with the help of a handyman:

1.  Paint: Few projects can transform a house as dramatically and inexpensively as paint.  Whether you paint your front door or the trim in your entire house, the value/cost benefit is well worth the investment.  In addition, paint can really make your space look larger and spacious, smaller and more cozy, or even give the illusion of a flawless interior/exterior without having to break down walls or rearrange furniture.  Although painting is a relatively simple task, for those tall, two-story entryways or second floor exterior work, it may be safer to hire a handyman with proper insurance.

2. Trim & Moulding: Although it looks like a simple task, installing trim and moulding is very tedious and takes a lot of precision to do well.  If you want to add a little but of flair to your dining room, consider adding chair rails.  Crown moulding often adds height to rooms.  Beadboard in master bathrooms or half baths add charm and texture.  If you aren’t a perfectionist with patience – you definitely want to leave the installation to a pro.

3. Flooring: A new floor can lend a fresh vitality to any room.  For the bathroom specifically, using today’s cost-effective resilient sheet flooring offers an attractive option for a high-end appearance.  It comes with the latest styles and patterns in a wide array of colors, designs and textures.  For other areas of the house, hardwood floors could be a good solution, adding warmth and comfort with the benefit of easy cleaning.  If you hardwood isn’t in your budget, laminate flooring is a great eco-friendly alternative that looks virtually identical in some cases. If you have an irregularly shaped rooms, it might be better to hire a handyman.  Uneven or improperly flooring can not only detract from your home’s value but can also be a safety hazard.

4. Lighting & Ceiling Fans: Lighting is an integral part of the general layout and character of your home and should be used as an extension of the overall theme of your home.  Ceiling fan/light combos are great for bedrooms or living areas to get a little extra circulation going to keep your air conditioning bills lower.  Recessed, or can, lights are a great way to minimalistically brighten up a space.  Installing both of these options can be tricky for the average DIYer, because often times both electrical and drywall work is involved.

5. Green Features: In addition to the above projects, services that improve the “green” aspect of your home will also make a huge impact on its value and on your wallet.  For example, some easy-to-install, energy efficient faucets feature a flow-optimized, water-saving aerator, which uses 30 percent less water, without sacrificing performance.  Dual flush toilets are also becoming more popular as a water saving feature.  There are many other projects as well that maximize energy savings and promote environmental health that can be quick afternoon projects for a handyman.

When it comes to remodeling, your project doesn’t have to involve huge budgets and whole-home transformations.  Instead, simple upgrades and installations can revitalize any room in your home without stress and without going into debt.  Although these smaller projects may seem frivolous, the impact that they have on your household is significant.  Regardless of the types of remodeling projects you want to implement, it’s important to carefully consider your situation, time frame, skills budget before you dive in.  In most cases, the benefits that you will receive from doing minor work will actually have a better impression on your home than the large, extensive projects.

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