Spending money may actually save you money when you complete upgrades and projects that can help lower the costs of owning a home. These practical home improvements can pay for themselves over time by reducing the costs of energy and water, and even homeowners insurance.
A sampling of money-saving home improvements include:
Drought-resistant landscaping: With parts of the country experiencing record-breaking droughts in recent years, more attention is being paid to landscaping and its significant role in residential water usage. By replacing your lawn with drought-tolerant plants and permeable surfaces such as pea gravel, you can reduce your water bill, contribute to a healthier environment, and satisfy watering restrictions in your area.
Your local agricultural extension office, landscaping center, and continuing education programs are good resources for learning about plants that will withstand dry conditions and gardening practices that will help decrease the amount of watering needed. Added time- and money-saving bonus: no more cutting the grass.
Energy efficiency: Improving your home’s energy efficiency can lead to immediate savings on your utility bill. Consider making these changes that will continue to add value for many years:
- Add insulation, caulking, weather stripping and door skirts to help your home stay warm in the colder months and cooler during the summer.
- Install a programmable thermostat, which will automatically decrease the level of heating or cooling at night while you’re asleep, or when you’re not at home.
- Replace drafty windows to help retain your home’s heating and cooling. Some online research will help you learn how glazing, U-factors and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients (SHGCs) affect the performance of new windows.
- Purchase energy-efficient appliances when it’s time to replace your washer, dryer, dishwasher or refrigerator. Look for the ENERGY STAR rating to determine the potential energy savings.
Plumbing fixtures: Another way to reduce water usage is by replacing toilets, faucets, and shower heads with low-flow models. These contain aerators, which use less water, but still provide good water pressure. Some existing plumbing fixtures can also be inexpensively retrofitted with aerators if it’s not quite time to replace them.
Home safety and security: You will need to check with your insurance carriers, but it many instances, you can lower your home insurance premiums with these improvements:
- Installing a home security system
- Updating carbon monoxide and smoke detectors
- Reinforcing your roof and adding storm shutters
Along with the above home improvements, routine maintenance will also help you save money in the long run. Regular cleaning, upkeep and inspection of all your home’s systems will keep things running smoothly and help prevent small problems from becoming major, costly issues. Schedule time to periodically inspect your home. Be sure to regularly change HVAC filters, keep gutters clean, and replace any rotting wood. Purchasing maintenance plans will keep you up-to-date on seasonal check-ups.
Save with a qualified professional.
Experienced home improvement contractors know the best ways to make your home remodeling projects deliver great returns on your investment. If you’re ready to update your home, enter your ZIP code above and you’ll be put in touch with a pre-qualified contractor in your area who’s already been vetted. Best of all, the workmanship of all of the contractors in the Contractor Connection network is warrantied for five full years. Get your free, no-obligation estimate today.
Categories: General Contractors, Home Remodeling Renovation, Plumbing Contractors
