Archives December 2021

Real estate has been crazy-hot for a couple of years now, which may have you wondering how to cash in on the runaway housing market by cashing out on your home. Once you take the plunge and hire a realtor to walk your house, they usually have a list of recommended improvements you can make to boost the desirability (and profit margin) of your home. But a contractor is the person to turn to when you want to know if an improvement will actually provide a return, because they will be able to quote you the cost of those improvements. Before you start sinking cash into a home you know you’ll end up selling, you owe it to yourself to find out first-hand which home improvements are the most cost-effective for your specific situation.

Look For Easy Money

Some of the most cost-effective home improvements are those that add something completely new like a carport, wood deck, patio, awnings, or a wider driveway. These are improvements that have little to no demo involved, so work can usually begin much sooner. “Outdoor rooms,” like sun rooms, covered patios, and outdoor kitchen areas are desirable in temperate areas. They can bring top dollar because the home buyer sees those improvements as extra rooms.

Updated paint inside and out is another way to get a lot of mileage out of your home improvement budget. Generally speaking, all home shoppers respond well to fresh paint with a moderate color pallet (no crazy color schemes). Paint can also brighten up a dingy kitchen or bathroom, or make the front of your house “pop” from the rest of the homes on your street. Adding insulation to your attic can be a plus for thrifty home buyers.

You might also consider some improvements that you can take with you when you move out. Area rugs add warmth, color, and cohesion to spaces that might otherwise seem disconnected. Wall hangings, artwork, and small furnishings can be used to “grow up” an area. For example, that “play nook” off your living area can become a reading nook by removing the toy chest and adding a small book table and a lamp.

Improvements That Justify Their Price Tags

When you’re really serious about attracting buyers with the quality of your home improvement choices, the obvious ROI home-runs are window replacements, new floors, bathroom updates, and pro kitchens. Builder’s standard windows are not very attractive, no matter what type of solar screen or interior decor you put over them. Replacing your builder’s grade windows with modern, efficient, and stylish windows adds curb appeal in addition to energy savings over time. Likewise, updating the builder’s grade carpet and vinyl to something more stylish and substantial, like natural hardwood floors, will provide a longer-lasting return on investment in terms of how rooms “feel” when you walk into them. And every realtor will tell you that bathrooms and kitchens sell houses. Updating the guest and master bathrooms settles a lot of prospective new home buyer jitters. Then walk your buyers into a well-planned, well-outfitted kitchen after that and you might as well start boxing up your things.

In our tech-oriented world of the 21st century, acronyms are everywhere – and it’s perfectly OK not to know what the heck they stand for! With respect to flooring, LVP is one of those acronyms that isn’t immediately obvious: Luxury Vinyl Plank. There are other acronyms for the same basic thing, including VPF (vinyl plank flooring) and LVT (luxury vinyl tile) to name a few. But generally speaking, these are all talking about the same type of flooring. So what is LVP flooring? Simply put, a vinyl floor product that takes a beating while maintaining its luster!

LVP – Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

This vinyl product isn’t like your granddad’s vinyl floor. It doesn’t come on a roll. This flooring comes in planks that fit together seamlessly, with authentic wood look finishes that resist moisture and stand up to high traffic. Most of these products are multi-layered and consist of a strong core, built to last, topped with a damage-resistant finish that will last a long time under abusive foot traffic, even from pets and toddlers. They are also very low maintenance; just sweep and mop like you would any floor and they will continue to look fabulous.

Valued for its moisture resistance, LVP vinyl plank flooring is a mainstay for bathroom and kitchen updates. Wood laminates simply don’t hold up to wet conditions of a bathroom or kitchen area. LVP flooring installations are straightforward and the product tailor-made for wet-area usage. Luxury vinyl plank is a smart, sensible solution for quick bath and kitchen updates.

But as with all flooring, there are decisions to make and lots of factors to consider. Brands vary in things like core strength, water resistance, ease of installation, authenticity of the finish (weather it really looks like the material it’s supposed to look like), and cost. You can easily get a professional opinion and estimate for re-flooring areas of your home or business using LVP. Just fill out our form and request an estimate. Building Solutions of Texas has got your floor covered!

Water damage in your home or business can be devastating. Therefore, it’s essential that you act quickly to remove, repair, and restore all water damaged surfaces to prevent the spread of mold. This is often an overwhelming challenge.

To help break it down, here are some tips for effective restoration of your property.

1. Take care of the cause of the water damage if it’s not the result of a storm or flood. Hidden pipe leaks are a significant cause of mold in structures.
2. Contact the other folks who needs to know about the damage. This includes your insurance rep for sure, but also landlord, homeowner’s association, or property manager if those are applicable.
3. Protect yourself and your valuables. This might mean putting your things in temporary storage or just covering them with plastic.
4. Contact a qualified remediation expert ASAP. The sooner they can identify the problem areas and dry out your structure, the less time there is for mold to spread.

FIND A PROFESSIONAL WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION EXPERT

Water damage restoration is often complicated and frustrating to do on your own, primarily because you risk personal exposure to microbial contaminants. A certified remediation team takes all appropriate measures to make sure contaminants like mold remain contained while they work to dry out your structure. Once dried out, certified professionals treat the area to prevent future microbial activity. After all the damage is addressed and area properly treated, the pros restore your floors, walls, and upholstery. Your space is restored as though it had never been damaged. That’s how the professionals do it.

Building Solutions of Texas are IICRC certified in Water Damage Restoration, Applied Structural Drying, Applied Microbial Remediation, Fire & Smoke Restoration, as well as Health & Safety.

If you have water damage or need further info, please contact us using this form.

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