If you’re planning on doing a home improvement, it’s important to pick the right one and know how to go about doing it so you get great results. Use these five tips to guide you on your next Rochester home improvement.
1. Shop For Deals
To ensure that your next home improvement is going to be pocket-friendly, shop for deals if there are items you need to buy. From fixtures and fittings to appliances and other things, you can make good savings by shopping around for deals rather than buying everything at the listed shop value. You likely have other expenses to take care of, for instance, since estates valued at more than $5,430,000 for single individuals and $10,860,000 for married couples are subject to estate taxes. Improving your home on a budget will be something you can be proud of for a long time to come.
2. Go For Value-Adding Projects
Not all home repairs and improvements are created equally, so you should pick from the options you have to make sure you settle on the ones that will add the most value to your home for the best price. This way, you will be able to improve your home’s value and enjoy the convenience and improved aesthetics that come with doing so. Some of the most valuable improvements are those to do to your kitchen and bathroom, so you can start with these and allocate enough time and resources to them so they’re worth it in the end.
3. Work With a Professional When Necessary
While you may be keen on getting your hands dirty and doing your home improvement by yourself, you should know when to involve a professional. This is especially true for situations in which you either don’t have the right skills and expertise, or you don’t have the necessary tools. One of the professionals you could work with is an interior designer, and many people understand this given the fact that around 7,800 openings for interior designers are projected every single year over the decade on average. This is despite there being limited employment growth in other industries in general.
4. Don’t Forget the Exterior
While improving your home, don’t forget to work on the exterior. There are different ways in which you can work on your home to improve curb appeal. This will present you with a welcoming home right from the moment you pull up into the driveway. When improving your home to be better able to sell it, one of the most impactful things to do is to give the outdoors a facelift. From sealing your driveway to adding lights or yard features to pruning your trees and painting the external walls, there are many things you can do to make your home’s exterior look amazing.
5. Use Quality Materials
When you find an improvement you want to make, be sure to use quality materials only. This will help you get amazing results that will last for years to come. Keep in mind that getting quality materials doesn’t mean that they have to be expensive and brand new. You can buy reused and recycled materials from dealers who have them or from other homeowners making improvements to their own homes. Something like the blinds you get, for instance, should be of the best quality possible. In this case, aluminum blinds are one of the lowest maintenance and longest-lasting options available for window treatments. The fact that they’re available for all sizes of windows means that you can find something you need if you’re interested in them.
Use these five tips to improve your home in Rochester and you will enjoy living in a beautiful and upgraded space.
If you have remodeling plans for your Rochester home, you’ll need to plan. Your home is one of the best things to invest in. You add value to your property, and, of course, you can improve your lifestyle with a few remodeling projects around the house. However, there are some things you need to know about home remodeling in Rochester before you get started.
Safety Should Always Be a High Priority
There are thousands of construction accidents every year, many of which occur in residential properties. If an employee of a construction company is injured on your Rochester property because of neglect of your property, you could be held liable. You must choose a construction company that is fully licensed and insured, and that you do your part to ensure there is nothing in the way of the project.
If an employee of the construction company is injured on your property and the company is fully licensed and insured, that employee has 20 days to report the injury to the construction company, but more importantly, the matter is dealt with by the construction company. Make sure you do your part by keeping a clear path to the project and removing any personal property that can cause an injury.
You also want to ensure pets and children are kept out of the way. Keeping everyone safe is essential to a successful project.
Pick Your Projects With Care
The right home remodeling projects in Rochester can help to add value to your home, your lifestyle, and can even help you save money. Planning your projects carefully and with an eye on ways to reduce costs will help the projects to pay for themselves. For example, replacing your old outdated HVAC system as part of your home remodel can help to reduce energy costs for cooling by 20%-50%.
In other words, when you are remodeling your Rochester home think about function, savings, and aesthetics. Many homeowners make the mistake of focusing only on aesthetics. Get more bang out of your buck by taking a look at the bigger picture. Consider making changes to your home that will improve energy efficiency and overall efficiency.
Make Sure Your Permits Are In Order
Your construction contractor in most cases will handle getting your permits for the project, but you should still check to ensure everything is in order. Ultimately, the responsibility for having the right permits falls on the homeowner in Rochester. Most larger construction firms (about 43%) spend between 1%-2% of their earnings on software to ensure they can simplify the permit process, according to Softwareconnect.com. Ask to see the permits.
Moving forward with a home remodel in Rochester without the proper permits can be costly. It is not unheard of in Rochester and other areas for a building inspector to require the homeowner to remove the upgrades to their home when those upgrades are done without the proper permit. Make sure you follow through with both the construction company and the county building inspector’s office to ensure proper permits are in place.
Rome Was Not Built In a Day
It can be tempting to get all the remodeling done that you want at once. It may seem like doing it all at once is the best option. However, it can quickly become overwhelming to have too many projects going at once. A better approach is to make a list and take a slow and steady approach.
Completing one remodel at a time will allow you to live with the results for a little while and see if you even want to make additional changes. You never know. You may decide that the new kitchen is enough for a while. A slow and steady pace typically results in better craftsmanship and less stress.
Remodeling your home in Rochester is a great way to give your home a refresh. It can also be a great way to save money if you play your cards right. Following the tips you find here will ensure that your project is a success.
When you consider selling your home, it’s important to take steps to ensure that the process goes through without complications. One way to do this is to ensure you’ve done all the necessary contracting work. Keep reading to learn what you need a home repair contractor for.
Upgrade the Lights and Fittings
One major thing that will stand out to potential buyers is the light fixtures. These may be the original ones that you got with your home or installed. Homebuyers want to keep up with the newest trends, and if your home is old, it doesn’t have trendy fixtures. To make sure you have an easy time selling, you need to cater to fussier buyers by upgrading the light fixtures so they’re modern. Also make sure that if there are any cupboards or places where people may want to store items they use for sports, they’re in good shape. Having a lock on these areas will be helpful in making your home more attractive. With different versions of red flag laws enacted in 19 states as well as the District of Columbia, you should do your best to ensure if you have gun display units, they’re well-secured.
Upgrade Your Kitchen
Another area that will make your home-selling journey easy or complex is your kitchen. This is a space that many homebuyers pay extra attention to, so you want it to be as appealing as possible. Give it a fresh coat of paint at the very least to ensure that it looks spacious and inviting. If necessary, work with a qualified contractor to make it more functional than it may currently be. This will give you a higher likelihood of successfully finding a buyer. With recruiters saying that their biggest pain points are finding qualified candidates at 35% and clients taking too long to make offers at 30%, you want to move fast during the contractor hiring process.
Work on the Landscape
To ensure that your home looks good right from the moment a potential buyer arrives at it, it’s important to work on the landscape. Find a professional landscape contractor to improve your landscape. Keep it well-manicured at all times, and add the necessary features to make it look modern and decent. These include flower boxes and water features, which you can expect to raise the home’s value exponentially. Paint the exterior of the house as well, and improve the driveway to ensure it has no cracks or holes.
Test Fire-Safety Systems
Finally, test out the fire-safety systems in your home because they’re an important part of every home. If you have any, which is advisable, you need to have them inspected visually on a regular basis and tested for proper function under the NFPA25 Code. The different tests and inspections should be done monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually, and at intervals of five years and 10 years. For this reason, make sure that the people you hire to work on sensitive things like the fire systems are up to date on the codes they need to follow as well as the standards they should maintain.
With these tips, you can work on different aspects of your home to make it more appealing to potential buyers. Always make sure to work with a home repair contractor who has reputable experience. Keep in mind that even if they ask for a sizable amount of money, you will be able to get this money back when you set a good price for your home.
I have always had an affinity for the mansions on east avenue, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to tour, video tape and photograph the house at 935 East Ave. While it has been used as offices since the 1950’s, they maintained much of the original character of the house. Many of the mansions on East Avenue have been converted into apartments, condos or offices. While the outsides have mostly maintained their original appearances, the insides have been divided, and even in one building I have been in, they have covered or painted woodwork and used office ceiling tiles. Some have even had “additions” attached. There are still a few that remain single-family residences though.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the finances of families everywhere, causing record-setting unemployment rates and the shuttering of many local businesses. Strangely enough, the real estate market in Rochester hasn’t been taking hits like many of the other sectors of the economy. In fact, Rochester real estate is downright hot right now.
Not only did realtor.com rank the Rochester area zip code 14617, which includes West Irondequoit, number three on their list of the 10 hottest zip codes in the United States, but houses across the area are flying off the market almost as soon as they hit it. Buyers have been in a frenzy to snatch up a home in Rochester, with houses getting multiple offers within hours of going on the market. According to Tysharda Thomas, Realtor at New 2 U Homes, homes have been selling for $10,000 to $50,000 above list price.
It will actually be warm soon—and stay warm. But, when you live in upstate NY you don’t necessarily wait for the ground to thaw to start your housing search. Smart shoppers know the best spots don’t last long on the market, whether it’s a new build, a fixer upper or a historic landmark. Now there’s another tool you can add to your home buying tool box.
The City of Rochester, City Council, and the Rochester Coalition for Neighborhood Living have launched Celebrate City Living , a new program to help homebuyers and renters learn about the benefits of living in the city and find the resources to make it easier to buy or rent a home in Rochester…
Today I’d like to take a slight departure from our normal Filling In fare. No, I don’t propose to fill in all the banks in Rochester, although that’s not such a bad idea, now that I think about it. What I’d like to talk about is banks and buying stuff. Well, not just any stuff, specifically real estate…
Rochester is loaded with fun things to do and see including many festivals, shopping, entertainment, art and culture. Our city is consistently ranked highly on national “quality of life” lists. We’ve got exciting neighborhoods. Great people. And great old homes – at crazy affordable prices.
Here comes another great home buying opportunity for anyone looking to move into the area, or anyone who may be growing tired of renting. Let’s look at 279 Field Street in the Swillburg Neighborhood…
Dear readers, we interrupt our three part Charlotte series to give you a small morsel of something different before the grand finale. Consider this a palette cleanser, an intermezzo, if you will.
I looked up tired in the dictionary, and found this picture of 34 King Street in the Susan B. Anthony neighborhood. Seeing as the Carriage Factory lofts are being built immediately behind, I think it’s time for a major upgrade here. Allow me to present the all-new 34 King Street…
First, a note from RochesterSubway.com…
A month or so ago, local realtor Rich Tyson submitted an article about Rochester’s active North Winton Village and showed a home-buying opportunity for anyone who might be looking for a great deal in a great city neighborhood.
Some people saw this as a cheap “knock-off” of what the Landmark Society does in the City Newspaper each week. To that I say, so what? This was not intended to be a knock-off. But if that’s how you feel, stop reading. On the other hand, if you’re interested in learning a bit about Rochester’s various neighborhoods and in seeing the full range of what Rochester’s real estate market has to offer, enjoy.
The homes featured by Landmark Society are fantastic architectural specimens. The homes featured by Rich Tyson are not perfect, but they are also great city homes that need good owners. And if you are a real estate agent or a homeowner looking to sell your city home, you are quite welcome to submit an article as well… [email protected]
Ok, enough of that. Let’s check out some other homes for sale. This time in the gorge-ous Maplewood neighborhood…
Winter, spring, summer and fall, Rochester is loaded with fun things to do and see …festivals, shopping, entertainment, art and culture. Our city is consistently ranked highly on national “quality of life” lists. We’ve got exciting neighborhoods. Great people. And great old homes – at crazy affordable prices.
This is the first entry in a new series for anyone looking to move into the area, or anyone who may be growing tired of renting. RochesterSubway.com has teamed up with realtor Rich Tysonwill happily team up with ANY realtor or homeowner to highlight home buying opportunities in the City of Rochester.
Let’s check out 26 Marion Street in the very walkable North Winton Village…
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After the Erie Canal was rerouted south of downtown Rochester, the Rochester
Industrial & Rapid Transit Railway (the subway) was built in
its place as a link between the five different railroads and interurban trolley
lines that served the Rochester area. As the industrial landscape of Rochester
changed, and highways replaced the railroads, the Rochester subway gradually
became a relic of a bygone era. In 1956 the subway was abandoned and much of
its route was converted into Interstate 490 built to connect Rochester
with the New York State Thruway (I-90). Read more about the history of the Rochester Subway.
RochesterSubway.com exists to help spark
public dialogue around how we can better connect the neighborhoods of Rochester
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