Home Improvement

Thinking of remodeling? Have you stopped to consider how transforming a bedroom into a home office might impact the value of the home? One of the most common questions homeowners have when thinking of remodeling is how much the work will add or detract from the value of the home. You'll find answers to those questions and more in this section of ActiveRain.


Everything you need to know – the answers to all your burning questions – about energy efficiency, green homes, landscaping, home maintenance, staging, landscaping and more is right here at your fingertips.


With over 300,000 real estate professionals, including stagers, contractors, landscapers and others, there is no better place to find the information you need than ActiveRain.


While you'll find a ton of helpful ideas and hints within these pages, you'll want to bookmark the site so that you can check back for the hundreds of daily updates from authors who spend their days actually performing the tasks you have questions about.


Put the hammer down and the glasses on and read on.

Trending blogs on Home Improvement
By Richa Nayyar
(Coming service)
Globally, the real estate market totals over $228 trillion a year making it the world’s most important asset class. When it comes to buying a property there are only three things that really matter: location, location and location.The best places to live for a thriving social life and great career opportunities are usually the most expensive in terms of real estate. If budget is no problem, these crazy real estate cities could be the ideal place to set up home.Berlin, GermanyAn eclectic mic of history, art and culture makes Berlin one of the best cities in Europe to visit and also one of the best to live in. The German capital has it all when it comes to culture, from the stunning Brandenburg Gate to inspiring East Side Gallery.If you’re a fan of a night out on the tiles Berlin has got ...
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By Samuel John, We give you daily about real estate market.
(Daily Real Estate Update)
Often, plumbing issues arise unexpectedly, which is an unfortunate situation for a busy household. It would mean a mess in your kitchen or bathroom, and delays in going to school or work. That's why it's crucial to know the signs if your property has plumbing issues, which you will learn in this article today. 1. Discolored Pipes Are Indicative Of Moisture Or Leaks Check the basement or poke around under the kitchen sink to take a closer look at the pipes for any signs of discoloration. Discolored pipes are a strong sign of the presence of moisture, possibly caused by drips from a drain line or sink.  A more serious possible reason could be slow leakage from a supply line. It's important to stop leaks and check all discolored plumbing joints. You have to seek professional plumbing servi...
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Metro Manila is the most populated area in the Philippines. As of 2015, at least 12.8 million Filipinos are flocking to the metro for better job opportunities not available in remote provinces and the chance to find a better life for their families. And while there are many benefits to living in the National Capital Region, there are also disadvantages like overpopulation and higher cost of living.However, families that live in the neighboring provinces of Metro Manila, like Cavite, Rizal, and Bulacan, can also benefit from their proximity to the metro's major districts. At the same time, they also benefit from living outside of the city. Here are five benefits Filipino families have when they live outside Metro Manila.More Affordable Housing Options While suburban villages exist in mos...
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By Micheal John
(Micheal John)
Moving house is one of the most stressful times in our life. In fact, many psychologists compare the damage to your mental health caused by a move to that of going through a divorce or major illness. It is not just the juggling of different tasks, but also saying goodbye to a community in which you felt at home. There is really no one way to ease the pain of moving to a new house, but use these five easy tips to make it just a little bit easier, from the packing, to the unpacking, to just about everything in between. 1. Plan It Out Too many people think that moving their entire lives will be an easy task. They do not take into account that movers work on a schedule, and you will need to allow time in your busy life to pack up every room. It helps to design a timetable and give a period ...
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By Saheer Gurjot, I build custom home and offer complete home renova
(link home builders)
Everyone wants lovely, new windows in their home, but many people feel as if they cannot afford them. People look upon windows as a luxury, when in reality, they’re a necessity. While many do not realize it, investing in better windows now will save you a ton of money on your energy expenses every month. It will also add value and equity to your home.   Though, of course, it’s still a rather significant investment. When you go looking around for window companies, those prices might initially throw you off and make you not want to go through with the job. However, there are quite a few ways in which you can save a lot of money. Here are some tips to help.  A Few Ways to Get Cheaper Window Service Do Some of the Work Yourself One of the best ways to save money is to cut back on the labou...
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Originally chosen for their low price and ease of install, cast iron pipes are in countless homes. In Florida alone, an estimated 2,000,000 homes use cast iron pipes in their plumbing systems. If your home was built prior to 1975, it’s likely your plumbing system consists of cast iron pipes, too.Despite their popularity, cast iron pipes are tricky. Plumbing systems built of cast iron pipes are destined to fail and could cause tens of thousands of dollars in damage to your home.  In fact, it’s estimated cast iron pipes have an expiration date of 40 to 50 years.How Cast Iron Pipes FailWhen waste product is carried through a cast iron pipe, a chemical interaction occurs that causes the creation of hydrogen sulfide and sulfuric acid. The chemical combination of hydrogen sulfide and sulfuric...
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By Mott Marvin Kornicki, Miami Notary & Apostille 786-229-7999
(Waterway Realtors® • Notary Public & Apostille)
Everyone wants to renovate. And now more than ever, they want to do it themselves. According to Remodeling magazine, "Big-ticket remodeling activity, already enjoying record economic conditions, is growing at its fastest pace in four years and should rise 5.1% this year alone." Those numbers are based on Metrostudy's latest Residential Remodeling Index (RRI).In addition, "The RRI as of the first quarter of 2018 stood as 112.9, its highest reading ever. That number means the economic conditions known to influence remodeling activity are 12.9% better than the old peak in early 2007, just before the Great Recession. The RRI has shown year-over-year gains for 24 consecutive quarters, and as of 1Q18 it was 5.2% above the year-earlier level—the highest such annual growth since the first quart...
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By Samuel John, We give you daily about real estate market.
(Daily Real Estate Update)
Implementing renovations to your home is a fantastic way to transform your space into something of value, appeal, and custom to your visions. You can easily invest in a fixer-upper house and turn into your dream home. Alternatively, you could flip it to make a significant profit if you wish. The best part is that there are endless things you can do to be innovative. Whether you want to upgrade your interior, exterior, or both, here are some creative home renovation ideas for you to adapt yourself or use as a unique inspiration. For those of you looking to get creative feedback for your project, visit www.yourpropertyprofits.com.au and speak with a professional today. 1. DIY Fire Pit BenchAre you tired of using lawn chairs or fold up camping chairs outside? If so, making your own luxurio...
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Infrastructure is failing all over the United States, and builders should be concerned. Construction maintenance doesn't get enough attention, so looking to low-quality materials in order to save money isn't the answer. Skimping on materials leads to construction failures and needless injuries and deaths.Clearly, authorities won't regularly inspect buildings and keep them to code. So, it's important that builders use durable materials.If you're wondering what the strongest building materials are, wonder no longer. Here's a list of seven top durable building materials.1. Wood, When Properly TreatedWood buildings have been around since the dawn of history and can last for centuries.In some senses, wood isn't the strongest building material: You can chop into it, while you can't hack away ...
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Traditionally, we’ve always seen our bathtubs, shower corners, and sinks sealed with caulk, whether that is acrylic or silicone caulk. Not only is the process messy and time-consuming, but it also becomes dirty and turns into a hub for collecting grime after a certain amount of time. What’s worse, it even turns black and gives your bathroom an unkempt, dirty appearance even when it’s as clean as you can possibly make it.There are now newer alternatives to caulking, which are much more efficient, reliable, and easier to carry out, such as using flexible vinyl edge trim. Here are some more reasons why you should make the switch from traditional caulk to caulk tape instead.1.   Traditional Caulk Is SuperficialThat’s right, as time-consuming and tiring of a task it is, caulking doesn’t even...
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By Richa Nayyar
(Coming service)
Having a website for your business is a must in the modern era because most of the work is done online via the internet and if a business is not established online then it will definitely lose a lot of sales. Hence a website should be online carrying the information about your company, products, and services and there is no better way than Website Design Toronto to get a website up and running for your business. There are a few issues that are faced while creating and maintaining websites that are as follows:Responsiveness: It is seen that companies get a website designed from a web design company but they don’t take the responsiveness of the website seriously. This makes the website look ugly on other devices than desktop and laptop screens which are quite a negative expression of your...
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At present, there are many wrenches available in the market. There are many sizes, types and each has a different job to perform. You have to choose out of these wrenches, the one which best fit for your job. So the choice of wrench depends upon the type of job on your hand. The invention of wrenches is very old and for a long time wrenches are being used to open or fix nuts or bolts.Are you a mechanic or plumber? Do you want to make a long term investment? Do you want quick solution for your work? Then the right choice for you is to purchase a ratcheting wrench set. It will make your work easy. Your productivity will be increased and there will speed up your workflow. You will not have to, again and again, adjust the wrench or to change different wrenches for different bolts.A ratcheti...
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Online dating has become a mainstream phenomenon over the last few years. Today, more people are meeting online than ever. In the US alone, 1 in five relationships start online and over 40 million singles have tried online dating. These statistics are impressive, although the virtues and downsides of this new scene are still heavily debated. However, a peek at the annual downloads for dating apps, or new signups to dating platforms will let you know many people are looking for relations online. For most millennials, who already use the internet daily, online dating couldn’t be more convenient. Is it easier just to date online in today’s age, or are there other merits to finding love on the internet? Below we explore all about online dating and why it is becoming the new norm.What is onl...
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Are you thinking of doing a window replacement? It's always a good idea to do exterior home improvements when it's still summer and the harsh weather hasn't set in. It's time to contact those window siding and roofing experts to help you out! This is a great opportunity to repair anything broken or seems damaged so that your home stays safe through the harsh weather. But, that's not all. Changing up your windows' style can definitely refresh your home's look and this is your chance to put a bit of your personality in your habitat. There are many styles you can choose from. You can easily inquire with your window siding and roofing contractor on what would be best for your home. You can also ask and choose according to sturdiness and function - as long as it fits your style plus, works w...
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Home staging is the one thing you can do that will really capture homebuyers and make them want to put in an offer. You and your realtor will be able to make an experience for people that lets them truly envision living in your home. But how can you stage a home correctly? Here's how to stage a home in a way that gets results.  Find Out How Much Your Home is Worth Before you sell your home, make sure that you know its value. Knowing the value helps you know your demographic and market it accordingly.  If the home value for a condo is very affordable and accessible, you might include trendy budget furniture so you can market the home to young professionals. A five or six-bedroom single-family home might intrigue big families, so you would include decorations that show everyday living. Re...
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By Micheal John
(Micheal John)
HVAC systems are designed to thrive through years of wear and tear. That said, they're far from infallible. Odds are, your HVAC system will incur damage and will, at some point, require a repair.There are all sorts of problems that can plague an HVAC system. Curious as to the most common HVAC issues? Read on!Here are 6 of the most common problems that HVAC systems can develop. 1. Dirty Air FilterPerhaps the most common of all HVAC issues is the problem of a dirty air filter. Air filters are used to catch airborne dust and debris, ensuring that it doesn't enter the AC system in excess. Of course, because they do this, they also become exceedingly dirty exceedingly quickly. This is a problem. Why? Because not only does it reduce an air conditioner's efficiency, but it also places undue we...
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By Ann Nguyen, Lake Tahoe Truckee Homes For Sale
(eXp Realty of California, Inc.)
If you’re a fan of that rustic look, or just love to feature beautiful wood in your space, then your home may already be covered with hardwood floors below, exposed beams above and wood furniture throughout. But if you’re looking to add even more wood to your interior scheme, consider a few of the following. Countertops. While real wood countertops may be more difficult to maintain, their gorgeous look in your space may make them worth it. Shop around with your local counter conveyor, or hire someone to create a custom job. Ceilings. Wood ceiling panels or planks can be a great way to add a rustic, farmhouse touch from above. Art. From wall hangings to sculptures, there is no shortage of wood art. Hit up Google to find a few pieces, or for more original work, call up your local gallery....
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The media is currently full of real estate 'doom and gloom' - real estate repossessions and arrears are up and real estate prices are down ... its almost as if the 'sky is about to fall'! This situation has seen many real estate developers, and property investors generally, leave the market - and for those thinking of starting out in real estate development, these are scary times indeed.What seems like the worst time to get into real estate development can, in reality, be the best time. Successful real estate developers today realize that they can use time to their advantage - their real estate development projects will typically not be ready for sale or rent for 2 to 4 years from inception. So if they have bought well, they are less likely to be affected by the economic situation at th...
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