PNKY Home Improvement

Spending on home improvement has grown more than 50 percent in the U.S. since 2010, when it hit a low during the last recession. And homeowners who are 55 and over are the major force behind that spending, according to a recent report from the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, based on data from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other sources.

The report, which charted changes in home renovation activity through 2017, attributed part of the increase to a shortage of new construction and a reliance on aging housing stock that requires upkeep and repair.

Other factors include higher housing prices that have increased the available equity for home improvement loans, and a growing population of older homeowners who are financially equipped to pay for renovations.

Aging homeowners, in fact, were responsible for half of the home improvement spending in 2017 — 25 percent by those between 55 and 64 and another 25 percent by those 65 and older.…

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The median home size in the U.S. is 1,650 square feet, but homes come in all shapes, sizes, and layouts. “Small” homes are typically defined at 1,000 square feet or less, but they can feel a lot more cramped with the wrong paint color or layout.

That’s where these 14 amazing home improvement ideas for small houses come in. We consulted experienced real estate agents, scoured blogs, and watched tons of YouTube tutorials to find the top projects that maximize square footage, bring in natural light, and create the illusion of more space in your home. Here’s what we found!

1. Paint with cool neutral hues

“Rich colors make a house feel small,” explains Phoenix, Arizona, agent Andrew Monaghan who has nearly two decades of experience selling properties of all sizes. Rich, warm colors include dark shades like orange, red, and yellow. These colors, while pretty in certain contexts, make elements of any room appear closer than they actually are.

Instead, for the interior walls of your small home, opt for cool colors that give rooms an open and airy look. “It actually makes the house feel bigger,” Monaghan explains. Neutrals are always a good idea for walls, but cool-toned neutrals in a small home makes walls look further away than they are, visually expanding the square footage of a space.

Stick to crisp, cool neutrals on interior walls, such as:

• Sterling (Benjamin Moore)
  Declared one of the go-to neutrals in 2020 by Elle Decor, this subtle gray has the cool undertones that owners of small homes are hunting for. The gray is on-trend, but also timeless; It works in both modern and traditional home design.
• Cloud White (Benjamin Moore)
  This neutral off-white is one of Benjamin Moore’s top-selling paints for a reason. Make your room feel light as a cloud with this neutral shade.
• Falling Snow (Behr)
  This cool white is a great candidate for a bedroom. The blue undertones can help create a more restful space — studies show blue can promote relaxation and sleep.

Painting won’t take more than a weekend’s worth of work but can breathe new life into a small, stale-feeling space.

2. Decorate with large-scale art

It’s tempting to cave to the gallery wall trend, but the more individual items you hang on walls in an already-small space, the smaller it will look. Instead, pack a powerful punch with one piece of large-scale art on a wall in your living room. Having a single dramatic piece of art of the wall will draw the eye towards it, rather than highlight the limited dimensions of the room.

Center your showstopping art on the wall, and take care to hang it 57 inches above the ground- — that’s where the average eye level sits. Museums and galleries also use this as a rule of thumb. Opt for modern or abstract design over an ornate or detailed pattern which can translate into visual confusion.

3. Add wood trim to the ceilings

Adding a simple wood trim to the ceiling will draw the eye up — a classic visual trick to give the room an illusion of height. It also adds some design flair to the room; depending on your style, you can try understated plain molding or ornate three-piece molding.

Adding wood trim costs an average of $100 – $150 per room, and should take between 6 – 8 hours to install, according to the pros from This Old House, who dispense advice to nearly 15 million readers each month. Check out the publication’s comprehensive guide to tackle this project in a weekend.

4. Install recessed and track lighting

A well-lit room will feel more expansive than a poorly lit one. However, placing floor and table lamps all over a room can make it feel cluttered and even smaller. When natural light won’t do the trick, follow these tips to install track and recessed lighting in rooms:

• Replace a traditional ceiling light with tracks if you want to direct lighting on multiple spaces — like shelves, work surfaces, or gathering spaces — in a room.
• Install track light between 20 – 40 inches away from the walls of a room.
• Use track lighting in addition to other lighting in the room, since it’s more specialized.
• Use recessed lighting to bathe the walls of your room in light, making the space appear larger.
• Put recessed lighting under kitchen cabinets to illuminate the countertop and reflect light into the rest of the room.
• Place recessed lighting 12 – 18 inches away from the object you want to illuminate.

5. Feature a skylight

Why install complicated light fixtures when natural light can pour in from above? Adding a skylight to a room brings the outside in, and the sky view will make a room feel more spacious.

However, adding a skylight isn’t as easy as chopping a square into your roof. Reserve this improvement for the pros, and expect to pay between $500 – $3,000 for the project.

Consider installing a skylight in the kitchen, bathroom, or hallway where other natural light is limited. Skylights are best suited for homes with slanted roofs, and you’ll generally want it to face north for all-day soft lighting that won’t overheat a room.

The best time to get a skylight installed is when you’re getting a new roof. “Nobody will install a skylight on a roof that’s not brand new,” explains Pacific-Northwest agent Dawn Rushton in HomeLight’s guide to the added value of skylights.

6. Put in a glass shower stall

If your bathroom is small, chances are it feels even more cramped with an opaque shower door and enclosure. Swap this out for a crystal-clear shower door to open up the room and make it feel bigger.

Make a dramatic impact with a weekend’s worth of work and a frameless glass shower kit, which starts at $450. Just make sure you have a second pair of hands, advises this step-by-step guide from the design junkies at Hunker.

7. Hang curtains high

Hanging your curtains or drapes as high as you can creates the illusion of height and size in a room. Here’s how to play with space and maximize this benefit:

• In a room with molding, hang curtains 4 inches above the window frame. No molding? Hang them 6 inches above the frame.
• Extend the curtain rod beyond the width of your window, between 8-12 inches wider, suggests Apartment Therapy.
• Stick with vertical fabric prints, like stripes, to make the walls look tall.
• Find curtains long enough to almost touch the floor. Leave just an inch of space, or have the fabric pool onto the floor for a dramatic effect.

8. Lighten the floors

Similar to cool-toned walls, a lighter-colored floor can make a room feel bigger by better reflecting natural light.

Here’s how you can lighten your flooring, no matter what you’re walking on:

Install new carpeting.
New carpet in your room will cost on average between $980 – $1,680. White could become a magnet for stains, but a cool-toned blue, green, or neutral can have the same impact.

Sand and refinish hardwood floors with a lighter stain.
Refinishing takes about a day and $200 to DIY, and once you sand down the floors, you can refinish them with a brighter stain to lighten up the room.

Install a lighter-shade laminate.
Laminate flooring comes in a variety of shades, and costs between $3 – $8 per square foot. You can pay, on average, $2,352 for a professional installation, or measure precisely and DIY it on your own.

9. Maximize your outdoor space

Making your outdoor space more functional can add a whole additional room without a costly renovation of addition. “Even just adding two chairs and a table to the patio makes it livable,”  says Monaghan. “That’s another 400 square feet of living space,” which can feel like a lot in a 1,000-square-foot home.

Select affordable brick, concrete, or clay pavers to create a livable patio space. The key to perfecting this DIY project is making sure that the ground is level, then follow Oregon State’s detailed tutorial on how to lay down pavers in your yard.

10. Open up your kitchen storage

Take a page from the farmhouse trend and ditch cabinet doors for an open feel in your kitchen. If you go this route, your cabinets will need to be meticulously organized, but ditching doors on overhead cabinets can really open up your kitchen.

Removing the doors only takes an afternoon and a few basic tools. Best part? It’ll cost you little to nothing beyond the cost of paint and caulk.

11. Add built-in shelves in awkward nooks and crannies

Small homes come with even smaller nooks and crannies that feel dark, dingy, and end up making the room feel …

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Homeownership has a way of awakening the inner Bob Vila in all of us—even the ones who know nothing about home improvement. Whether you’re tackling huge renovations or tiptoeing your way into the world of DIY, these tips will help you set yourself up for success.

Have a plan

Renovations rarely go exactly to plan, but that doesn’t mean you should wing it. Last-minute changes are both stressful and expensive, so get the non-negotiable details hammered out first. At a minimum, this means knowing what results in you want and how much money—and time—it will take to achieve them.

Homeownership has a way of awakening the inner Bob Vila in all of us—even the ones who know nothing about home improvement. Whether you’re tackling huge renovations or tiptoeing your way into the world of DIY, these tips will help you set yourself up for success.

Have a plan

Renovations rarely go exactly to plan, but that doesn’t mean you should wing it. Last-minute changes are both stressful and expensive, so get the non-negotiable details hammered out first. At a minimum, this means knowing what results in you want and how much money—and time—it will take to achieve them.

Find your DIY threshold

Even if you’re an experienced DIY-er with a well-stocked workshop, not all home improvement projects are suitable for amateurs. Before starting a project, gauge your interest level: How much work are you really willing to put in? Is that effort worth the money you’ll save? Be brutally honest.

If you have no idea what you’re getting into, don’t commit until you’ve spent, at minimum, a solid couple of hours watching YouTube tutorials and pricing out materials. Remember: Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.

Bone up on DIY knowledge

Everyone should know a few basic repair skills, and thanks to the internet, learning them has never been easier. If you can start with a specific question: Is my garbage disposal broken or just clogged? Do I really need to clean my dishwasher filter? How do you refinish a coffee table? You’ll click with some blogs and video personalities more than others; next time, start with them.

If you’re more of a hands-on learner, try volunteering: You’ll learn new skills and help people at the same time. Many hardware stores offer free clinics on basic home repair and improvement skills, too, so be sure to check the offerings in your area.

Save money by scrimping—and splurging—responsibly

Major renovations are expensive, but going full Scrooge on every single line item only creates more work later. Instead, identify where you can and can’t afford to be a little stingy. A good rule of thumb: Shell out for anything catastrophically expensive and/or difficult to replace, like hot water heaters and electrical work. For easily replaceable items—shower heads, light fixtures, drawer pulls—cheap is fine. You should also consider how much use and enjoyment you’ll get from an item. If you’re an avid cook, skimp on floor tiles so you can splurge on the stove of your dreams.

Understand your financing options

Unfortunately, most home improvements do not pay for themselves. If you can’t afford to finance the project in full with cash, you should know the different ways you can finance your home improvement without putting your home at risk.

Personal loans and credit cards can be useful for small-to-medium projects, depending on the interest rate and terms, while home equity loans (HELs) and lines of credit (HELOCs) can help finance major renovations and repairs. Improvements that increase your home’s value can cut down on private mortgage insurance payments, but keep in mind you’ll have to pay to get your home reassessed on top of everything else.

Get your tools right

You can’t really improve your home with just your bare hands—most projects require at least a multi-tool. Before you start a project of any size, be sure your toolbox actually contains the tools you’ll need. Keep in mind that some project genres need special equipment, particularly if they involve plumbing or electrical systems. When in doubt, Google it.

Find the perfect contractor

Finding a handyman or contractor you trust is a lot like finding the right dentist or therapist: Harder than it sounds, and with incredibly high stakes. It’s important to vet potential contractors carefully using these criteria:

• Word of mouth: Ask friends, family, and neighbors for recommendations—especially if they have industry connections
• Check for complaints: Look up your state’s consumer protection office and your local building inspection office
• Learn which licenses and permits are required in your area for contractors, electricians, plumbers, and painters
• Get proof of insurance: Ask contractors to provide you with their insurance details so you can verify it with the provider
• Ask for references, then actually check them out
• Meet with every potential candidate so you get a feel for their style
• Get quotes—and track them with a spreadsheet or other list

For even more specific questions you should ask, check out the Federal Trade Commission’s guide on hiring a contractor.

Always keep your next project in mind

When one project ends, another begins—such is the nature of home improvement. Planning your next move is a lot harder when you can’t remember the good ideas you had while working on something else. Keep a detailed list of your project goals in a spreadsheet, notebook, or even a good old-fashioned Pinterest board so you’ll always know what’s next.

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Compare the best home improvement loans for 2022

Home renovations cost a lot. But the good news is, you don’t have to produce the cash out of pocket.

Home improvement loans let you finance the cost of upgrades.

For example, specialized home improvement loans like the FHA 203(k) mortgage exist specifically to finance home improvement projects.

And there are standard loans — like a cash-out refinance or home equity loan — that give you cash which can be used for home remodeling or anything else.

So, which home improvement loan is right for you?

Check home improvement loan options and rates. Start here (Jan 24th, 2022)

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In this article (Skip to…)

• Cash-out refinance
• FHA 203(k) rehab loan
• Home equity loan
• Home equity line of credit
• Personal loan
• Credit card
• Your best option?
• Impact on credit history
• Non-home expenses
• FAQ

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1. Cash-out refinance

One popular way to get money for a home remodeling project is with a cash-out refinance.

It works like this: You refinance to a new mortgage loan with a bigger balance than what you currently owe. Then you pay off your existing mortgage and keep the remaining cash.

The money you receive from a cash-out refinance comes from your home equity. It can be used to fund home improvements; although there are no rules that say cash-out funds must be used for this loan purpose. You can just as easily invest your cash, or put the lump sum into your bank account.

When a cash-out refinance is a good idea

A cash-out refinance is often best for homeowners who can reset their loans at a lower interest rate than their current mortgage.

You may also be able to adjust the term length to pay off your home sooner.

For example, let’s say you had 20 years left on your 30-year loan. Your cash-out refi could be a 15-year loan, which means you’d be scheduled to pay off your home five years earlier.

So, how do you know if you should use a cash-out refinance? You should compare costs over the life of the loan, including closing costs.

That means looking at the total cost of the new loan versus the cost of keeping your current loan for its life.

Keep in mind that cash-out refinances have higher closing costs, and they apply to the entire loan amount, not just the cash-out.

So you’ll likely need to find an interest rate that’s significantly lower than your current one to make this strategy worth it.

Cash-out refinance for home improvement: Pros and cons

Cash-out refinance pros:

• Cash-out comes from home equity
• You’d continue paying one mortgage payment
• You can lower your interest rate or loan term at the same time
• You can spend the cash on anything

Cash-out refinance cons:

• Closing costs apply to a large loan amount
• New loan will have a larger balance than your current mortgage
• Refinancing starts your loan term length over

Check your eligibility for a cash-out refinance. Start here (Jan 24th, 2022)

2. FHA 203(k) rehab loan

An FHA 203(k) rehab loan also bundles your mortgage and home improvement costs into one loan.

But with an FHA 203(k), you don’t have to apply for two separate loans or pay closing costs twice. Instead, you finance your home purchase and home improvements at the same time, when you buy the house.

FHA 203(k) rehab loans are great when you’re buying a fixer-upper and know you’ll need loan funding for home improvement projects soon.

And these loans are backed by the government, which means you’ll get special benefits — like a low down payment, and the ability to apply with a less-than-perfect credit profile.

FHA 203(k) home improvement loans: Pros and Cons

FHA 203(k) rehab loan pros:

• FHA mortgage rates are currently low
• Your down payment can be as low as 3.5%
• Most lenders only require a 620 credit score (some may go slightly lower)
• You don’t need to be a first-time home buyer

FHA 203(k) rehab loan cons:

• Designed only for older and fixer-upper homes
• FHA loans include upfront and monthly mortgage insurance
• Renovation costs must be at least $5,000
• 203k rules limit use of cash to specific home improvement projects

Check your eligibility for an FHA 203(k) loan. Start here (Jan 24th, 2022)

3. Home equity loan

A home equity loan (HEL) allows you to borrow against the equity you’ve built up in your home. Your equity is calculated by assessing your home’s value and subtracting the outstanding balance due on your existing mortgage loan.

Unlike a cash-out refinance, a home equity loan does not pay off your existing mortgage.

If you already have a mortgage, you’d continue making its monthly payments, while also making payments on your new home equity loan.

When a home equity loan is a good idea

A home equity loan may be the best way to finance your home remodeling projects if:

• You have plenty of home equity built up
• You need funds for a big, one-time project

A home equity loan “is dispersed as a single payment upfront. It’s similar to a second mortgage,” says Bruce Ailion, Realtor and real estate attorney.

With a home equity loan, your home is used as collateral. That means similar to a mortgage, lenders can offer lower rates because the loan is secured against the property.

The low, fixed interest rate makes a home equity loan a good option if you need to borrow a large sum. And you’ll likely pay closing costs on this loan. So the amount you’re borrowing needs to make the added cost worth it.

As an added bonus, “a home equity loan or HELOC may also be tax-deductible,” says Doug Leever with Tropical Financial Credit Union, member FDIC. “Check with your CPA or tax advisor to be sure.”

Home equity loan for home improvements: Pros and cons

Home equity loan pros:

• Home equity loan interest rates are usually fixed
• Loan terms can last from five to 30 years
• You can borrow up to 100% of your equity
• Great for big projects like home remodels

Home equity loan cons:

• Adds a second monthly mortgage payment for homeowners that still owe money on their original loans
• Most banks, lenders, or credit unions charge origination fees and other closing costs
• Disperses one lump sum so you’ll need to budget home improvement projects carefully

4. HELOC (home equity line of credit)

You could also finance home improvements using a home equity line of credit or “HELOC.” A HELOC is similar to a HEL, but it works more like a credit card.

You can borrow from it up to a preapproved limit, pay it back, and borrow from it again.

Another difference between home equity loans and HELOCs is that HELOC interest rates are adjustable — they can rise and fall over the loan term.

But, interest is only due on your outstanding HELOC balance — the amount you’ve actually borrowed — and not on the entire line of credit.

At any time, you could borrow only a portion of your maximum loan amount, which means your payments and interest charges would be lower.

When a HELOC is a good idea

Because of these differences, a HELOC might be a better option than a home equity loan if you have a few less expensive or longer-term remodeling projects to finance on an ongoing basis.

Other things to note about home equity lines of credit include:

• Your credit score, income, and home’s value will determine your maximum loan amount
• HELOCs come with a set loan term, usually between 5 and 20 years
• Your interest rate and loan terms can vary over that time period
• Closing costs are minimal to none

And, by the end of the term, “The loan must be paid in full. Or the HELOC can convert to an amortizing loan,” says Ailion.

“Note that the lender can be permitted to change the terms over the loan’s life. This can reduce the amount you’re able to borrow if, for instance, your credit goes down.”

Still, “HELOCs offer flexibility. You don’t have to pull money out until you need it. And the credit line is available for up to 10 years,” Leever says.

HELOC for home improvement: Pros and cons

HELOC pros:

• Minimal or no closing costs
• Payment varies by amount borrowed
• Revolving balance means you can re-use the funds after repaying

HELOC cons:

• Loan rates are often adjustable, meaning your rate and payment can go up
• Bank or credit union can change repayment terms
• Rates are typically higher than for home equity loans

5. Personal loan

If you don’t have tons of equity to borrow from, an unsecured personal loan is another way to finance home improvements.

Because a personal loan is unsecured, you won’t use your home as collateral. That means these loans can be obtained much faster than HELOCs or home equity lines of credit. In some cases, you may be able to get loan funding on the next business day or even same-day funding.…

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You are renovating because you want your house to look more beautiful and feel more comfortable. Consider your home renovation plan as a business plan or as your special project you are starting from scratch.

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If you hire an architecture he plan for you, but if you want to save money the first step is to take charge of the project and do it to yourself. In this article we are sharing some DIY ideas on, how to renovate your house on budget?

The key to renovating your house on budget yet beautifully is primarily to plan the entire process effectively. The following sections will demonstrate how you can divide your entire renovation plans into sub-plans, according to the space you have and renovate your home effectively. If you are looking to find out top 10 ways to renovate your house beautifully yet economically then read below:

Divide and Conquer

As mentioned earlier effective planning is the key to effective renovation. If you are renovating yourself then you need to focus on both the bigger picture and the smaller parts. You might have heard the phrase “whole is greater than the sum of its parts”, you can apply the same strategy to your home renovation project and devise a renovation plan for each area in your house. If you hire an architect for renovation, he will assess your requirements and then renovate accordingly. In this case since you’re in charge, you will brainstorm your requirements, write your end goal for each space in the house and decide the overall goal, and then move on to:

Budgeting

Since you want to renovate your house economically it is important for you to decide the total expenditure requirements/limit. It is important to remember in budgeting that you cannot overestimate your budget, keep your budget underestimated and then move on to researching for things you need.

Research

You will be surprised at the number of options you have once you start your research. The beautiful lamp that you liked at a high end store can be purchased at a lower price from elsewhere as well. So, when renovating your house on budget please remember that if you research to find the furniture you like, paint you want or the decorations you would like in your house, you are likely to find most of the supplies at an inexpensive price. Take advantage of online shopping, thrift stores and second hand furniture shops and see how far you will go. For step by step instructions on how you can decorate your house beautifully yet economically please read below:

Doors Create the First Impression

The first impression of your house is your door. If you are unable to change the door completely and if your existing door is in a good condition then you should repaint your door. Your doors could also affect the lighting of your room, and you could benefit from this great technique interior designed Amy Lau uses, “When dealing with a dark room, whatever color is used on the walls, I paint the ceiling, trim, and doors the same color but 50 percent lighter. Too much of one shade can overpower a space.” So, when renovating on a budget if you are repainting your door try to use different shades according to the concentration of light in your house to optimize the lighting of your house the way you want to.

 

Paint Affects Lighting

As mentioned earlier painting affects lighting and when renovating your house you might opt for a new paint. In that case if you are already on a budget purchasing different colored pallets might seem counterintuitive. If you are on a tight budget then opt for a black and white palette, it will give your house a modern sophisticated look and you will have the guarantee that you can never go wrong with white or black.

Small Rooms don’t have to Look Small

If you are renovating to make a small house look bigger than an inexpensive and beautiful way of achieving that goal is to use mirrors. It’s an inexpensive technique but it’s used by one of the most famous architects of his time, Sir John Soane, who used mirrors in the breakfast room of his London house.

Kitchens and Storage

If you are decorating/renovating your house then you are probably trying to de-clutter and maximize your storage as well. Utilizing your kitchen to its maximum capacity can help you minimize your storage problems. In order to do this on a low budget you can either DIY kitchen cabinets or storages from recycled material at your house, or take advantage of thrift shops in your area.

No one knows your kitchen space better than you do and your storage needs building DIY storage kitchen cabinets will not only help you save money and reuse old materials at your house but it will also ensure that you’re building exactly what you need. If you already have cabinets which are enough for storage then you don’t need to replace them you can just repaint them to make your kitchen look as good as new.

Light Comes through the Windows

According to Marc Appleton, “half the experience of living indoors is seeing the outdoors” So when remodeling your house install large windows. However, you might not have the budget to change your windows in that case play around with paint and paint your windows a shade lighter than the rest of the room to maximize the light coming through the windows.

Bathroom Renovation

You would be surprised at the number of inexpensive yet quality products you can purchase to renovate your bathroom. If you are looking to install new toilet fixture you can check our Toto Toilet, and if you are not planning to install any new items, you can fix up your existing toilet by changing the paint, changing cabinet paints and by fixing the pressure of shower etc.

Floor Renovation

If you are on a budget then floor renovation might seem expensive, and if you cannot find a flooring installation under your budget then you should invest in renovating everything else according to your floor design.

The key to renovating or redecorating your house beautifully yet inexpensively is to devise a goal for yourself, and paint an entire picture of what you want and then step by step renovate each part of your house like mentioned above.…

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Personal growth may seem like a solo pursuit, but it’s our relationships that bring out the best in us.

Every week, my wife and I have a meeting where we talk about what is going well in our family, but also what we could be doing better. She knows when I am giving less than my best, and she calls me out on it—which isn’t always easy to hear. But I know I’m lucky to be married to someone who always challenges me to work on myself and become a better person.

When we think about personal growth, we often envision a solo quest, like Don Quixote on a journey of self-improvement. We are advised to increase our self-control, get grittier, and develop a sense of purpose. So we hunker down, turn inward, and start the solitary task of reshaping our habits and behaviors.

And yet people who are thriving are usually doing so with the help of others. Peak athletes have coaches. Top executives have mentors. Great parents have parenting blogs and other great parents to bounce ideas off of. Even those contemplative Buddhist monks who seem to be at the pinnacle of self-transcendence are almost always surrounded by other transcendent monk friends.

Research backs this up, suggesting that positive relationships can help us succeed, grow, and become better people. As my wife and I have experienced, romantic partners often encourage and support one another toward shared goals. When parents are highly involved in school, their children tend to do well academically. And positive support from friends, especially during adolescence and early adulthood, can encourage us to be more empathic and helpful toward others.

Across all different spheres of our lives, our relationships can not only help us feel good, but they can also help us be good. If you want to tap into these benefits, here are six simple ways to draw on your relationships to fuel your growth.

1. Spend time with the right people

We generally become more and more like the people whom we spend our time with. The more we see someone model behavior and see that behavior being reinforced in positive ways, the more likely we are to try it out ourselves—whether it’s a friend having success with a new exercise routine or a partner staying calm during disagreements by trying to breathe more.

One of the most fundamental ways to make sure your relationships are helping you grow is to surround yourself with the right people. Some relationships frustrate us, some make us happy, and some challenge us (and some relationships do all three!). While it isn’t always easy to stop and start relationships, of course, we can aim to spend more time with the people who challenge us.

The more we see someone model a behavior and see that behavior being reinforced in positive ways, the more likely we are to try it out ourselves.

This doesn’t mean finding someone who is better than you so that you can try to be like them. Instead, think about how your strengths can compliment someone else’s. Maybe your sibling is detailed and organized while you are more adventurous, and you can rub off on each other as you take a trip together. You can learn from others while they are learning from you.

2. Create goals with others

Who says that goal setting should be a solitary venture?

When we share our goals with others, we immediately have someone to keep us accountable. If I tell my wife that I am trying to stay away from sugar, all she has to do is give me that look when I pick up a doughnut to remind me of my commitment. It is difficult to stay on track with a goal all the time, but it’s easier if we have someone to help us work through an obstacle or pick us up when we fall.

If we take one step further by setting goals with others—like running a half-marathon together or taking classes together to learn a new language—then we won’t feel so alone when the journey gets tough.

The social support that we receive from others is incredibly powerful, particularly during those tough times. When the pressure is high, those who have greater levels of social support tend to experience less stress.

We may also be more motivated when we are working toward a goal with someone else. Think about being pushed by a running mate to jog a little faster than you would otherwise. Or giving up your Saturday for a service project because a friend is doing the same thing. Sometimes we need someone else to inspire us to be our best.

3. Ask for feedback

It’s usually up to us to decide on the areas where we could use some self-improvement. And while this process of self-reflection is important, we can sometimes be bad judges of our own abilities; we usually assume we know much more than we actually do. So why not look to our relationships as a source of feedback about where we can improve?

Feedback is crucial for our development. Research has shown that when we seek feedback and use it as an opportunity for growth, we are more likely to improve over time. How much faster would that process be if we went and asked for feedback instead of waiting for it to come? Imagine your partner’s reaction if you were to ask for feedback on what you could have done differently after a big fight, or how blown away your teenager would be if you asked how you could be a better parent this school year.

Our positive relationships represent a safe space for us to work on ourselves with support from people who care about us. But sometimes we have to make the first move and ask for that support.

4. Use your broader network

Just like financial capital, social capital is a valuable resource that we can invest in for our own good. The more meaningful relationships we have, the more social resources become available. We often find work or beloved hobbies through our relationships, even at three or four degrees of separation—like your brother’s wife’s friend, who heard about that great new job opening.

In addition to exposing us to new ideas, activities, and opportunities, social capital also frees us up to do more of the things we are good at when we find others to help with the things we aren’t as good at. This has benefits at home and at work: For example, employees are more engaged when they get to spend more time using their strengths. And teenagers are happier and less stressed when their parents focus on building their strengths.

If you don’t know how to do something or where to start with a new goal, find someone in your network who does.

5. Be grateful

Gratitude has long been promoted as a way of increasing our happiness, but it also motivates us toward self-improvement. If you want a simple boost from your relationships, you can start by just practicing gratitude for them. The act of being thankful can increase our confidence and encourage us to move forward with our goals, perhaps because it tends to make us feel more connected to people and creates feelings of elevation—a strong positive emotion that comes when we see others do good deeds.

The act of being thankful can increase our confidence and encourage us to move forward with our goals.

Imagine you are training to be a doctor because you want to help people. During a particularly challenging stretch of medical school, you decide to spend some time being thankful for all the people who have helped you get to that point. In doing so, you realize all you have accomplished with the help of others, which boosts your confidence. You feel so inspired by the help others gave you that you get a boost of motivation to complete your program so that you can go out and help others, too.

So think about someone who has helped you a great deal in the past, and reach out to thank them. Not only will that exchange feel good for both of you, but it might also reignite a relationship that can spark your further growth.

6. Invest in others

As you’re tapping into your relationships for social capital, you can contribute to the growth of others, as well—which is another way to show gratitude.

We as humans are motivated by reciprocity. When we receive a favor, we often want to pay it back (or pay it forward). So offer to help a neighbor with a home improvement project just like another neighbor helped you. Or reach out to someone you have helped in the past, and check in to see how they are doing.

While supporting others is meaningful in and of itself, it doesn’t hurt that it tends to be a mutually beneficial experience. We help someone else, and …

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Who is your favorite person with whom to share the good news, quiet moments, funny stories, frustrations, or silly observations from the commute to work? We regularly turn to different people for different reasons. On any given day, we engage in a variety of relationships. From coordinating our day with our spouse and children, collaborating with coworkers, and saying hello to our favorite grocery cashier, loving relationships sustain us, define us, and keep us healthy.

“People involved in loving, philia-based relationships have [fewer] doctor visits, shorter hospital visits, have less pain, and have more positive emotions,” said Kirtly Parker Jones, MD, of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Utah Healthcare. She added that loving friendships make us more resilient when hard times come. It’s one thing to feel good about a relationship, but can that relationship actually be good for our health.

Here are seven proven health benefits from sharing a healthy relationship.

1. We live longer

Studies show that those engaged in positive relationships live longer. “People, particularly men, are healthier when they’re married, and they live longer,” said Jones. Experts attribute this phenomenon to factors like reduced stress, and in romantic relationships, a partner often gives up bad habits—like heavy drinking or smoking—in support of the relationship. As a result, healthy habits increase longevity.

2. We heal quicker

“Generally, we see patients with strong social support having better recoveries,” said Benjamin A. Steinberg, MD, assistant professor of medicine in the cardiovascular division of the University of Utah Healthcare. “That can be from friends or family, or even support from an animal partnership, like a pet.” Steinberg attributes improved recovery to lower levels of stress hormones, like cortisol.

3. We have lower blood pressure

Finding a love connection can make your heart skip a beat, but the safe and secure feeling of a positive relationship calms anxiety and keeps your blood pressure in check. “We know that sudden negative emotions can lead to sensations mimicking a heart attack, also known as ‘broken heart syndrome.’” said Steinberg. “It stands to reason the opposite is true, as well.” Additionally, people feeling love are more relaxed and more likely to engage in exercise or other activities beneficial to the heart.

4. We bolster our immune systems

It never fails: the moment we experience heightened stress levels, either from work or personal conflicts, a cold is sure to follow. Yet studies show that people who engage in supportive, positive relationships produce more oxytocin and seem less likely to succumb to the negative effects of stress, anxiety, and depression.

5. We are more physically fit

When it’s hard to keep motivated to exercise and eat right, the support of a good friend can give you a needed boost to stay on track. New romantic relationships are a boon to weight loss and good health since we want to look and act our very best for that special someone. There’s nothing quite like a flurry of compliments to motivate us to maintain our physical appearance.

6. We enjoy good heart health

When your main squeeze makes your heart race, it’s giving your heart a healthy workout. Those loving feelings cause your brain to release dopamine, adrenaline, and norepinephrine, which make your heart beat faster and stronger in response to such emotions.

7. We feel less pain

Do you remember the movie where the courageous hero endures extensive pain for his true love? His inspiration may be out of sight, but a mental image of her is enough for him to withstand pain for her sake. As it turns out, he probably could. A behavioral study demonstrated that “the presentation of romantic partner pictures was sufficient to reduce experimentally-induced pain.” By contrast, showing suffering subjects random photos of attractive people didn’t show any reduction in reaction.

Yes, loving relationships make us happy, but they also keep us healthy. From improving our immune system and blood pressure to helping us heal quicker and enjoy life longer, a happy relationship is life’s greatest medicine. Go ahead, take that free hug. It’s good for you.

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We’ve been around enough remodeling jobs to know that if you want great results, you’ll need to actively manage the process — even if you’ve hired a general contractor to oversee the work. Get apathetic or lose your focus and you may pay for it — literally.

Here are seven smart ways to stay on top of the job and maintain strong communications with your contractor and construction team.

1. Avoid Allowances

An allowance is a line item in the contractor’s bid for something that’s yet to be determined. For example, if you haven’t chosen the plumbing hardware for your new master suite, the contractor will put an allowance number in the budget as a placeholder.

But with such a wide range of price points for these products, his estimate may be far lower than what you wind up spending.

Try to eliminate allowances by sorting out all of your material and product selections before the contractor gives you an itemized bid for the job. Otherwise, do enough shopping to give the contractor an accurate ballpark price for the materials you’re considering.

2. Establish Good Communication

Ask the contractor how he prefers to communicate with you. Good options include:

• Being onsite and talking with your contractor every morning before work begins.
• Have your contractor’s cell phone number and the OK to call or text anytime.
• Talking with the job foreman every day at a pre-determined time.

Try to meet with the project leader at least once a day. This is an opportunity for you to hear progress reports and find out what work is scheduled over the coming days — and to ask your questions and voice any concerns you have.

3. Keep a Project Journal

Your project journal is your friend and ally. Use it to:

• Record progress.
• Note things you want to ask your contractor.
• Jot down ideas.
• Record product order numbers.
• Note upcoming delivery dates.

A journal helps keep communication clear and provides a record of who said what when — which could help you iron out disputes later on.

4. Track All Changes in Writing

Your team may encounter unforeseen structural issues, or you may decide to include additional work as the project evolves. Any good contractor can handle these changes — just make sure that he bids them in writing first.

Specify in your remodeling contract that you want change orders in writing for anything that’s going to add to the bottom line of the job. That means the contractor must give you a description of the change and a fixed price for what it’ll cost. You both must sign the change order before the work is done.

5. Check the Work

Be proactive about checking your contractor’s work. A good time to check is when the crew has left for the day. Make notes in your journal and bring up anything you’re wondering about during your daily check-in with your contractor or job foreman. You can:

• Compare the model numbers on appliances and fixtures against your receipts, invoices, and the contractor’s bid to ensure that the right product was delivered.
• Check the locations of window and door openings against the blueprints.
• Note any quality issues, such as misaligned trim. You’re the client; you have the right to expect good work.

6. Pay Only for Completed Work

Your remodeling contract should establish a series of payments to be made when certain aspects of the job are completed. For example, your contract could stipulate that you’ll pay in three equal installments, with the last payment to be made after the project is complete, and after you and your contractor agree the work is satisfactory.

Never put down more than 10% upfront; any more than that is too much cash to hand over before any work is complete. Your contractor should be able to get any necessary supplies on credit.

7. Be a Good Customer

One of the best ways to get quality work out of a contractor and construction crew is to make them enjoy working for you. That means being decisive with the contractor — and giving him a check promptly at the agreed-to points in the project.

Being friendly and accommodating of the workers is a great way to motivate them to do their best for you. Try:

• Designating a bathroom that they can use.
• Greeting them by name each morning.
• Serving them cold lemonade on a hot day.
• Complimenting their work (as long as you feel it’s worthy of praise).

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Build a strong relationship with your client and not only will they be happy to work with you again in the future, but they’ll also even rave about you to others when your project is complete. There are plenty of benefits to building great relationships with clients; communicating well, providing accurate information, and ensuring your presence is a positive one will all pay off in the long run.

Communicate Regularly

Your communication during the project should be as positive and as frequent as it was when you were courting the customer for their business. Choose your preferred method of contact and make sure your client has an easy way to get in touch. Regular communication throughout the project can help build trust and ensure your customer feels cared for and that their home is in good hands.

Provide Details

You know every step required for the job at hand, and understand what a residential construction zone looks and sounds like, but your customer may not. A simple welcome packet or email with a “thank you,” a quick outline of what to expect from the project, and a note from you to get in touch any time they have a question, provides insight and makes your customer feel like they are in the loop. Some homeowners do not like relinquishing control of parts of their home, so by providing this information up front, you ease any anxiety they are having about the unknown.

Keep Things Positive

You’re always on stage when you’re in the client’s home – and your subs and workers are too. Make sure your team looks presentable, refrains from using NSFW (not safe for work) language, and maintains a positive, professional attitude. Even if you’re stressed out or angry that something was done incorrectly, maintaining a professional and positive atmosphere will prevent those feelings from spilling over to the client and possibly souring them on the job at hand.

Listen and Teach

Listening to the homeowner can help you truly understand their needs. When they feel heard, they’re more likely to respond positively to you. Not all your clients will be expert contractors themselves; that’s why they hired you. Taking the time to explain “why” a load-bearing wall needs to be in a specific place can help position you as an expert and allow you to develop a great relationship with your client, too.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Use technology to ensure you are providing accurate estimates and delivering what your client expects. Eyeballing or using a manual tape measure can give you a ballpark idea, but using a platform like HOVER ensures your estimates and proposals are accurate every time. Backtracking, changing your approach, or even coming in over budget can destroy the rapport you’ve worked so hard to build up. Technology like HOVER can prevent you from having to adjust on the go.

Give your clients the experience they deserve every time. By communicating well and often, listening to their concerns, and using technology to provide the best possible service, you can be sure you’re building relationships that last. Make the most of your time with a client; use HOVER to provide key details, visualize every change to the look of their home and deliver an accurate estimate for every project.…

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Performing repair tasks around your home should be satisfying and safe. (You won’t feel satisfied if you have to visit the emergency room because of a cut or fall!) In this article, we’ll discuss how you can choose safe tools and use them correctly, and how to properly employ equipment, such as ladders, to avoid injuries.

Safe Tools

The first rule of tool safety is to buy good quality, as suggested at the beginning of this chapter. You don’t have to buy the best, but the lowest cost can often mean the lowest value. The best value is typically higher-quality tools and equipment purchased at a discount. It’s also important to use your tools correctly. It may be tempting to use a screwdriver as a chisel, but doing so can damage the tool and, more importantly, damage you.

Also, never remove the safety guards installed on power equipment, and always wear safety goggles when working with power equipment. Safety glasses should also be worn when sanding, filing, or doing any other job that produces flying particles. Make sure your safety glasses wrap around the sides to keep deflected particles from reaching your eyes from any angle.

Once you’ve purchased high-quality tools and learned how to use them properly, you’re good to go — right? Not quite. The most dangerous tool is one that isn’t well maintained. A dull saw is less safe than a sharp one. A hammer with a loose handle can do more damage than one in good repair. A power tool with a frayed cord can electrocute you. So, be diligent about tightening loose parts, fixing damaged cords, and sharpening dull blades.

Quick Fix Tool Care

Quality tools aren’t cheap. Fortunately, with care, they can last many years and be a better long-term investment than cheap tools. Here are some useful tips on tool care.

• Protect your tools from moisture. Keep a thin coating of oil on metal parts, wrap them in plastic wrap, or keep carpenters’ chalk or mothballs (both of which absorb moisture) in your toolbox.

• A piece of garden hose slit open is a handy protective cover for the teeth of a handsaw between projects. Circular saw blades are stored conveniently in heavy shipping envelopes.
• To remind yourself to unplug an electric drill when changing accessories, fasten the chuck key near the plug end of the cord.

• Tack rags will last longer if they’re stored in an airtight container to keep them from drying out. Airtight storage also prevents spontaneous combustion, which can be very dangerous. (This safety tip applies equally well to other rags, coveralls, work gloves, and any other clothes that might absorb flammable oils and solvents.)

• Don’t take a chance of hitting a thumb or finger when hammering a small brad, tack, or nail. Slip the fastener between the teeth of a pocket comb; the comb holds the nail while you hold the comb. A bobby pin or a paper clip can be used the same way as a comb.

Safe Ladders

A sturdy stepladder will make lots of quick fixes easier, from changing lightbulbs to painting a room to cleaning gutters to replacing a smoke alarm battery. If you don’t already own one, get one. Invest in a good ladder, and use it for all those out-of-reach projects.

Most home-use ladders are made of wood or aluminum. Depending on quality, both types are reliable. Aluminum, however, weighs only 20 to 50 percent as much as wood, which means it’s easier to take it in and out of storage or move it around. On most good ladders you’ll find labels that indicate a rated strength. For example, a Type I industrial-grade ladder, rated at 250 pounds, is the strongest. A Type II commercial-grade ladder is rated at 225 pounds; Type III is rated at 200 pounds. Fortunately, each type has actually been successfully tested at four times its rated load. For around-the-house purposes, invest in security and durability and buy a Type II ladder. One that’s 6 feet tall will do for most homeowners, but taller ones — 8, 10, 12, and all the way up to 16 feet — are available. For an extra measure of safety, get one with rubber or plastic feet so your ladder won’t skid on hard floors.

If you’re painting a ceiling from a single stepladder, you’ll find yourself going up and down like a yo-yo, constantly moving the ladder to reach unpainted areas. A safer alternative is to buy a second ladder of the same size. Then, using a pair of 2-by-8-foot boards, make a scaffold between them — a platform from which you can paint for longer periods of time by moving from one end of the bridge to the other. For stability, don’t make your scaffold higher than is absolutely necessary and no longer than 6 to 8 feet in length. Use C-clamps to fasten each end of the 2-by-8s to a rung of each ladder.

Using Ladders Safely

There’s no such thing as an absolutely safe ladder. Gravity is always an unrelenting enemy. However, below are ways to greatly reduce your risk of accidents and injury with ladders.

• Always open a stepladder to its fullest position, lock the spreader braces on each side in place, and pull down the bucket shelf.

• Whether you are going up or coming down, always face the ladder head-on, and use both hands to hold onto the side rails or rungs.

• Don’t climb higher than two rungs from the top; don’t sit or stand on the top of the bucket shelf.

• To keep yourself from overreaching and getting off-balance, never let your navel go beyond either of the ladder’s side rails.

• If you must work on a ladder in front of a door, lock the door.

• Put the paint can or tray on the bucket shelf before you climb the ladder. And don’t go up the ladder with tools in your hand or in your pockets.
   

  Always open a ladder to its fullest position, always face the ladder head-on, and never climb higher than two rungs from the top.

   

Electrical Safety

Electricity can help you — or it can hurt you. An appliance can make your coffee in the morning. A frayed cord can electrocute you. Here are some rules for working safely with electricity.

 

Additional Safety TipsNeed some more safety tips? Sure you do. Fortunately, most of them are built on good old common sense. Quick doesn’t mean working as fast as you can move. It means planning out the task in advance and doing it safely and well. Wear latex gloves when working with adhesives so you don’t bond your fingers together. Wear a painter’s mask, particularly if you are using alkyd paints indoors. When painting overhead, wear goggles to keep paint out of your eyes. Wear safety glasses when sanding, filing, or doing any job that produces flying particles.

 

• Never work on an electrical circuit that is life or attached to an electrical source. Unplug the circuit, trip the circuit breaker, or unscrew the fuse before you begin working.

• Use only equivalent replacement parts. That is, replace a controller with one that has the same function and rating. Don’t replace a 10-amp appliance cord with one that is rated for 5 amps.

• Some appliances use capacitors, which are electrical components that store high voltage. Touching a charged capacitor, such as those in a microwave oven, can electrocute or burn you.

• Carefully check all loose wires for related damage or stress, and reconnect them using electrical tape, wire nuts, or other enclosing fasteners. Not only can a loose wire break an electrical circuit, it can also injure you if you touch it while it is energized or hot. Loose wires are caused by vibration or other factors.

• Most important, think before you act. Electricity follows strict laws. You must follow the same laws in order to repair electrical systems safely.

Using common sense and the right tools will help you tackle home improvement repairs or projects safely and with confidence.…

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