Did you know that spending on home improvements increased by almost 13% between 2017 and 2018? If that was the case two years ago, just imagine how much home improvement has increased this year. Unfortunately, it's all too easy to stay on the fence when you're thinking about home improvement. If you're looking for some motivation to get started, here are a few important reasons you shouldn't wait to get started on those home improvement projects you've been putting off.
Increase Overall Comfort
Of course, one of the biggest reasons to invest in a home improvement project sooner rather than later is the promise of a more comfortable home environment. Everyone wants to feel comfortable, safe, and secure in their housing. Why would you put off a project that could help you improve upon all of that? Some of the best home improvements have to do with increasing the overall comfort and functionality of your home. For example, if you've been meaning to install central air conditioning in your home for years but just haven't gotten around to it, that needs to be one of your top priorities for comfort-related projects. If you're too hot in your home and uncomfortable, you're not going to want to spend any time there. Alternatively, maybe your house is just a little bit too small for your needs right now. Adding more space can make your home more comfortable for everyone there. Here are a few more home improvement projects that can increase comfort:
- Add another bedroom.
- Extend your common living area.
- Invest in better insulation.
- Replace your old windows.
- Refinish your patio or deck area.
- Add another bathroom.
- Expand your bedroom.
Lower Your Energy Costs
One of the most important and financially-related reasons to complete your home improvement projects sooner rather than later is your energy bills. In some cases, there are simple home improvements that could help you lower your energy bills. For example, adding a few ceiling fans around your home is a relatively minimal project to complete, but it can help circulate air throughout your home without making your AC work so hard. Or maybe you're already in the middle of remodeling your kitchen because, like 76% of homeowners, you wanted to change the style. While you're doing that, consider investing in energy star approved appliances and a few more windows to help you save on energy costs in the future. Windows and doors are another key area where energy expenses can pile up. If your home still has the same windows it was built with however long ago, it's definitely worth looking into more energy-efficient options. Not only will your home stay a more consistent temperature, but you also won't be losing hot or cool air every time you use your HVAC system. And on top of saving you money on your energy bills, many of the "green" updates you make to your home for energy efficiency may be eligible for a tax credit in the coming tax season.
Improve Home Safety
Whether you live alone or you're raising a family, you should be able to feel safe when you're in your home. And we're not talking about burglaries. While it's not very pleasant to think about, there's a possibility that your home could contain harmful materials that you or your children could be hurt by. If your home was built before a certain point, there's the possibility that there's lead paint somewhere on your walls. And while you might not have to worry about toxic fumes unless your home reaches temperatures over 900 degrees Fahrenheit, lead paint is still very much toxic if it's ingested by any of your family or pets. Similarly, many homes built before 1980 still have asbestos in them in some form or another. Whether it's in your insulation or in some old floor tile, asbestos abatement could be an extensive home improvement project that's essential to ensuring your safety.
When you're thinking about performing home improvement projects, it's easy to put them off at times. But when you have these three things in mind, you might want to start all of those home improvement tasks you've been putting off for a while.
