Resources

Oct 12

National Savings Day – Budget Friendly Home Improvement Ideas

By Jacki Inspiration, Resources

It’s National Savings Day, and we all love to find new ways to save money! It’s no secret that some home improvement projects can be costly. However, there are some projects that make a big impact without breaking the bank. We’ve put together this list of budget friendly home improvement ideas for National Savings Day.

Paint the Front Door – Painting the front door is a great way to add some extra personality to your home. A project like this is quick and painless, which makes it easy to swap out the front door color seasonally. Your front door is your visitors’ first impression of your house, so changing it up can have a big impact at a low cost.

Update Kitchen Cabinet Hardware – The magic of your home is in the details, which means little touches like kitchen cabinet hardware can go a long way. It’s pretty inexpensive to replace kitchen hardware with brand new knobs and pulls. Pro tip: You can even spray paint your existing hardware if you don’t want to spend money on all new equipment for a simple change of color.

Give Your Fan a Makeover – It’s relatively quick, painless and inexpensive to swap out an outdated fan for a new one. It’s possible to be even more cost efficient in a similar fashion to that of updating kitchen hardware if you aren’t ready to buy a new fan. You can provide a simple makeover with high-heat spray paint to your fan if it has seen better days. Both the blades and metal components can be updates this way. This is another example of how small details can make a big difference in a home.

Remove a Popcorn Ceiling – If you don’t like your popcorn ceiling because of the way it looks, or the way it collects dust, then we have good news for you! You don’t have to be stuck with it. Popcorns ceilings are relatively easy to remove with a wet/dry vac and a drywall knife.

Hang String Lights – This simple update can add a layers of warmth and welcoming feelings to your home. String lights can be hung on an outdoor patio, in a sunroom or any extra underutilized space. They instantly create an approachable vibe to gather with loved ones for a refreshing beverage.

We hope this list inspired you to do some fun home improvement projects. If you have bigger ideas in mind, we’re happy to help you with the larger projects (or even some small ones). Contact us for a free quote to make your dream home a reality!

Sep 09

Love0

Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen in Austin, Texas

By Jacki Resources

Outdoor kitchens are an exciting addition to any backyard area. They’re particularly great for homeowners in Austin, because of the many unique elements to our city: from the warm climate to the eccentric culture. We’ve put together a list of reasons why it’s a fantastic idea to add an outdoor kitchen to your ATX home.

It’s almost always outdoor BBQ weather in Austin, Texas

Extreme elements such as snow and continuous rainstorms are unusual in Austin, Texas. There’s no denying the high temperatures of most summer days, but the weather is enjoyable once the sun sets. This makes summer nights perfect for grilling outdoors. Don’t forget the mosquito repellent!

Outdoor Kitchens Are Great For Safe Entertaining During Social Distancing Days

It’s easy to maintain a safe distance from guests when outdoor socializing. An outside kitchen allows you to host social distance picnics in the privacy of your own backyard. Imagine this scene: A Willie Nelson concert is projected on the back of your house while you enjoy a BBQ with your closest friends and family, all while there is plenty of space to distance. Sounds like a great summer night…don’t you agree?

Outdoor Kitchens Increase The Value Of Your Home

Homeowners that invest in remodeling earn a high ROI when adding an outdoor kitchen, because of the popularity of this home improvement. This backyard renovation is incredibly sought after by homebuyers. Additionally, most of today’s BBQ grills and patio appliances are made from element resistant stainless steel. A functional outdoor kitchen is an investment that you and your loved ones can actually enjoy for years.

Outdoor Kitchens Can Save You Money on Utility Bills

You’re probably well aware of the high cost of keeping an entire home cool if you’ve lived in Texas for at least one summer. Your air conditioner has to work even harder if you cook a lot of meals in order to maintain comfort. Cooking, baking, and broiling all cause the temperature in your home to rise several degrees, which kicks your A/C into overdrive. This is costly if done often. Luckily, cooking indoors saves on energy consumption since your cooling unit is not forced to work harder. An outdoor kitchen can save you money in the summertime, especially if cooking is done outside a few times a week.

Low Maintenance Cleaning

We can’t think of too many people whose favorite chores include kitchen cleaning. It usually requires a lot of work and attention to detail after enjoying a nice home cooked meal. However, many of the outdoor kitchens we build for Austin homeowners are stainless steel and easy to clean.

There you have it: a list of reasons to convince your significant other the benefits of an outdoor kitchen in Austin, Texas. This is one of our favorite types of projects and we would gladly help you turn your outdoor dream space into a reality. Contact us for a quote.

Jul 28

Love0

Five Reasons to Renovate Your Austin Home During Social Distancing

By Jacki Resources

You’ve probably stumbled upon this blog post, because you’re social distancing at your home in Austin, Texas and exploring renovation ideas. You may also be wondering if it is the right time to take the plunge and commit to home improvement projects right now. We’ve compiled the list of reasons why it is a great time for Austin home renovations and updating your Texas home during these days of social distancing.

1. You’re Home More Than Ever

You’re probably spending more time at home than ever before and with Texas mandated “shelter in place” and “stay at home” orders. This means that those pesky home improvement projects you’ve been putting off for the past several years are staring you smack in the face. You know what we’re talking about: That kitchen renovation project that’s been in the back of your mind for years. That new pool cabana, or perhaps a facelift on that powder room. With everyone working from home, now might be the time to repurpose that spare bedroom and tune it into a comfortable modern office. It is the perfect time for you to tackle some of these projects.

2. You Have The Time To Imagine The Changes You Want

Many distractions are now eliminated and it’s the perfect time to sit down and put some thought into what your dream home might look like, and how to accomplish that. The hardest part is always getting started, and the biggest step to starting home improvement projects is taking the time to visualize the changes that your home deserves. Use this time to plan what is possible.

3. Your Entertainment Budget Can Be Used On Home Renovation Projects

Travel and entertainment is very restricted right now, so you’re probably finding it a lot easier to save money during this time (if you were lucky enough to keep your job through the pandemic). The money that you would have usually spent on a big trip to Europe, or some fancy nights on the town can totally be redirected on Austin home renovations in 2020. Bonus Points: this increases the value of your home, so the ROI speaks for itself.

4. Your House Will Be Ready To Entertain Once It’s Safe

We know it might be awhile before you feel safe hosting a big dinner party or backyard Bar B Qs, but now is the perfect time to get your home ready for when that day comes. Get your home ready to be the one that everyone wants to visit. A freshly renovated home will be a blast to show off once the time comes to host friends and family again. In the meantime, you can still show off your new home renovations during Zoom happy hours!

5. You Can Safely Hire An Austin Home Renovation Team With Proper Procedures

We understand that you might have some hesitation when it comes to hiring someone to come work on your house. There are safe ways to go about this during this day and age of COVID-19, and we at Austin Home Renovations are taking it very seriously. We are taking every necessary step to ensure the safety of your family and ours while maintaining the quality of service you have come to expect.

You may have the budget and time to reimagine your dream projects, but not everyone has the patience and skills to tackle such endeavors on their own. Working from home is also taking up a great deal of time right now, so Austin Home Renovations is here to do the heavy lifting for you. Contact us today for an in-home or on-line consultation and let us show you how we can turn your dreams into reality.