Home Improvement Tips and Strategies



January 18, 2021 by Friendly Federal Credit Union

Perhaps your family is growing, so you need extra space, or maybe you thought about moving but your neighborhood, general location, and/or house floor plan fits your needs well, so you decided to remodel instead. There are numerous reasons why people decide to embark on home improvement projects, but one thing is true across the spectrum: If you’ve decided to remodel, it’s important have a plan in place before you begin the actual work. Yes, you want to leave room for flexibility, but an overall plan is crucial to be time- and cost-efficient. Here are three home improvement tips.

Tip #1: Prioritize Your Plan

After you make a list of all that you want to accomplish in your remodel, prioritize what’s most important to you. It might be building a larger garage, installing an energy-efficient roof that boosts curb appeal, or adding a sun porch. No two answers will be the same because no two sets of priorities are exactly the same.

According to HGTV.com, if you want to do upgrades in the order of the greatest return on investment, then upgrade your kitchen first. If you’d rather prioritize upgrades in the order of rooms that suffer the most wear and tear, HGTV.com considers the bathroom to be the “workhorse” of the house. According to the article, if you’d like an 85 percent return on spend, “install a shower with body sprays and stone surround tile ... you will feel like you are in a Zen garden every time you step into your bathroom.”

The bottom line: Make a home improvement plan and prioritize what is most important to you personally.

Tip #2: Don’t Forget Outdoor Space

When we think of remodeling our homes, starting with the inside living space seems only logical. But when you’re creating your home improvement plan, don't forget to think about expanding or otherwise improving upon the outside as well. You might think about putting in a patio (perhaps with stylish yet practical pavers), installing incredible French doors that blur the lines between indoors and out, and strategically lighting up outdoors.

Lighting makes your outdoor space more attractive and safe, allowing you to enjoy more time outside. Consider sconces or other forms of lighting that match your architecture and personal sense of style. Remember that although LED lights cost more upfront than incandescent choices, they use 90 percent less energy, so are most cost-effective over the long run.

Tip #3: Home Improvement Loans: Make the Right Choice

When you need a lump sum of money for a one-time event—such as a home improvement project—a fixed-rate home equity loan makes good sense. Because the interest rate is fixed, you can count on the same principal and interest payment each month, regardless of how market conditions fluctuate. Having said that, you can always pay more on the principal because there is no prepayment penalty on home improvement loans at FFCU.

If you’re ready to get started, you can apply quickly and easily online, benefiting from low credit union rates. Even better: There are no points, origination fees, intangible tax, or hidden fees.

Have any questions? Contact us today:

Aliquippa: 724-375-0488 | 724-375-3490

Baden: 724-869-7539