As any homeowner knows, owning a home is not only expensive, but takes work! Statistically, homeowners spend about 1 to 3% of their home’s value each year on home repairs. There are ways to reduce costs while maintaining your home.

If you can afford it, get wood flooring rather than laminate. Laminate looks almost like real wood and is easy to care for, but it cannot be refinished. In the coming years a real wood floor can be refinished, whereas a laminate floor must be completely replaced.

Replace your standard porch light with a motion sensor porch light, as this will reduce electricity costs. These types of lights can be manually turned on and the sensitivity can also be adjusted.

Consider putting on a unique addition to make your home more classy. Try putting in a wine cellar or a library with some book shelves. Not only will you guests be impressed, but if you sell your home in the future, it will entice potential buyers.

When planning to make changes to the exterior of your home, you should make considerations for the overall look and feel of the neighborhood and surrounding homes. An overly modern home would appear at odds with its arts-and-crafts-style bungalow neighbors. If you plan for changes that will blend well with the other homes in the area, it will make the home easier to sell in the future.

It is common for gutters, eaves and chimneys to be neglected when home improvement tasks are planned. These are important aspects of the home and they need to be cleaned and maintained to be sure they are working properly. Chimneys are fire hazards if they are neglected. Downspouts and gutters can become useless due to debris, which in turn, can cause water damage.

Having to replace your roof is certainly not an expense that you want to take on. You should get estimates and references from three or more roofing companies. Also be sure to ask them to include a few different material options in their quotes since there are a number of them that are available. A knowledgeable roofer or contractor can help you find the right choice for your home.

Dust all of your home accessories frequently. Dust can quickly accumulate within days trapping allergens in your home. Cleaning your accessories frequently makes you aware of any pest invasions right away, in addition to keeping the dust at bay.

Homes with a great view may sell for more than houses like it on the market. What constitutes a good view can vary from one person to the next, however. How much a view is worth is up to each individual person. The person that considers buying your home might not think that the view as valuable as you did when you purchased the home.

By using the tips you have read here, you can complete your next home improvement project without spending a fortune. You can save money and still improve your home. You can have the best of both worlds!