You have decided that this is the year that you will give your home an almost instant makeover by having the exterior painted. You have been looking at remodeling magazines and internet sites for a while now and think you have picked out the perfect colors to bring out the best in your house and reflect your personal style without upsetting the neighbors with anything too garish. All of this is great, but there are a few more things to take into consideration before you head to the paint store.

Durability – The more intense the shade of exterior paint you choose the more likely it is to fade over time. In just a few years those vivid blues and vibrant reds may lose their impact. Dark colors can also mean extra maintenance headaches as they absorb more heat and moisture than lighter colors. On the plus side, dark colors do not show dust and dirt so much and used wisely can really add drama to the exterior of a home.

Finish – Exterior house paint comes in all kinds of finishes from matte to extra glossy. The glossier the finish the more likely it is that paint imperfections and stray bad brush marks will show, but it is easier to clean. Many professional house painters recommend using a matte paint for large areas of the exterior and using a gloss on columns, railings and other architectural features.

Swatch vs. Reality – Those color swatches look quite different when taken out of the store and viewed in natural daylight. In addition paint colors appear lighter on large surfaces so there is a good chance that you will need a darker color than the one you originally picked to achieve the look you are going for. Test a small area with real paint to get a better idea of the end result before you go and buy gallons of it.

Getting the Job Done – Painting the exterior of any home is a major challenge and a job best left to the professionals. Obtain at least three estimates from reputable housepainters in your area (Renovation Experts can help you find them) and check their references and previous projects before you make your final decision.

These days more people than ever are opting to work from home at least part of the time. Working from home means setting up a home office of course and, if you are one of the thousands who now spend the majority of their days working this way, the old desk in the corner of the kitchen set up just isn’t good enough anymore.

However large the space you have to work with, be it an entire spare room or just a part of a room already in use, built in office furniture can go a long way towards maximizing the comfort and efficiency of your workspace.

If you think that there is simply no enough room in your home to create a separate home office and the kitchen table really is your only option then you might want to think again. Some inventive people with very little available space to convert into a home office have successfully created one in a closet using built in shelving and cabinets .

From custom crafted built in desks that can be folded up and hidden away at the end of the business day to built in shelving to maximize space and efficiency, what you can achieve in your home office is limited only by your imagination and budget. With the help of a good carpenter and/or a remodeling professional almost any corner of your home has the potential to become a real, fully functioning home office.

Aside from the obvious benefits of having a real workspace at home to call your own, adding a home office can mean extra breaks at tax time too. Contrary to what many people believe the IRS will allow you to claim a deduction for a home office even if it is located in another room, as long as it is separated in visible manner. You can view the official IRS definition and guidelines for home offices here in PDF format.

Have you looked at your deck recently? Not just through the kitchen window, but actually gone out there to see exactly what damage winter might have done to it. The right time is approaching to do just that and get your deck ready for the nicer weather that is on its way.

Every deck needs a good wash after a hard winter, whatever material it is constructed from or wherever it is located. There are many different deck cleaners on the market so you may need to do a few minutes label reading at the local home store before you find the one that is right for your deck.

Once back home and ready to work, read the manufacturer’s directions again and follow them to the letter. A hard bristled broom is the best tool to apply most deck cleaners and make sure that the deck is thoroughly rinsed after the cleaner has been sitting for the appropriate amount of time. Hiring a power washer (or a cleaning company with a power washer) is possibly the best way to go as it saves a lot of time and effort and ensures that all those chemicals are efficiently washed away.

You should also inspect your deck for actual physical damage. Over time boards become loose and wood may rot, making the deck a potentially dangerous place to hang out. If your deck is wooden be on the lookout for weak spots that may not be a problem right now but are bound to get worse over time.

If you do find structural problems with your deck unless you are very, very handy, call in a professional to repair the damage. What may look like an OK patch job on that loose step may look alright to you but will it actually stand up to the increased traffic when your guests arrive for that first summer BBQ? Nothing ruins a party faster than a trip to the ER.

Is there a bathroom in your home that is simply too small? This is often the case in an older home that was built before the days of the whirlpool bath and the spa shower. Remodeling such a space so it is more practical as well as more aesthetically pleasing can be a challenge but it is not impossible.

The first thing you should look at is the possibility of extending the space, if only by a few feet. Can you “steal” room from an adjoining bedroom or even just remove a closet? Can the bathroom be extended outwards?  Seek the advice of a good bathroom remodeling specialist who will be able to determine if square footage can indeed be added by knocking down a wall or two.

If it is determined that there is simply no way to actually add on to the bathroom all is not lost. Changing the fixtures in the bathroom can free up more space than you might imagine possible. One of the easiest ways to do this is to remove fixtures with doors. Replacing a bathroom vanity complete with cupboards with a wall hung sink and a good shelving system for storage will instantly make even the most miniscule of bathrooms appear larger and airier.

If the floor space in your cramped bathroom is being eaten up by a bath/shower combination consider replacing it with a stand up shower, especially if the room being remodeled is not considered to be the master bathroom in the house.

There are ways to improve any bathroom however big or small. If a tiny bathroom is a problem in your home a little imagination and advice from a bathroom remodeling specialist will allow you to turn tiny into terrific far more easily than you might think.

Maybe the epiphany finally came when you realized that mustard yellow and avocado green were no longer the “in colors” for a modern kitchen, or when you were standing in line for twenty minutes  to use the bathroom in your own home.

The fact is that times change and what worked in the past will eventually become outdated, your family will simply expand beyond the capacity your home was designed to accommodate and the moment will come when your thoughts will turn to remodeling.

Should you opt to follow through on that thought you will not be alone. Even during a recession millions of people choose to remodel their home. In fact, the trend tends to increase in hard economic times as a soft real estate market makes it difficult to simply sell up and move on. The reasons for home remodeling can be as varied as the projects that are eventually undertaken. Here are some of the most common.

Adding More Space – Your home was perfect when you were just starting out with Junior in tow. Now Junior has siblings and things are getting a little cramped, but you still love your home. The neighbors are amazing, the school district is one of the best around and the view from your kitchen window is to die for. You can add space to your existing home with an attic or basement conversion or even commission a room addition to make things a little more comfortable again. And that bathroom problem? Adding a second (or third) one will not only alleviate morning traffic problems but it will add to the value of your home as well.

Upgrading – Shag carpeting and wood paneling interspersed with orange walls were trés chic back when John Travolta was lighting up the disco dance floor but not so much these days. Sometimes a remodeling project as simple as having the walls professionally repainted and updating the flooring can give your home a whole new lease on life.

Saving Money – Energy costs do not decrease when the bad times hit and when they do saving money on utility bills tends to become a priority in many people’s minds. Replacing old single pane windows with energy efficient new vinyl double (or even triple) pane options saves money on heating and cooling, as does upgrading the insulation in your home or replacing those old inefficient kitchen appliances with new Energy Star rated models. Mother Nature will thank you too.

Treating Yourself – You work hard for your money and when the opportunity (and ready cash) finally becomes available  why shouldn’t you add that wet bar/media room/home theater/home gym in the basement, or  have the swimming pool built that your kids have been pleading for all this time? Your home is your biggest financial asset but it is also just that, your home, and there is nothing wrong with spending a little money to make it look and feel as wonderful as possible.

Many people who are considering a home remodeling project encounter a few horror stories as they are researching their options. One of the most common is the tale of the remodeling contractor who left the worksite one day at 5pm never to return to finish the job. Do you think this would ever happen if the contractor was still owed money? The simple answer is no. In the rare cases when this occurs (and they are rare) the homeowner has made the mistake of paying the contractor too much money upfront.

It’s easy to get carried away when planning a remodeling project, especially a larger one. With visions of a brand new kitchen dancing through your head you may not even really be listening when the remodeling contractor tells you he’ll give you a “discount” if you pay for the project up front. Everyone loves a discount so you nod your head and pull out your checkbook; after all, you are going to have to pay for it all in the end so what difference does it make?

Paying for more than about 15-20% of a remodeling project up front can be a huge mistake. A reliable remodeling contractor will agree (in writing) to scheduled payments and those will become due as the project progresses. When it is time to pay up never pay in cash either, as that is of course impossible to track should something go awry.  It is your responsibility to make sure that you make those payments on time though, as if you do not a contractor has every right to put the brakes on a project until you do.

This is the perfect time of year to take a good look around you and start planning for the remodeling projects that will make your house into the home you really want. Take time to sit and make a list of all the things you would like to change about your home, whether it is something simple like new throw rugs or larger projects such as an updated kitchen or a new wet bar in the basement. If your list contains any major home remodeling jobs, start contacting contractors now, before their spring and summer schedules start filling up.

Whatever the remodeling project you have in mind there are some keys to a successful outcome that apply to them all.

Budget – Knowing exactly what you can afford and then sticking to it is essential. Make allowances for the fact that unexpected expenses almost always crop up on any remodeling project , so adding an extra 5-10% as a contingency reserve to your estimated costs is a good idea. Nothing will spoil a great remodeling project like running out of money half way through and having to live in an unfinished room for months while you try to scrape up the cash to complete the work.

The Right Contractor – Take the time to research the companies in your area and to choose the right contractor for your remodeling job. Price is, of course a big consideration but do not overlook rapport. These are people who will be spending time (often a lot of time) in and out of your home. If your personalities and expectations do not mesh it can be a recipe for disaster.

The Big Objective – Why are you remodeling in the first place? If you believe that you will be staying in the home for a long time to come it makes sense to spend a little extra on appliances and upgrades like a whirlpool tub, but if you are remodeling with an eye to selling the property spending money on such extras is simply not worth it.

Timelines – Most remodeling projects are not one day affairs and a single delay can cause a domino effect that will cost both time and extra money. Before the project begins make sure that you and your remodeling contractor are on the same page about how long the job will take.

Paperwork – Before the first nail is hammered or tile is laid, make sure that you have any and all required permits on hand and that you and your chosen remodeling contractor have a clear written understanding of the project’s cost and scope.