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 Even with that in mind, every house deserves a chance to feel
like a home, which means that there will still be a need for at
least a few renovations here and there. However, you will want to be
careful that you do not put too much money into improving a home,
even if you intend to stay as long as possible. There needs to be a
certain amount of picking and choosing that goes into renovation
from an investment standpoint.
The first step in renovating a home in such a manner is to see what
you can do without having to call in the contractors. Otherwise,
there is the increased cost that comes with paying for professional
labor. These will likely be (or at least should be) easier tasks,
such as painting the walls, installing new door locks, filling minor
holes with putty, or other small repair work. Additionally, if you
can, try to gather up some family and friends who possess the
necessary repair skills (even if you have to “bribe” them a little).
 After the relatively easy repairs are finished, consider the two
areas of the house that should always be kept in the best working
order: The bathroom and the kitchen. Any room involving plumbing
should be kept in good working condition for obvious reasons. For
these areas of the house, expenses can be cut down by reusing any
existing fixtures if at all possible. In addition, consider
purchasing any new fixtures before calling in a contractor, which
may cut down on the cost of parts.
Another necessary expense would be flooring. This is more apparent
when looking at older homes with crawl spaces underneath them, as
time and the elements are likely to have eaten away at support
framework. As a result, floors in various rooms may have begun to
sink in over time.
Upgrading electrical fixtures should also be seen as a necessity.
Older electrical sockets can be dangerous or burnt out. Furthermore,
older layouts for electrical outlets did not count on future
inhabitants possessing a greater amount of devices that require
power.
On the topic of various fixtures in the home, check the furnace and
any air conditioning units that may already be on the property.
Heating and air units are often very expensive, and relatively few
people will likely be able to install a furnace or outside air
conditioning unit by themselves (save for window units). While a
newer model may look nicer or run quieter, older heating and air
units may still have some life left in them. More often than not, an
older furnace or air conditioner may just need a quick and
relatively cheap series of maintenance checks, or perhaps a few
small parts.
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As for the outside, fencing may be tempting for a purchase if the area does not
already have it. This is especially true if someone has a pet that will often be
outside, or if there are kids who will want to play in the yard, or if privacy
is a concern. With smaller pieces of property, however, that may be an
unnecessary expense.
Finally, a good rule of thumb would be to not add on anything that is an
absolute necessity, and keep the house flexible. For example, turning an extra
room into an office or a sunroom is great for people who want one, but not every
future tenant will need or want it, and it can be difficult to turn such
specific areas into a bedroom. Bedrooms, on the other hand, can easily be
created in basements, attics, or possibly den space.
When everything is said and done, improving a house should be approached with a
view of necessity before anything else. In today’s world, people move more than
ever for a number of reasons, and the money we put into a home stays with that
home, even after it is empty.
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