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Planning a home improvement project can be a daunting task. But these 10 home improvement tips will save you both time and money while keeping your project stress free.

1. Create a Plan

The most important part of any home improvement project is figuring out what you want to do. Assess your home, and then plan which projects to do first. If you’re planning on selling your home, you’ll want to do the projects that will add the most value to your home first.

2. Create a Budget

A budget is a necessity for any home improvement project. Knowing how much you can spend will make it easier to choose materials and keep your project from becoming too expensive.

3. Get the Right Tools

Whether you already have them, borrow a friend’s, or buy new ones, quality tools are a primary concern for any home improvement project. An inferior or broken tool can add extra time, effort, and even cost to something as simple as a cabinet, or something more complex like replacing a drainpipe.

4. Prioritize Projects

Prioritizing your home improvement projects will save you time and effort. Start with small, inexpensive projects to get started. Then work your way to the bigger, more time consuming and more expensive projects.

5. Try DIY

A DIY project can save you quite a bit of money when it comes to home improvement, if you know what you’re doing. If you’re new to DIY, start with an easy project like painting before you try something more difficult like tiling the bathroom. Remember, however, that you’re more likely to get a better result if you have a professional on board.

6. Do Your Research

If you’re going to try a DIY project, do your research. The internet has made resources for DIY much more accessible to everyone. There are video tutorials, step-by-step blog posts, and a variety of how-to articles for beginners and advanced DIYers. If you prefer an offline approach, or would rather read a book, your local bookstore or library is a great resource. Be realistic, however, as some tasks are a far reach even for the most enthusiastic DIYer.

7. Choose the Right Time

It’s important to start with the right projects at the right time. You don’t want to replace the roof during the rainy season or fix your furnace in the dead of winter. Plan projects around Mother Nature when necessary. Also, keep in mind that some projects may be a major inconvenience…and you may not even be able to live at home while work is underway.

It’s important to know when to hire a contractor, especially if you’re remodeling your entire home or you’ve never done a DIY project. When in doubt, hire a professional.

8. Get the Right Permits

If you’re going to be doing a large project that requires electrical, plumbing, or structural changes, you’ll most likely need a permit. Make sure to get the right permits before starting work.

9. Phone a Friend

Do you have a friend who has done DIY home improvement before? Call and ask them to give you a hand. Not only will you benefit from their expertise, but it will also make the project more fun.

Keeping these 9 tips in mind will help your next home improvement project go as smoothly as possible while saving you money.

Article source used with permission from owner: http://www.home-improvement-directory.com/homeimprovement/top-9-home-improvement-tips/

Extra long retractable washing lines can either be wall mounted or put on a post. They are perfect for people who have enough space for a long washing line and big enough yards to install one in. Becuase they are extra long they can take up to 5 loads of laundry. It is also great for big pieces of laundry like sheets and blankets. A decent extra long retractable washing line will take a lot of washing and is less intrusive than lines on poles or big rotary washing lines.

They can be installed outside in the garden or inside if you have the space and because the lines wind up automatically you can stash it out of the way once your washing have finished drying. Extra long retractable washing lines are good value and a neat way to dry your laundry if you don’t want a permanent washing line taking up space.

Make sure the space that it needs to extend to and from are the right distance. You will need a big enough wall space to work with especially when you need to put up a extra long retractable washing line. If you don’t have enough wall space you will have to install it on a post to another post. The area you mount the extra long retractable washing line in also needs to be well ventilated and should get the maximum amount of sun and wind for that area in your home or garden.

When installing your washing line make sure it is the correct height for the person that will be using the washing line. The line also needs to be mounted to a secure surface, ideally a brick wall or on steel posts. If you are going to hang a lot of washing on your extra long retractable washing line it operates under high tension so for it not to be ripped from the wall.

Article Source: http://www.ecowashinglines.com/

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