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Now is a great time of the year to enhance your home's look, feel, and appeal. Making home improvements is a great way to improve your quality of life while investing in your property’s long-term value.

Home improvement projects take many forms, whether upgrading the lighting or replacing the roof. No matter your budget or experience, even the slightest adjustments around the house can make a lasting impact.

Why not start your journey with a few simple projects? Below are a few ideas to help you get started. They may be great ways to spend a spare weekend. Of course, we highly recommend putting safety first, and please don’t hesitate to ask for assistance from a qualified professional for more involved projects.

Energy-Saving Home Improvement Picks

A little work on key aspects of your home can make a big difference in your energy costs. From lighting to air conditioning, changing a few things out can lower your bills while enhancing your property values. Here are some suggestions on where you can start.

• Ceiling Fans: Ceiling fans are an investment that you can use year-round. They circulate the air in a room, making it feel more comfortable and reducing your dependence on the central air conditioning system.

   

  Ceiling fans come in various styles, offering a great variety that will match your interior decorating plans. Many models also have light fixtures, providing the option to use energy-efficient lightbulbs.
  

• Bathroom Hardware: Save water and reduce usage by replacing a few items around the bathroom. For instance, you can upgrade your bathing area with a water-efficient showerhead. The EPA recommends showerheads that use less than 2 gallons per minute.

   

  Another fixture you can replace is the faucet in your sink. This can revitalize the look and feel of your vanity and, depending on the model, make your water usage more efficient. Is your toilet “whistling”? That’s almost like having a leaky faucet. Replace the flapper or fill assembly to extend the service life of your toilet.
  

• Window Treatments: Blinds, shutters, curtains, and drapes can transform the ambiance of your interior. They also do double duty by keeping the sunlight and heat out, which gives your AC a break. One trending treatment is the “blackout curtain,” which may make it easier to get to sleep if you live in an area with high light pollution.
  

If you can, replacing the windows can improve your home's insulation and energy efficiency. Double-insulated windows can also reflect UV radiation, protecting your family and slowing the rate at which sunlight damages items (like heirlooms, art, and furniture) in your home.

Outdoor Home Improvement Projects

Try leveling up your home’s appeal with a few outdoor projects. With a few additions or replacements, outdoor living spaces can become great spaces for entertaining and even increase resale value. Here are a few ideas to use as a starting point.

• Start a Garden: Planting colorful plants and flowers can make your property stand out. Choose perennials so that your garden will bloom year after year. Even if you don’t have the space for a complete garden, you can liven up your balcony or patio with planters.

   

• Repaint, or Refinish Surfaces: New coats of paint do more than change the look and feel of your home. They can also protect surfaces from the damaging effects of the elements. Refinishing wood furniture and decks will revitalize their appearance. Paint on metal fixtures keeps the rust away.

   

• Install Outdoor Lighting: Adding lighting to pathways or your patio will make your living spaces more visible and allow more time to enjoy the outdoors. For starters, solar-powered pathway lighting is relatively inexpensive, easy to install, and won’t require adding new wiring to your property. Fuel-based torches add a distinct look to an outdoor living space, and burning certain fuels can keep pesky insects away (always observe open flame usage rules set by the local government and your homeowner's association).
  

What About More Involved Remodeling or Renovation Projects?

Not all homes are the same. Depending on where you live and your particular needs or goals, you may want to invest in a more involved home remodeling or renovation project.

For instance, maybe you need to replace your central air conditioning unit, or your water heater isn’t performing as well as it should. Or, your electricity usage habits are outstripping what your home wiring can provide. Perhaps you’ve been thinking about new roofing. These projects may require knowledge and application from a trained and experienced professional.

Home improvement projects that require replacing parts of your property, like the plumbing, wiring, or roofing, can be quite resource-intensive. Factoring in materials, labor, and cleanup, a project's total cost can surprise many homeowners.

If you are planning to invest in a home remodeling or renovation project, leave your emergency savings alone and instead apply for financing. One such option is a home equity line of credit, which uses your home’s value as collateral.

When you’re ready to give your home a new life, let First Florida help you take the next steps. Our financing options, such as the home improvement loan, empower you to make impactful changes to your property. Explore our lending products today.