As a landlord in Burbank what’s your biggest fear? Aside from total demolition of your property, it’s the maintenance, isn’t it? It’s alright you can spill it out with us. We know improvement requires a lot of cash, and it’s no wonder that rental property owners fear the next inventory or checking round. We’ll let you on a secret – it can be costly but it doesn’t have to necessarily be that way. Here are five simple home improvement ideas that are extremely cheap and will save you a lot of money.
Mind the Exteriors
They often say don’t judge a book by its cover but who follows that anyway? Same goes with house exteriors. Improving the front appearance is honestly more about smart investments. Who doesn’t like a neat and tidy sidewalk or driveway? To get one, try to these ideas.
- For stains that are not removable, rent a power washer.
- For neatness, try to use local stones and bricks for the sidewalk. They are cheap and easily available.
- For the exterior walls, try to get them painted in colors weather well.
Light Up the Fixtures
Light fixtures have always been underrated. They have the power to completely change the vibe of any room. Best of all, these are one-time small investments. All you need to do is purchase the item (be it a hallway hanging light, garden light, or bedroom wall lamps) along with the relevant bulb you wish to place in it, and go home do it yourself.. This can save you a couple of hundred dollars that an electrician might have required. If you don’t want to do it yourself, a handyman could do it for you at a much cheaper rate. Here’s another idea: you can even place sensor switches in some rooms which you enter frequently. They are not too costly and tenants usually appreciate such features to save on electricity bills.
Riding Roofs
The roof is an essential part of the house that protects occupants from rain, heat and so on. Did you know, weather plays a big part in weakening your property’s roof?Surprise, surprise…. not. But did you know as time passes, roofs typically get weaker. Some parts may break and cause holes to appear. Landlords usually don’t notice anything until the roof is significantly damaged. At that point, they hire someone to repair the whole thing which can cost thousands of dollars. The best thing to do is conduct regular checks which will allow you to find out if certain areas are broken or damaged. At that point, you can make small replacements by yourself that will allow your roof to last much longer. Roofs need regular maintenance just like any other area of the house.
Improvise Security
Many landlords are under the impression that only expensive burglar alarm systems can prevent break-ins. If you don’t buy them, you are bound to get robbed. The truth is, these systems do not have to be so expensive to give you protection. There are products less than $20 available on Amazon that can provide smart safety. For instance, a Doberman Security Defense Alarm costs around about $8. You just have to stick it onto windows and doors in your house that you think can be broken into. If anyone tries to break in, an extremely loud siren starts blaring to scare them off.
Paint Pains
Very few homeowners actually make the effort of checking their home for water leakages, or seepage before painting. If there is moisture in the walls, a newly painted wall will be ruined in a matter of days. The moisture seeps in and ruins the paint, making it crack and fall. Most of the time, people assume the fault is with the type of paint and spend money on another. The simplest home improvement idea here is to check the house for seepage or leakage before the painting process, and get them fixed. This way, you’ll be able to save hundreds of dollars on the excessive paint you would otherwise have to buy, again and again.
While there are countless DIY home improvement ideas out there, these are just the basics to get you started. Once you get the drift, we’re sure you’ll be able to find more to improve your rental property. If you need help in finding a handyman or home improvement ideas, you can connect with one of our home improvement experts.