Home improvement can be great for the do-it-yourself homeowner, or the homeowner who likes to hire a professional to take on the project. Either way, you can’t go wrong with making repairs and doing some upgrading as long as you follow these tips and advice on how to avoid pitfalls and make the best decisions possible.

Burst the bubble in your newly applied vinyl floor covering then patch it! Vinyl floor covering will bubble up for a number of reasons. One way to fix it when it has just been applied to the floor is to pierce the bubble with a needle, let the air escape, and weight it down until it dries.

Put a ring on your power tool plugs! To keep small children from plugging these potentially dangerous tools into a power outlet, just slip a key ring through the holes on the tips of the plug prongs. For bigger plugs you can even use s small padlock to safeguard the tools against potentially hazardous use.

During your next home improvement project, make sure to cover any exposed surfaces. For example, cover the floor with a tarp if you are painting or protect your counter tops if you are demolishing cabinets. If you fail to take the time to do this step, you may wind up spending a lot of money fixing scratched or damaged items.

Look for the line of nails! If you need to snug up a protruding piece of paneling or drywall you can normally tell where to add a new nail or screw just by closely observing the surface of the panel. It was installed by nailing it to the underlying wall studs and evidence of those studs will likely still be visible.

Installing ceiling fans will reduce your energy bill, add value to your home and improve the look of your home. Ceiling fans circulate and cool the air in your home, especially during summer nights. This can really help to lower the cost of air conditioning. Ceiling fans also add a touch of style unlike any other accessory!

If you are renovating a small room, replace carpeting with hard flooring, such as hardwood, laminate, or tile. Carpet in a small room will congest the visual field and make the room feel even smaller. The right arrangement of floor tiles or planks, conversely, can make the room feel larger.

If you have wood or faux-wood paneling in your home, consider refinishing it rather than getting rid of it in a renovation. Removing the old paneling requires having it hauled away, while new wall covering must be brought in. Wood paneling can be easily sanded down and the voids filled in with drywall compound.

To raise your home’s value without spending a lot of money, take the time to replace your light fixtures. Light fixtures are one of the first things that catches a buyer’s eye, and a dingy and dated one can change their opinion of the whole room. An inexpensive new light fixture will make the room feel fresh and new.

Whether you are improving your own personal residence or an investment property that you will use for resale or renting, the tips we have discussed in this article will set you well on your way to higher property values as well as hassle free and financially responsible remodeling projects.

By Laura