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Has your “home sweet home” seen better days? There’s no shame in admitting your house is beginning to show its age. In the last couple of years, home improvement projects have hit all-time highs.
This is likely because people were spending more time than ever at home and were able to use extra cash flow (stimulus checks) to improve their accommodations.
Let’s take a look at some affordable upgrades your home might desperately need and the best homeowners insurance for older homes that could save you money or better protect your aging home.
#1 – Upgrade Your Home’s Insurance Policy
There are two trains of thought when it comes to updating your home’s insurance. Are you looking for how to get the most affordable homeowner’s insurance, or are you more concerned with covering your aging home from everything that comes along with age?
Fortunately, bigger insurance companies will allow you to browse specific “older home” insurance policies. These options can be in the pricier range, as they have to account for things like dated wiring, plumbing, and roofs that present a higher risk of damage.
Compare multiple rates to get great coverage for a reasonable rate. There are a variety of factors that can influence your rates, such as pets and claim history. In the same way that you might need a specific older home policy, you may need homeowners insurance for a German shepherd as well.
It is also important to note that if your older home has undergone significant updates, it may still qualify for a standard home insurance policy. However, there might be good reasons for an alternative plan.
Namely, policies that insure historic homes, policies that account for renovation efforts, or “named peril” plans that list out specific coverages that might be important to you.
#2 – Keep Your Feet Warm
If you live somewhere with a cold season, then you’ll need to prepare accordingly. There are some great reasons to renovate during the winter. Primarily to cut down on heating costs. One of the many culprits of heat loss is your flooring. Homes with laminate, wood, or tile flooring can look beautiful, but lose a lot of heat in the winter.
There are a couple of ways to ensure your feet stay warm and deflate your heating bill. Adding rugs or installing carpet can be a quick fix. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a larger scale (more affordable) option you can look into a cork flooring alternative.
Cork flooring is cost-effective and provides a little extra cushion and warmth to your step. Simply snap together pre-engineered cork panels on top of your existing flooring and — voila. This can all be done in an afternoon and the results will have you wishing you’d done it sooner.
#3 – Use Your Radiators
This is one of the easier, less dangerous home improvement projects you can do with the family. If your home has traditional radiators or separate heating units, there are some important things to know so that you get the most bang for your buck.
How you use the space around your heat source is incredibly important.
- Move furniture and other items away, as they will absorb heat meant for you.
- Place aluminum foil behind the unit to reflect heat back into the room.
- Place a shelf a foot or two above the radiator to slow heat’s rise to the ceiling and push it back into the room.
Meanwhile, be sure to bleed your radiators every few weeks in the winter to ensure they run at full capacity and efficiency. Cold spots can appear at the top of the radiator which is evidence of an airlock.
To bleed your radiators, one at a time turn up your radiator to the maximum temperature it can reach. Then, wait a few minutes, turn off the central heating, and let them cool down. Lastly, turn off the radiator and open the bleed valve. Be sure to place down a tray to catch any water that comes out.
#4 – Re-Caulk Your Bathroom Nooks and Crannies
Your home doesn’t need to be especially old to show signs of aging caulk. But any indication of cracking or discoloration might mean it’s time to revisit the old caulk gun. This is a great example of a small-scale touch-up that could save you a lot of money in the long run, should you avoid mildew or mold taking root in your bathroom.
All you need to do is scrape away the existing caulk with a sharp tool, clean the area to remove any residue or mold, dry the area thoroughly before adding the new caulk, and then use your preferred method of caulk application to re-apply. Some people choose to tape off the area or simply go for it with the caulk gun.
Either way, be sure to take your time and do it right. Otherwise, you’ll be doing this once again sooner rather than later.
#5 – Protect Your Bathrooms With a Fan System
While on the topic of moisture issues in the bathroom, a ventilation system can be ideal for preventing issues like mold or simple issues like lingering odors or a fogged-up window. Surprisingly, this can be a cost-effective solution as well. A bath vent fan installation can cost you under $200 and simple tutorials can be found online.
The most complicated part of this process will be how to power the system and where to route the ventilation through to the exterior of your home. The best-case scenario is if you can access the attic area above the bathroom ceiling.
Then you will be able to route the flexible tubing outside and have more space to run wires. There is no shame in hiring an electrician or contractor to assist you. It is better to do it right once than to do a mediocre job and be forced to hire someone later to fix your mistakes.
#6 – Add a Ceiling Fan
A ceiling fan can be a game-changer, as anyone who has recently added one to their home can attest. From year-round energy savings to a cool breeze, it completely changes your home’s atmosphere. In the winter months, they can also be used to better circulate heated air through a room.
Installation isn’t too complicated either, especially if you’re able to replace an existing lighting fixture or older fan. If you are fortunate enough to be able to do that, there will be no need to run new wiring and you will be able to simply connect the existing wires from the old light to power your fan/light combo.
Remember: In the summer, your ceiling fan should spin counterclockwise to help create a downdraft and cool the room. Meanwhile, in the winter, it should spin clockwise to create an updraft and circulate warm air around the room.
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Luke Williams writes and researches for the insurance comparison site, ExpertInsuranceReviews.com. His passions include best practices for insurance and other ways people can improve their homes.
