Home Builder Jacksonville | How to Tell if Your DIY Project is a Disaster

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | When you first envisioned your renovation project, it was the stuff of rainbow-colored daydreams. A few weekends of manual labor, a forcibly fun painting party, and your house would be totally transformed. A new you!

Indeed, it was fun for a while. The first weekend you blasted out the walls, ripped up the floors and channeled your inner Bob Vila.

That was 11 weekends ago.

Since then you’ve taped some stuff off, laid down some plywood and covered everything with plastic tarp so the settling dust wouldn’t get into your morning coffee. Is it time to accept you are in over your head? Maybe. Or maybe not. You might need a good contractor, but you also might be able to rally and get this done yourself. Here’s how to tell:

Home Builder Jacksonville | Should You DIY or Hire a Pro?

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | Should you tackle that home improvement or maintenance project yourself, or should you hire a professional?

It’s time for spring cleaning and home maintenance after a long hard winter, and time to get ready for summer. For some of us, it doesn’t matter whether it’s changing the fixtures or remodeling the bathroom. We call in the professionals. For others, home improvement and maintenance is a hobby or a necessity. Deciding whether to hire a professional or do it yourself depends on the project and the most important question: What’s it going to cost?

Home Builder Jacksonville | 7 Fantastic Takes on Decorating a Rustic Getaway

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | “If you’re one of those lucky folks who owns a vacation home nestled in the woods or just steps from the beach, maybe you’ve thought of decorating your place with seashells or pinecones, or some other nod to its location.

The book features cabin interiors that make clever use of these notoriously “cozy” (aka cramped) spaces and perfectly complement the natural environment around them. Learn from these creative homeowners how you can take vacation-home decor to the next level.

Home Builder Jacksonville | 8 Landscaping Tricks That Can Save You Money

Home Builder Jacksonville | Whether you are hoping to sell your home, or it’s summer and you just want an excuse to be outdoors and dig in the dirt, sprucing up your landscaping can be a wise investment. Research has found that sophisticated landscaping with large plants can increase a home’s value by as much as 12.7%.

But what are your options if you are trying to make every dollar stretch as far as possible? There are ways to make your yard look more inviting on a budget.

Home Builder Jacksonville | 6 DIY Projects you Should Never Do Yourself

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | Whether you’re addicted to watching HGTV or “This Old House,” home improvement shows always make everything look so easy. But before you pick up the drill and sledgehammer, please pause for this public service announcement. “Those TV shows don’t show about 90% of what happens to complete a project,” says Arthur Sadura.

As contractors know all too well, home improvement shows are more about people than projects; in their pursuit of drama and a compelling narrative, they bypass a whole lot of details about how repairs and renovations actually get done.

So for inspiration, TV or YouTube is a fine start. But beyond that, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. Certain jobs are too dangerous, others too complicated, and some too pricey as the equipment will cost as much as hiring a contractor.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Creating the Perfect Powder Room

Home Builder Jacksonville | Once, it was the room that no one would show in movies or even mention in polite company—but these days, a fabulous bathroom is a prime home feature, and for many proud owners, the subject of major bragging rights. They’re luxurious! They’re high-tech functional! They’re beautiful! Plus—and here’s the real point—today’s HGTV-savvy homeowners know that upgrading their bathroom is likely to impress buyers and boost home valuations.

“Bathroom remodels now rival kitchens in popularity,” says Nino Sitchinava, principal economist at home renovation site Houzz, which released its 2015 U.S. Bathroom Remodeling Survey in March. The survey polled nearly 3,200 Houzz users who are in the midst of planning or have recently completed a bathroom remodel.

“The bathroom is reinforcing its place as an important room in a home,” says Francesc Zamora Mola, co-author of the recently released “150 Best New Bathroom Ideas.” But unlike the increasingly public kitchen, Zamora notes, the bathroom has evolved into a private haven—a tranquil space for relaxation and self-indulgence.

Zamora fills us in on the top trends in bathrooms and how to incorporate them in your home.

Home Builder Jacksonville | 7 Things Your House Painter Wishes You Knew

Home Builder Jacksonville | With the exception of hardened DIY-types (you know who you are!), just about all homeowners will hire painters at some point—whether to prepare their home for moving in, or for a sale, or perhaps to kick off a remodel with a new color scheme.

But homeowners tend to get nervous around painters. What if they spatter the new carpeting or shatter the china cabinet window? What if the colors you’ve painstakingly selected don’t work out?

Take a deep breath. You’ve hired a professional. Here’s how to help them do their best job.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Renovate Your Kitchen—Without Knocking Down a Wall

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | When most people think of redoing a dated ’70s- or ’80s-era kitchen, their first instinct is usually: Knock down a wall! Open up the space! Buy some gleaming, modern appliances! All fine ideas, but, sadly, not within everyone’s reach, financially or aesthetically.

Maybe you’re part of the emerging backlash against open kitchens, or maybe your checking account just can’t accommodate the open plan of your dreams. But here’s the good news: There are plenty of other approaches to maximize the space and functionality of your enclosed kitchen—and you’ll likely love the results! Check out these pointers from the experts.

Home Builder Jacksonville | 5 Great Made-in-America Home Improvement Ideas

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | The made-in-America movement is going strong these days: We’re producing more of our own energy, more of our own cars, and more of our own manufacturing jobs. In fact, even foreign automotive brands have adopted the “Made in America” credo. Let’s take a moment to appreciate great pieces for your home that were proudly made in the U.S. of A! And let’s do it state by glorious state!

Made in Florida: When wire hangers and a single hanging rod won’t do, ClosetMaid offers SuiteSymphony, a step up from the standard closet but not quite the stuff of a two-story Chanel-inspired closet. ClosetMaid, the inventor of wire closet shelving, offers a new weathered wood-look product that is manufactured in Florida. “Sixty-one percent of all recent home buyers will upgrade their closet systems within 18 months,” says Lisa Engel, vice president of consumer business at ClosetMaid. With a $2,000 investment, she says, homeowners can create their own version of a glam room.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Using Space in Your Bathroom Efficiently

 Home Builder Jacksonville | Making a minuscule bathroom appear practical, tidy, and even a tad stylish is pretty darn impossible, right? Wrong! If you focus on clever storage solutions and go bold with color and accents, you can create a space that’s both functional and stylish without breaking the bank. Or the commode, as it were.

From storage solutions to playful accents, here are clever design secrets to get the most out of your Lilliputian powder room.

Home Builder Jacksonville | The Best Time to Furnish Your Home is Now

Home Builder Jacksonville | Now that the holidays are blessedly receding in our rearview mirrors, many of us may be surveying our homes and thinking, “Man, why did I squander all that money on an TV when we don’t even have a decent couch where we can sit and watch it in style?”

If this lament rings a bell, you’re in luck. According to WCVB News in Boston, the best time to buy furniture is right after the holidays. The reason for this boils down to the fact that sofas, credenzas and coffee tables hog up a whole lot of floor space in a showroom—and January is the month when designers literally clean house to accommodate the latest styles and new models.

“Furniture makers release new models in February, so stores need to make room in advance,” Lindsay Sakraida. “Thus January is an excellent time to get good discounts.”

Home Builder Jacksonville | Couch Jargon Explained!

Home Builder Jacksonville | Few pieces of furniture in your home carry more weight—figuratively or literally—than your couch. If life itself could be distilled into one massive, upholstered home furnishings item, it would be a sofa. So if you’re shopping for one, you’d better know your terminology.

There’s an entire universe of styles and options out there, and picking the perfect sofa is way more complicated than choosing between leather or fabric.

This installment: a comprehensive couch glossary so you can find the ideal fit for you.

Home Builder Jacksonville | Easy Home Decor Ideas Under $5

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | Decorating your home shouldn’t require cashing in a 401(k). In fact, many of the items you need to jazz up your oh-so-humble abode may already be in your home, or bought for a few bucks at your local yard sale. From there, all it takes is some creativity and a willingness to take a few risks, says Myquillyn Smith.

Here are a few of her budget-friendly ideas to get your own gears turning.

Fur-lined ottoman

Take one yard-sale ottoman, then add a swath of fake fur. Adhere them together with hot glue, and you’ve got one sassy footstool!

Home Builder Jacksonville | Conserve Energy and Save Money This Winter

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | With the temperatures dropping, you may be worried about a soon-to-come snowy commute or potential holiday season stress. No matter what is on your mind, before you know it, your winter energy bills will be pouring in. For many of us, these are higher than what we got in the summertime, throwing your monthly budget out of whack and even possibly putting you into debt.

Some of your energy use may be hard or even impossible to curb, but there are plenty of things you can do now to prepare your home for the cold weather. Your wallet will certainly thank you. Check out these tips to help you conserve energy and save money during the cold weather this year.

Home Builder Jacksonville | 9 Ways to Stay Warm Without Turning Up the Heat

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | The chill will be here before you know it—or, depending on where you’re reading this, it’s already arrived with a scary vengeance. Now you have three options: Crank up the thermostat, up your layering game (and risk looking like the Michelin man), or search for other types of home heating products to keep you and the family toasty.

Here’s the good news: There’s a slew of products that can warm your home in an array of astonishing ways, from heated rugs to countertops to driveways (no more shoveling snow!). Here’s a sampling of the innovative options.

Home Builder Jacksonville | 5 Kitchen Design Trends That Buyers Hate

Home Builder Jacksonville | Serious home chefs, or just house-proud owners, might consider the kitchen their showstopper room—the one that will stop potential buyers dead in their tracks. And that’s why they add all the upgrades, accoutrements, and trendy new finishes they can possibly find. To some extent, they’re absolutely right—a great kitchen can make a buyer fall deeply in love.

But it doesn’t always work that way.

An inherent danger of taking a deep dive into modern design is accepting the harsh fact that today’s trends may be tomorrow’s “Oh, God, remember that?” fads such as fake brick or hideaway appliances. With the average kitchen remodel pushing $20,000, designing without foresight can be a costly and embarrassing mistake.

Home Builder Jacksonville | The Different Types of Residential Buildings

Home Builder Jacksonville | When deciding on the type of home you’d like to purchase, it’s important to know what’s available and envision how your lifestyle and needs might evolve in the next five to ten years.

There are several types of residential buildings to choose from. Below is a handy guide to the characteristics, benefits and drawbacks of each type of residential building.

Home Builder Jacksonville | 3 Easy Tips to Improve Home Security

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | Landscaping is a terrific way to beautify your home and increase its value, but many homeowners don’t realize that it can also be an effective way to improve your home security. While a safer yard may bring to mind ugly chain-link fences or barbed wire, it’s easy to improve the security of your home without sacrificing attractive landscaping. Here are three simple steps:

1.) Plant shrubs with thorns

A lesser known landscaping strategy for keeping away burglars is planting bushes and flowers with thorns. These spiky plants make it less easy for criminals to hide in your yard. Rose or holly bushes are both attractive and effective when it comes to keeping intruders at bay. Plant them directly under windows as an extra layer of protection. After all, climbing into a window protected by sharp thorns is no easy task. Be certain that these pointy plants are small enough that they don’t provide hiding spots, however.

2.) Get rid of hiding spots

Burglars are generally attracted to yards with plenty of cover. Help discourage these unwanted visitors by getting rid of obvious hiding spots on your property. Keep foliage short. Trim overgrown trees and plant small shrubs rather than giant bushes. Overall, make sure entryways are as open and visible as possible. Any doors and windows that are easily visible from the street or a neighbor’s house are less likely to be targeted by criminals.

3.) Install motion-sensitive lights

In the same spirit as keeping a clear and open yard, motion-sensitive lights are an important component of a safe entryway or lawn. Install lights near key entry points, like doors or ground-level windows. Many criminals are hesitant to attempt breaking into a home when their presence is easily detected by a pair of bright floodlights.

You don’t have to sacrifice a beautiful backyard to improve home security. Head to your local nursery or home improvement store to pick up some plants, a pair of shearers and some motion-sensitive lights. Making small changes to your yard is inexpensive and easy – no professional landscapers required. - Redfin

Looking for a home builder in Jacksonville? Please do not hesitate to contact us at Landon Homes, (904)567-3430!

Home Builder Jacksonville | Declutter Your Home Through Philanthropy

Home Builder Jacksonville | Whether you’re spring cleaning or just plain irritated enough to throw your clutter right in the gutter — hold up a minute! It’s now easier than ever to find a worthy charity to take the excess off your hands — and put it into the hands (or paws) of someone in need.

1. Gather everything you don’t want.

Here are three lists of the items most sought in popular charity sectors:

Home Builder Jacksonville | 9 Tips to Make Your Home More "Green"

 

Home Builder Jacksonville | Imagine a world where every home is powered by the sun. Where every raindrop waters the yard, even on dry days. Where trash is turned into fertilizer, which is used to grow produce. This isn’t science fiction; it can be done today. Here are 9 things you can do to lessen your home’s impact on the environment, ordered by least expensive to most expensive (but most impactful).

Why does it matter? According to Energy.gov, homes and commercial buildings consume 40 percent of the energy used in the United States, the majority of which comes from fossil fuels. According to EPA.gov, the average family of four can use 400 gallons of water every day. Homes also pollute the environment; fertilizers, pesticides, automobile fluids, paint, trash, animal waste and other pollutants can end up in the storm drain system that flows into rivers, harbors and the ocean. Making your home more green can reduce waste and minimize pollutants while saving you money on utility bills.