We explain how you can start and finish the – often complicated – process of renovating your house, with a little help from a home improvement loan.
You’ve recently taken a good look at your house and decided that it needs an urgent restoration job. But construction materials, labour and renovation costs are quite prohibitive – so how will the twain meet? It’s simple – apply for a home improvement loan.
You should remodel or renovate your house using a home improvement loan when some or all of the following occur…
- The plumbing and/or air conditioning systems are malfunctioning. Most problems in the house, and most repair jobs, stem from faulty plumbing and air conditioning systems. Not only do leaky faucets, old pipes and ruptured AC conduits cause noise and water seepage in the house, they also damage the wall paint and may loosen tiles in the bathroom as well. In severe cases, the leakage may seep into the flat below yours, leading to irate neighbours. Replacing the plumbing and air conditioning systems is an expensive and extensive business. A home improvement loan can take care of these costs.
- The house needs a plastering and paint job. Peeling and flaking paint, large patches of dampness on the walls…nothing screams out ‘Old house!’ like wall paint going awry. But quite often, paint begins to flake because of external and internal leakage, or lack of waterproofing on the external wall, or simply because it has been a really long time since you got the house painted. When you hire a contractor for the painting work, get the underlying plastering examined. If the walls appear uneven, a coat of plaster of Paris under the paint will give a glossy, smooth finish.
- You need extra room for your growing family. Your family needs more space to grow, especially if there are young children in the house. Your house might have a spare room that you have been using like an attic – may be you can fit in an extra bed or study area in there. Or it could house your children’s wardrobes and dressing area, instead of cramming the same in their bedrooms. You could also consider creating extra space like a loft or additional storage cupboards to hold extra items in. Ask your architect or contractor to give you an estimate about the costs for putting in an extension or walls – these costs can come from the home improvement loan.
- Your old appliances are guzzling too much power. Electrical appliances are expensive and built to last for long – but older appliances that you may have purchased years ago may have already exceeded their shelf life. Also, most of them will not have an energy rating, which is mandatory in all new appliances. It may be time to do a complete overhaul of all electrical appliances in the house, from the TV set to the refrigerator. Your power bills will reduce dramatically with new appliances.
- The floor needs to be replaced. Another major area of expense in house renovation is replacing the floor tiles. When you’re getting the flooring replaced, you can try wooden flooring or tiles in a bold new pattern – this gives a dramatic finish to the home, and is covered by your home improvement loan.