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Whether you are selling a house or recently moved into a new home, chances are there are some things you need to do to improve the look. This could be anything from painting to hanging photos to laying carpeting.

But unless you are one of those people who know their way around a set of tools, odds are youre going to need some help to get things done right.

Sure, you can hire someone to do it, but that could be expensive, especially for small repairs and jobs that probably wouldnt take too long if you knew what to do.

Thats where the magic of YouTube comes in. Thanks to thousands upon thousands of Do It Yourself videos, anyone can watch a video and follow along to learn how to do everything from adding wiring to the home to replacing a toilet.

Gone are the days where you had to go to the library for a book or call and ask a friend for instructions on how do to something. The DIY YouTube videos are informative, can be paused and re-watched and show step-by-step exactly what you need to do.

Some of these experts have been doing these sort of jobs for years and they will guide you through it slowly with directions you will understand. There are some videos designed for people with a little more knowhow than beginners, but many are geared towards people that have no clue what theyre doing. And by the time the video is over, they can do the job correctly.

YouTube is also good for watching people put IKEA or other furniture together, as anyone who has ever tried will tell you that the instructions often make no sense and there are pieces that always seem to be left over. The YouTube videos exist for just about every piece of furniture and again, will guide you step-by-step so you can see the work being done on your screen and follow along at your own pace.

The site has so many categories for DIY help that youll find yourself going on regularly looking to improve things around the house or yard. Need gardening tips? Help opening a pool? Ideas to catch mice? Videos exist that can show the homeowner exactly what they need to do.

Be wary that sometimes”especially if you need to use power tools or do complicated work involving electricity”its better to go with the experts. And just because theres a video for it, doesnt mean you should try it. Just be smart about those you choose to follow, and youll be shaping up your home in no time at all.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A bathroom can be among the top selling points in a home. In fact, upgrading your bathroom prior to listing the home for sale may enable you to sell it at a higher price point. Here are some ways you can improve your bathroom and get the highest possible return on your investment:

Add More Storage
There are many items that you want or need to keep in a bathroom at any given time. For instance, you’ll likely want to keep extra rolls of toilet paper handy or have extra hand towels available. You’ll also want to keep your toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant in the bathroom. By adding a closet, a larger vanity or extra drawers underneath your current vanity, you provide plenty of space for multiple people to share the bathroom peacefully.

Add a Touch of Luxury
Buyers will have a harder time not putting an offer on a home when it has a luxurious feel to it. Adding a whirlpool tub to the bathroom will make a buyer feel as if he or she were about to buy a spa instead of a residential property. Working with companies can make it possible to make your bathroom luxurious yet affordable at the same time.

Put in New Tile
Replacing your current floor in favor of a tile one can improve the look and feel of the entire space. In fact, a remodeling contractor can add a heated floor that is ideal for those cold winter days or those chilly spring mornings. It can make it easier to face the prospect of walking to the shower or sink without the need to find your socks and slippers first.

Add an Additional Sink
If you have to share the bathroom with your spouse or kids, it’s important to have multiple sinks. This allows both parents to get ready for work at once or both kids to get ready for school at the same time. It also allows people to keep their respective area of the vanity as clean or as messy as they want without infringing on others.

Even if you don’t have a large remodeling budget, you can still make your bathroom look and feel like one of the best rooms in the house. When upgraded properly, this space can be the centerpiece of the home and help attract eager buyers willing to pay top dollar for it.

Source: Hannah Whittenly/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Your homes gutters play a crucial role in protecting your property from costly water damage and other dangers. Depending on where you live, the types of trees you have on your property and weather events common to your area, you should clean your gutters at least twice a year to ensure they dont get clogged.

Even with regular maintenance, though, your gutters will eventually need to be repaired or replaced to keep your house protected. To help you determine whether that time has come, Home Depot offers five signs to look out for:

Cracks or splits. Even small cracks will grow, allowing water to seep into the fascia boards behind the gutters, the shingles above the gutter and the foundation below. Replace any split or cracked sections of gutter.

Paint damage and rust. The paint on your gutters is weather resistant. Peeling paint or rust indicates that water is present on the surface on a continuous basis. Look for clogs and remove debris to get the water flowing. Replace or touch up the paint on the damaged section of the gutter.

Pools of water and mold. If you see standing water or mildew near the foundation, it can indicate one of two things: the gutters are clogged, or there could be a defect in the gutter system. Remove the clog. If the problem persists, replace that section of gutter and downspout.

Water damage or water marks. Inspect directly beneath the gutters on a dry, sunny day for any evidence of water damage. Water damage underneath gutters can indicate that theyre leaking or overflowing with water. Look for possible blockages in the area. If there are none, this indicates that the section has a crack or leak thatll need to be repaired or replaced.

Gutter sag. This is a definite sign that its time to replace gutters. Gutters should never sag or pull away from the house. Sagging gutters means that theyre no longer draining properly and need to be replaced. This may be a good time to look into upgrading your old ones with gutter guards, screens or seamless gutters.

If youre uncomfortable on a ladder or cant perform gutter cleaning and inspections on your own for any reason, consider hiring a pro to do the job for you.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

A backyard pool can look like a lot of fun when youre house-hunting. Summer days full of swimming and splashing around your pool can be great fun, but sooner or later youre going to have to face the costs that come with a pool.

Here are some of the costs of pool ownership:

Maintenance
Before buying a home, homebuyers should hire a professional pool company to inspect the pool to ensure it was maintained properly and regularly.

Proper maintenance can keep a pool from falling apart before the end of its expected lifetime, usually 40 years or so if made of concrete. Expect to pay about $100 per month for regular maintenance.

Chemicals
Expect to spend about $100 per month on chemicals to balance the water levels and keep the pH level (acidity) at appropriate levels. High acidity can damage the pool liner, pipes, heater and filter system. Chlorine is needed to kill bacteria and algae.

Equipment
A pool pump filters the water to keep it clean and should run 24 hours a day, adding to your electricity costs. A pump can last up to 10 years and costs about $600. Pumps, filters and chlorination systems can require minor repairs from time to time, so count on about $200 per year for equipment parts.

Electricity
Whether heating the pool or running the pump, expect to pay $200 for electricity for every month of use of your pool.

Insurance
Insurers consider a pool an attractive nuisance that may require additional liability insurance. Installing pool gates may be mandated by your insurer or local government, adding an extra cost.

Most homeowners policies include at least $100,000 worth of liability protection, though pool owners may want to consider increasing it to $300,000 or $500,000.

An umbrella policy for $1 million in liability protection above what the home already is protected for can cost an extra $200 to $300 per year. Extra insurance may also be needed to replace the pool if its destroyed by a storm or other disaster.

All of these costs may not dissuade you from buying a home with a pool, but its important information to know before making a real estate investment. At least youll know before you get into the pool how much that daily swim will cost you.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

As a landlord, you have certain responsibilities. One of the most important is to provide safety for your tenants. Not only do you have certain legal obligations, but safe tenants are also more likely to continue renting the property for much longer, providing you with a dependable, long-term source of income.

In the pursuit of safety, you may want to upgrade your properties with the following four items:

External Security Cameras
While installing internal security cameras can be invasive and problematic, installing external cameras is a great way to keep your tenants safe. Give your tenants access to the feed so they can see what’s going on outside their rental unit and identify problems without having to open doors. These cameras are also great for collecting evidence if your property is robbed or if someone tries to get into the building.

Security Doors
Security doors are a simple way to keep intruders out of a property, but they’re still very effective. Heavier and harder to break than standard doors, they’re a low-tech method of ensuring the safety of your tenants. The best thing about security doors is that they last a long time, so choosing to install them now will help you protect tenants for many years to come.

Outdoor Lighting
Much of home security comes down not to actual safety measures, but rather, to the illusion of protection. The average home robbery is a crime of opportunity instead of one of serious planning, and most robbers are scared off by anything that could make them more vulnerable. Adequate outdoor lighting is great for pointing out that a particular property is not a viable target, and it’s also helpful for keeping your tenants safe when they come home at night. Outdoor lighting is an inexpensive way to bring a bit of extra safety to your property.

Change Locks Between Tenants
Make sure you change a rental propertys locks and keys between tenants. While most tenants are unlikely to return to an old home or apartment, you never know how many keys and copies are actually floating around. If you change out your locks, you’ll be out a few dollars, but you’ll provide your tenants with an extra layer of security.

Providing your tenants with more security is a great way to make them feel like you care, while keeping them safer at the same time. Try a mix of high-tech and proven solutions to ensure that both your tenants and your property remain safe. In time, your propertys reputation for safety will help to ensure that you always have tenants waiting to fill vacancies.

Source: Meghan Belnap/RISMedias Housecall

Published with permission from RISMedia.