Pakistan

Some Simple Hacks to Renovate Your Home

Are you looking for house renovation ideas? Need a reliable source to simplify the task? Congrats! You have already taken the all-important first step by searching for ideas, and Zameen.com is your trustworthy partner in everything home-related!

Renovating your home can be tricky business until and unless you have the proper equipment and the complete understanding of the task at hand, which in this case is giving your home a brand new look. Well, for obvious reasons, you want your home to look aesthetically pleasing to everybody’s eyes and obviously, cosy. So, it’s only natural to consider this project as something special since every homeowner wants their abode to reflect their taste, culture, and family traditions. The key is to be careful and smart when you’re sifting through the many home renovation ideas being thrown at you by Google, your friends, the contractor, and your family. The other equally important thing to remember here is that this project requires you be wise both financially and emotionally.

INGENIOUS HOUSE RENOVATION IDEAS FOR BEGINNERS – DOS AND DON’TS

Renovating a house is not less than a roller coaster ride, especially when upholstering old and antique collection of furniture and home decoration pieces. In order to navigate safely, you have to be particular about a few things to avoid getting off the rails. That being said, homeowners need to be extremely cautious about a lot of things, including their budget, a suitable theme, and sustainable material for home renovation.

In line with our past posts including steps to take before home renovation and benefits of house flipping, we’re excited to present you our spot-free guide comprising some awesome house renovation ideas:

Conduct a Reality Check
Spruce up the Theme
Special Attention Areas
Move the Furniture
Give it a Personal Touch

CONDUCT A REALITY CHECK

It is always wise to conduct a reality check before you start with your project. At times, some projects that might seem minute can quickly become a budget buster, especially when you realise you have to reconstruct something from scratch. A simple hack to avoid getting entangled in situations like these is to conduct a reality check, and here’s a list of things you should consider adding to the home renovation checklist before you start knocking down walls:

Planning the cost and budget: House renovation doesn’t have to be about completely bringing down walls and reconstructing them again – it can surpass your budget. When you’re renovating a house on a budget, you have to be extremely cautious about expenditures and total costings. So, it is crucial to estimate how much you can spend on home renovation.
DIY projects: Always opt for DIY projects to keep your budget at the lower end of the spectrum. To help you get better acquainted with simple DIY projects, our recently published guide on DIY projects to improve the outlook of your home is worth taking a look at. These projects help you in more ways than one. For instance, you might not want to throw away a particular thing because it has some emotional associations, but it also doesn’t go well with your current home renovation theme. Fret not; you will be astonished at the number of options available in the local market to spice up that piece of memory, all with the assistance of simple projects.
Explore your options: Before executing your home renovation project, you have to ask yourself if you are up for dramatically remodeling your home’s outlook or you just want to blend in a few new touches. Ask yourself; what is the aim behind this renovation and what will be achieved by the end. Besides reading online guides and house renovation ideas, you can also call up a few friends for their personal experience.

SPRUCE UP THE THEME

spruce up the current theme of your house by a fresh lick of paint — Home renovation is all about updating what you already have!

Remodeling your home doesn’t have to be just about scraping the ceilings and painting the walls or completely letting go of the current look of your house. Always remember that you’re updating what you already have, so you only need to get rid of outdated stuff and be extremely smart about revamping your home – make nifty yet sustainable choices. Since it is your space, you’ve all the rights to decide what your home should reflect. So, before draping the walls and wearing an architect’s hat, set a deadline to finish the theme. Here are a bunch of tips for refurbishing the current theme of your house:

Upgrade and fix your wiring and plumbing problems
Breathe some life into your old furniture
Use spray paints for a fresh and quick finishing
Select modern flooring options or opt for wooden flooring for a more striking look.

SPECIAL ATTENTION AREAS

fixing a leakage is the essential part of house renovation — Start with fixing the hidden areas your house

Renovations that may seem simple at first may require plenty of work on the back end, so be sure that you prioritise the areas that aren’t too visible in your home, let’s say, kitchens, laundry area, and bathrooms. At times, fixing drainages, changing the flooring and repairing roofs may sound dreary when there are other exciting things to work with such as lamps, vases, and chandeliers, but remember; sustainability needs a solid base to work its magic.

Likewise, home renovation is not all about a fresh lick of paint and replacing furniture – pay close attention to things that are minimalistic but equally valuable such as doors, faucets, cabinets, and windows since the tactile experience sends a positive message about your home.

MOVE THE FURNITURE

broken furniture — De-clutter your house and give up on things taking extra space in your store

Owners that are renovating their home are usually decluttering their abode and trying to maximise their storage as much as they can. Let’s admit it, when you begin a home renovation process, creating more space becomes trickier since the dilemma of giving up old items kicks in – starting from the useless furniture that is occupying space in your storeroom. No matter how closely attached you feel to some things, you have to give up some of them to make way for the new stuff’s debut.

GIVE IT A PERSONAL TOUCH

man holding paint brushes — Your house is your reflection – always do your best when renovating it!

The key to successful house renovation is to plan and paint an entire picture of what you want your house to reflect – which means that giving it a personal touch doesn’t have to be only about hanging dream catchers all over your home. Essentially, it means planning and executing several DIY projects, especially the ones that reflect your values on a personal level. From house paint to a minimal vase, everything should have a story to tell and a reason to occupy space in your home.

In a nutshell, a lot of experts suggest that house remodeling can help the unit to climb up the property ladder since it is also a popular way to boost the resale value of a house. It can attract a number of property seekers if the renovations are done carefully, keeping in mind the trends of the market.

Prep Steps for Your Home Remodelling Project

Home improvement is a lot more than just taking on projects to stave off boredom. It can make your existing home feel more comfortable and look more beautiful. The repairs and upgrades involved in a home renovation project helps increase the value of your aging property by improving its interior and exterior’s aesthetic. Furthermore, the cost involved in it is obviously cheaper than purchasing a new property altogether.

However, renovating your living space can be a time-consuming and stressful procedure, but fret not, in this blog we are going to tell you how you can make the whole “home renovation” thing a little less problematic and more enjoyable for yourself.

STEPS TO EFFECTIVELY PREPARE FOR A HOME RENOVATION PROJECT

Whether you are hiring experts to renovate your home or taking a DIY route, these steps will help you effectively prepare for a home renovation session.

Research
Decide on Your Budget
Create a To-Do List
Seek Advice
Relocate Temporarily
Pick a Suitable Time

RESEARCH

Consider your home improvement plan as a business plan, which means you should do a thorough research before getting started with it. This will help you determine the scope of your home renovation project and the cost involved in it. If there are minor upgrades required, consider doing it yourself. However, for major home improvements like entirely remodelling your living space, you need to get in touch with the expert. Search and hire a reputable contractor for your home improvement project.

DECIDE ON YOUR BUDGET

It is very important to keep a track on your finances in every aspect of your life. Home improvements may turn out to be extremely heavy on pocket if not done right. Like you usually create your budget for groceries and other household stuff, create one for your home renovation as well and try not exceeding it. As we have stated above, calculate the cost of everything involved from labour to material. In case, you have taken a contractor on-board for your remodelling project, communicate your budget with them in order to effectively communicate your goals.

Pro Tip: Try to have some extra financial cushion for unforeseen costs.

CREATE A TO-DO LIST

to-do list for home renovation — Create a to-do list for everything that needs to be taken care of during home renovation

Good planning can help you avoid a lot of problems that you might face while renovating your home. One of the best ways to go about it is creating a to-do list for everything that needs to be done. Don’t forget to prioritise tasks that you are going to list down according to their importance. It’s better to be meticulous regarding your strategies while weighing two important factors: the improvements needed and your budget.

SEEK ADVICE

It is always advantageous to communicate your plans with others. So, as you work on the blueprints of your home renovation project, involve your family too. Take their opinions and keep communication channels open at all times. Don’t be too quick to begin with your home remodelling project. Instead, take your time and try consulting an expert who can help you effectively judge the renovation plan and come up with techniques that can improve it in any way.

RELOCATE TEMPORARILY

your interior can fill up with dust and noise pollution during home renovation — Things can get really dusty and noisy during a home remodelling project

A home remodeling project can be extremely noisy and fill up the air in your entire living space with dust particles. All this can be extremely disturbing for the daily routine of you and your family. Therefore, moving out for the time being seems like a good idea to many. And if the project you have undertaken is of extensive nature, then there really isn’t any other option left. By moving to another place temporarily, you will be able to easily carry on with your daily life.

In case, if there are no major repairs required in the renovation of your home, then you need not to waste your money and time moving away. In such situations, you should rearrange your home space allow a smoother progress of both the project and your schedule.

Pro Tip: Not to mention, if you find an alternative place of stay near your home, which is being renovated, then it would be easier for you to closely monitor the progress of your home improvement project.

PICK A SUITABLE TIME

The suitability of anything greatly depends on the time when it is being carried out. Summers in Pakistan are usually hot and humid but still a majority of people choose this season to undertake a home renovation project. It is usually when children have their school break and in this way their academic routines are not disturbed in any way. However, if that’s not the case with you, you can ideally start renovating your home in the season of fall or winter when the weather is a bit more pleasant.

All these steps will effectively help you prepare for a home renovation project. However, if you have any questions or feedback related to our blog, feel free to get in touch with us at blog@zameen.com.

On a side note, if you are stuck between deciding whether to buy a new home of remodel your existing one, then here are all possible factors of buying vs. renovating a home which will help you decide which path to choose and why.

Tips To Keep Mosquitoes Away

Although recent rains have brought much relief to people from the scorching heatwave, the weather has created fertile breeding grounds for mosquitoes, insects and flies. Mosquito bites can spread infectious diseases through blood, such as dengue and chikungunya. There are simple tips to keep mosquitoes away and make your home dengue free.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR HOME DENGUE-FREE

Through simple tips you can make your house free from dengue mosquitoes — Keep Your house free from dengue by following simple tips

Do you know a female mosquito is capable of laying 100 eggs at a time? No one knows when a mosquito will bite. It is best to be prepared and take appropriate preventive measures to keep your homes mosquito-free. Also, the recent outbreak of dengue fever has compelled people to look for tips on how to prevent dengue mosquitoes from breeding. Here are a few tips to make your home dengue-free.

Remove stagnant water
Seal all entry points
Keep a herb garden
Use citronella candles
Maintain a fish pond
Make your own mosquito repellent

Let us discuss each of these in detail. But first, it is important to know where and how dengue-carrying mosquitoes breed.

TIS THE SEASON FOR MOSQUITOES

One of the major breeding grounds for mosquitoes is stagnant water. During the rainy season, this issue exacerbates. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes lay its eggs on water, which includes any stored rainwater in containers lying outside the house. Any kind of stagnant water is a perfect place for mosquitoes to lay their eggs.

The eggs can survive dry weather conditions and hatch when they come in contact with water. A female dengue-carrying mosquito lays dozens of eggs up to 5 times during its lifetime.

Adult mosquitoes rest indoors in dark spots. Under the bed, behind the closet where it can easily hide away from fumigation and insecticide sprays.

TIPS TO KEEP DENGUE-CARRYING MOSQUITOES AT BAY

As mentioned above, there are quite a few tips to control the spread of dengue mosquitoes. Let’s check them out.

REMOVE STAGNANT WATER

Discard empty bottles, containers or used tyres lying outside your house that can hold rainwater. Keep your sewerage lines clean so that it doesn’t clog which can have a multiplier effect on the growth of mosquitoes.

Check for damp areas in your house. Make sure you take a good look at the common areas where water can stagnate. The area beneath the refrigerator, standing dishes on the kitchen sink, air cooler, flower vase and your garden may have some standing water or dampness that can become a breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes. We must make sure to keep the toilet seats covered, especially during the season when mosquitoes thrive the most.

SEAL ALL ENTRY POINTS

It is important to close all entry and exit points in the house so that mosquitoes and flies can’t find any place to enter the house. You can use automatic door closing mechanism so that doors automatically close behind as you walk in. Use wire mesh or a net screen to prevent these pests from entering your house.

If you already have net placed on your windows, make sure there are no holes in them. If you find any hole, repair it. Remember, only one dengue-carrying mosquito is enough to cause life-threatening dengue fever.

KEEP A HERB GARDEN

Growing a herb garden will deter mosquitoes — Keep a tulsi plant on your window sill to repel mosquitoes

Having even a small herb patch can act as a natural mosquito repellent. Mosquitoes dislike garlic, spring onion, basil and peppermint. Why not grow a kitchen garden on your window sill? This will deter mosquitoes and keep them at bay. You can also place these herb plants at strategic points – on each window or sill near doors – to keep these disease-carrying pests away.

Remember to check the soil first before watering plants so that there are no damp areas in the house that can facilitate the breeding of mosquitoes. Burning off dried neem leaves also wards off mosquitoes. If you have a neem tree in the backyard of your house, then get hold of a bunch of leaves and dry them out in the sun. Fill them in a clay container and burn them. The fumes emitting from neem leaves will ward off mosquitoes. Make sure the fumes enter every corner of the house.

USE CITRONELLA CANDLES

Keep dengue mosquitoes away — Use natural mosquito repellents like citronella candles to keep your home mosquito-free

Citronella is a plant that repels dengue mosquitoes. An essential oil named after the plant is also extracted from it. There are citronella candles that can be bought from any organic product store. All you have to do is to light these candles in the house. This is a natural mosquito repellent.

According to World Health Organisation, dengue-carrying mosquitoes, aedes aegypti, usually bite during the early hours of the day or in the evening. So, in order to specifically keep dengue mosquitoes away, light these candles in during the day.

You can also rub a small amount of citronella essential oil on doors and windows which is the best way to keep mosquitoes away.

MAINTAIN A FISH POND

To fight off mosquitoes, you should befriend animals that can kill these pests. For instance, lizard or a frog prey on insects. Take full advantage of these animals who are only supporting you in your fight against mosquitoes.

An aquarium or a small fish pond is a perfect way to repel mosquitoes. How? Well, fish eat up the mosquito larvae. Having a fish pond that will not only look beautiful but the fish present in the pond will feed on mosquito larvae before they hatch and spread deadly diseases.

MAKE YOUR OWN MOSQUITO REPELLENT

Do you know mosquitoes hate oranges and the smell of citrus? Well, you can make your own mosquito repellent by burning orange peels. The oil present in the citrus is flammable and releases a smell that mosquitoes don’t like. You can also use orange peels and pour boiling water over them. Let it cool. Store the water in a spray bottle and use it as a natural mosquito repellent spray in corners and under the bed.

You can also use essential oils, like neem oil, peppermint oil and lemongrass oil to keep mosquitoes away. Use ten drops of neem oil in a quarter cup of coconut oil and burn it in an aromatherapy burner. The fumes act as a natural mosquito repellent for your home.