Whether you are considering a home improvement project before you list your house on the market, or are simply looking for a way to spruce up your kitchen, living room, or landscape, the information found in this article will help you to make some wise decisions that will make the most of your investment.

Do you need to fix a hole in your wall made by a nail or screw. Create a divot in the wall with the rounded end of a screwdriver by pressing it into the screw hole. Next, use spackle or drywall compound to fill the divot. This will give you a nice smooth wall surface.

If you don\’t know where to start updating your home, give the kitchen a shot. If you update the kitchen, especially if it is outdated, old, and dark in design, you will find that the value of the home is greatly increased in this room alone. Starting with the kitchen is always a great start.

One of the smallest improvements to your home with the biggest impact is a deep cleaning of the house. Spending the time to clean every section of your house will improve the overall smell, look, and environment of your home. A thorough cleaning is often overlooked as a cost effective method of home improvement.

If you are interested in brightening up a room in your house, something as seemingly minor as applying a fresh coat of paint to the walls can often make a big difference. If you\’d like the room to seem more open and inviting, consider a lighter shade of paint.

If you are working on your own home improvement project involving laying brick, make sure you use brick ties in sufficient quantity. Brick ties are metal clips used to anchor bricks to the wall structure (wood studs or what have you) behind them. Many do-it-yourself types are seduced by the apparent sturdiness of bricks and fail to realize that they must be secured to the wall via brick ties.

To give a fresh look to an old brass fireplace surround, paint over the brass with high-heat paint that\’s specially made for painting wood-stoves and other surfaces that see intense temperatures. These paints are an inexpensive way to update an outdated surround and can change the look of the whole room.

A great home improvement tip is to run a criminal background check on any potential repairman you\’re considering. You definitely don\’t want a convicted criminal inside your home, with access to all of your private information. Running a criminal background check on potential contractors is easy and will save you a great deal of stress.

If you are looking to improve your home with new furniture, consider re-upholstering. Having new furniture delivered and removing old furniture can be a stressful and expensive hassle. Simply putting new cushions and upholstery on an existing couch, however, will make it look like new for much less money than a new couch.

If you have a small, cramped kitchen make sure to choose light colored cabinetry. If you go with dark cabinetry, it will make your kitchen seem even smaller. Choosing a light color, can in fact enhance your sense of space and make your kitchen seem warmer.

Covering every surface of your bathroom or kitchen with decorative tiles is a very expensive project in terms of both time and money. Instead, add visual impact to these rooms by using glass tiles or mosaics to create a focal point around the sink area. The project can be done in a single day and will require far less materials.

Treat your wall to a dolly! No, not to a child\’s toy but to a specially made anchor and toggle bolt! The shank of a dolly expands when you screw it tight. It can be used to hold a picture or other light object in place on the surface of a hollow wall where there is no underlying stud to nail to.

When it comes to recouping your investments on home improvements, it is vital to keep in mind how long you are planning to own the property. Depending on the project, it can take many years to get the value back out of a home improvement you have made. If you are not going to keep the house for several years, concentrate on only home improvements that add value for potential home buyers.

Avoid using chemical de-icing products on your steps and sidewalks. These chemicals are not only harmful to pets, but if tracked in, they can wreak havoc on your flooring as well. Sand is a better option, as it provides traction and can be swept away once the snow or ice melts.

If safety is a concern, install motion detectors. These are a great home improvement project because not only is it simple and fairly inexpensive, it also deters thieves and lowers your insurance premiums. These motion detectors activate lights when motion is detected, letting you know when someone has entered your home.

Consider attending free seminars on home improvement at your local home supply retailer to see how to complete a project safely and correctly. You can even get hands-on practice in areas like tile installation or brick laying. Check out the calendar to see which classes are coming up, or request a class that isn\’t on the schedule.

These are just a few of the ways home improvement projects can be kept under control and ultimately beneficial to your home market value. Whether you learn a better way to do a project you already have in mind or get an idea for a whole new home improvement job, studying the subject always pays off.