Winter can be a tough time of the year, with short days and gloomy skies. With rain and snow keeping you inside, you might consider taking on a project or two. Winter is an excellent time to tackle some of the home improvement projects you have on your to-do list. Not only can you make use of all that time at home, but you’ll also be investing in the long-term value of your home. With an updated home and a bump in your equity, you’ll only have good things to look forward to.
Covering the Costs
Depending on what kind of project you have in mind, you may need a bit of additional funding to get the job done. That’s why we recommend getting your projects going with a cash-out refinance. It allows you to take out a new loan to replace your old one—possibly with better terms—and in the same process access the equity you’ve built up in your home. This article by the experts at Solarity Credit Union can take you through the process.
If you’re already planning to get a little work done around the house, using a cash-out refinance is a great way to free up funds to invest in the future value of your home.
1. Improve Your Home Insulation
As the winter chill starts to set in, one of the best things you could do is make sure your insulation is up to snuff. If you have an attic, check the insulation to see if you’re leaking heat. If you don’t have insulation or the current insulation is quite old, now is a great time to add or replace it.
Replace your windows with modern ones engineered to keep as much heat inside as possible. Check the seals on your doors, windows, and anything else that might be open to the elements to be certain no outdoor air is seeping in.
You’ll likely want to call in a professional to get your home thoroughly inspected and upgraded, but with a cash-out refinance, you’ll have the funds to make sure it gets done right. Not only will it add to the long-term value of your home, but it has the added benefit of also helping to keep your heating bill low over the course of the winter.
2. Repaint Your Interior
If your walls are looking a little worse for wear, winter might be the perfect time to give them a new shine. While it’s clearly not a good time of year to try to repaint the exterior of your house, winter is actually a great time to take care of the inside. Moisture in the air can prevent paint from curing properly, causing it to crack or bubble in a short span of time. Dry air is better suited to curing paint properly, meaning winter is the ideal time to tackle the task.
Additionally, you might find that painters have more availability and better pricing in the winter months, as most homeowners try to take care of painting during the warmer months.
3. Revitalize Your Kitchen
For many homeowners, the kitchen is a central hub. It’s where friends and families gather to socialize, cook together, and enjoy holiday celebrations. As such, there’s nothing better than having a sparkling new kitchen to feed your loved ones as things get colder.
Many people choose to remodel their kitchens during the winter, due in part to the fact that the entirety of the work can take place indoors. It can be a great opportunity to not only breathe a breath of fresh air into its aesthetics but to replace any old appliances with newer, more-efficient models. Depending on how much you can get from cash-out refinance, you might be able to shoot for the moon. A glitzy kitchen can do a lot of work for your home’s value.
Just be sure you take your holiday calendar into account if you decide to remodel your kitchen during the winter. If things won’t be ready in time for your family, it might be better to wait until the new year and get things going in the latter half of winter.
4. Remodel Your Bathroom
Renovating your bathroom can be an easy but extremely effective way to spruce up your home. Much like a kitchen, the renovations are all indoors, making it a perfect winter candidate. Additionally, you can invest exactly as much as you’d like while still getting some stunning results.
For example, you can keep things budget-friendly by simply repainting, replacing the vanity, and maybe changing out any fixtures for more appealing ones. If you’d like to spend more, though, you can fully renovate the space into the luxurious bathroom of your dreams. It’s up to you, and your budget, to decide how far you’d like to go.
5. Buckle-Down and Get Organized
The best way to get ahead on spring cleaning is to prepare with a little winter organizing. It’s easy to let things pile up and get disheveled when we’re running around with our busy schedules, but winter gives you the time to sit and breathe. Take that time to get rid of whatever is cluttering up your house and put what remains in order.
You can take the task on yourself, investing in organizational systems or even building your own to keep your closets and cabinets tidy. Or, if you want to go the extra mile, you can work with a professional organizer to devise a plan of action to bring lasting order to your home. Whether you choose to handle it all yourself, you want to call in the professionals, or you want to do a bit of both, you’ll be thankful you can finally keep track of all your belongings.
With a cash-out refinance, you can turn your home into a gorgeous, modern space to live in. If you’re interested in seeing how much might be available for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to Solarity. Their home loan and refinance team will work with you to fund whatever your project might be.
