| Make Your Home Heaven in 2011
With spring comes warmth, color... and your tax refunds. Our financial security is on the upswing, but we want to continue to help you get the most for your money. One of the best investments you can make with your tax refund this year is improving your home.
A projected trend for 2011 is home improvement. Consumers will update their present home, make it more livable and add more value, according to IHA's Casey Weiss. "Consumers are realizing that if they put some money into their home, it just might be worth more when the economy turns around," she says. "They are putting in upgrades throughout the house."
 In the kitchen: Countertops and tile work are inexpensive ways to improve to your home. Granite countertops are the hardest of all natural stone countertop materials. They are also highly resistant to staining, scratching and heat. Use tile as a backsplash to your sink or stove. It will add a pop of dimension and color. The skinny of it: Minor kitchen remodels pay off better at resale time than major remodeling projects, according to Remodeling Magazine's annual Cost vs Value survey. Those kitchens with minor improvements are estimated to recoup 98.5% of cost compared to a gut-and-replace remodel's recoup of 84.8%.
In the bathroom: Utilitarian is out. Spa is in, with big bathtubs and steam attachments to showers. Heated floors also have become quite popular. The remodeling survey found that a mid-range bathroom remodel would recoup its cost. Many of these improvements are affordable. The skinny of it: Adding multiple shower heads and investing in quality tile is a cost-effective way to add a spa feel.
 Throughout the entire house: Wood floors are the most desirable upgrade to a home, with bamboo becoming more popular. Tile is still an excellent choice for kitchen and bathrooms. Resilient flooring also is making a comeback, supplying styles for everyone's palate. The skinny of it: Laminate and resilient flooring designed to look like wood and tile can be a less expensive choice when making home improvements.
 Throughout the entire house: One thing to brighten up a room is a new coat of paint. Realtors encourage repainting the walls when putting the house on the market. The skinny of it: JLHFD offers inexpensive interiors services. Not only can we pick out the best flooring or tile, we can also find the best paint color to complement any other improvements you do on your house.
JLHFD is your one-stop solution for a majority of your home improvement needs. Contact any one of our sales associates and let us get the best return on investment from your 2011 tax refund.
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Karry Prichard
Julie Dixon