Spring Remodeling Projects to Start Saving For

 As cold weather and snow continue through mid February, it is hard to imagine when Spring will come. Soon enough the warm weather will return and home improvement projects will be in full swing. According to CNBC, builder sentiment has remained in mid-to-upper-50’s (over 50 is positive) for the past 8 months, with February at a score of 55. This is a great score in comparison to last February, in which we experienced similar weather and builder sentiment was at a score of 46. The National Association of Home Builders’ Chief Economist David Crowe described the scores as “a modest, ongoing recovery,” predicting that “Solid job growth, affordable home prices and historically low mortgage rates should help unleash growing pent-up demand and keep the housing market moving forward in the year ahead.”

With a growing economy and improving weather, CF Funding expects remodeling projects to surge this spring. Many may be remodeling this year to increase their home’s appeal in order to sell it.

You may be wondering what is the best remodeling project for your home. Which improvement will provide a large return on investment? What can I afford this Spring? CF Funding is here to help.

According to Power Home Remodeling Group, the 4^th largest home remodeling company in America, “Giving your home some added curb appeal with an exterior makeover will automatically boost the resale value of your property... If you plan to stay put, focus on cost effective renovations that make your home more comfortable, functional and low maintenance for your family. Either way, enhancing your home this spring will help protect your greatest investment.” Examples of exterior improvement projects include updating siding, replacing windows, and painting or replacing entry doors.

If you plan to sell your home in the near future, these projects are important because they may make a great first impression on homebuyers. If you are worried about the cost, consider this: according to Steve Brown, the president of the National Association of Realtors, “Projects such as entry door, siding and window replacements can recoup homeowners more than 78 percent of costs upon resale.” The association also rated exterior projects among the most valuable home improvements in their Remodeling Cost vs. Value Report. Examples included deck addition, garage door replacement, and roofing replacement.

Looking to start remodeling indoors before the weather permits outdoor projects? CF Funding suggests a kitchen or bathroom remodel, as they also provide large return on investment. Be sure to contact us if you are considering a refinance, as you could receive cash back to help pay for your Spring projects. Visit www.cffunding.com for more info or call (888)-344-4080 to speak to a specialist today!

For more home improvement ideas, visit our Pinterest page at www.pinterest.com/cffunding. 

How to Protect Yourself and Your Home in the Winter

As we prepare for more snow and cold weather, how do we protect ourselves and our homes? CF Funding has put together a few tips to keep you safe.

A great way to keep cold air from entering the home is to weatherstrip your doors, or keep a towel or rug along the bottom of the doors and/or windows.

When extremely low temperatures are expected, make sure your home is heated to a minimum of 65 degrees. Although the cost of heating your home may seem out of budget this winter, put your safety first to prevent walls and pipes from freezing.We suggest that you wrap pipes with foam insulation or heat tape to prevent freezing and bursting. Keep cabinets open under the sink to keep the area ventilated. Be sure to run the water periodically in all sinks in your home.

An easy tip that could save your family’s life is to prepare an emergency kit. Make sure you have extra blankets, candles and lighters in case the power goes out. Keep your phones charged or purchase a backup battery to make sure you stay alerted, and can call for help if needed. You can also purchase a battery operated radio for as low as $15. Keep canned foods, cereals, and water stocked in case you are snowed in for an extended period of time.

An emergency kit is also a great idea for the car. Make sure you have a blanket, gloves, handwarmers, a shovel, flashlight, and a distress flag and/or emergency triangles. 

According to the Weather Channel, flooding from melting snow can pose a large risk to you and your home. One precaution you may take is to ventilate your attic well, so the warm temperatures do not melt snow on the roof.  The water can refreeze at the edge of your roof, and “If ice builds up and blocks water from draining, water is forced under the roof covering and into your attic or down the inside walls of your house.” There are also heated gutter guards made for this purpose, but they can be expensive.

If you feel that your home may be at risk for flooding, make sure electrical devices are raised off of the ground or kept out the basement, especially near windows. You may want to use plastic sheeting to cover cracks in walls or roofs. If flooding does occur from melting snow or a pipe burst, be sure to initiate cleanup as soon as it is safe to do so, to prevent rust and mold from forming. Ventilate the area with fans.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends bringing pets indoors when it's cold outside, according to KETV Omaha. They shared the following tips:

• Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, as dogs can easily become lost.

• Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when coming inside from the sleet, snow or ice. Dogs could ingest salt, antifreeze or other dangerous chemicals while licking paws. Paw pads could also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

• Never leave your cat or dog alone in a car during cold weather.

• Make sure your pet has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts

CF Funding asks that you do not underestimate the dangers of winter weather. Please bundle up and take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your family.