What you need to know about non load bearing walls

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If you’re planning a major remodel of your home, you’ll need to know about safely removing non load bearing walls. Most interior walls you are likely to remove during a remodeling project are non load bearing, but it’s important to know how to identify them before you begin demolition.

As always with significant renovation projects, consult a professional before you get into your home renovation.

Here is a basic guide to non load bearing walls:

What are examples of non load bearing walls?

Walls in your home exist for many reasons other than bearing loads. Here are some examples of non load bearing walls you’re likely to have in your house:

  • Closet walls.
  • Interior basement walls.
  • Walls between bedrooms.
  • Angular walls covering corners.

What is the best way to remove a non load bearing wall?

While demolishing a wall might make you think of sledgehammers, it’s much safer and more effective to remove non load bearing walls piece by piece. The basic strategy for safely removing a non load bearing wall is to begin with the outside layers and work inward.

It may seem simple, but it’s essential to hire professional help for removing walls of any kind. Even if the wall is not load bearing, you will need to install headers to support the weight from above. Removing a wall also requires altering electrical circuits, plumbing or gas pipes and HVAC ductwork in a safe and precise manner. Pipes and wires will either need to be capped off or redirected.

For safety reasons, it’s recommended that you consult an engineer or other construction professional for help removing a non load bearing wall. They can make sure all changes adhere to building codes and will keep you and your home safe in the future.

Keep this in mind when planning a major remodel of your home, and plan accordingly, so you have the support you need.

3 Benefits of Hiring a Home Staging Professional

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While there are many parts of staging you can do yourself, there are some important benefits to hiring a professional. A professional home stager can help you prepare your home for the market and can use their expertise to sell your home quicker and for a higher price.

Here are the three biggest reasons to hire a staging professional to help you sell your home:

Networking Power

If you’re working with a real estate agent to sell your home it’s likely they recommended you hire a staging professional to help. They might even have a specific individual or firm to suggest. Just by making that initial connection, you’re already benefiting from the powerful networking abilities that home staging professionals have. Home stagers “know all the right people” in the industry in order to do their jobs well. What does this mean for you? With access to a network of other professionals, stagers can help you get the best price for any materials or services needed to update your home. Painters, contractors or even furniture rental services are all examples of important contacts who can save you money. You also get the peace of mind that your staging professional has existing relationships with these other individuals or companies and knows what to expect in terms of service and costs.

An Objective Viewpoint

A home staging professional will provide you with valuable perspective. Having never lived in it, a stager won’t have the same emotional connection to your home. Even besides emotional attachment, they will see things you might miss as a homeowner simply because you see them every day. A staging professional will have a fresh and purely objective viewpoint on your home which will allow them to do their job to the best of their ability. They will identify potential issues, make suggestions or changes to prepare your home for potential buyers. The more experience they have in staging homes, the better: staging professionals are up-to-date on home trends and will cater to the current market with their knowledge.

Bringing Out the Best in Your Home

Staging professionals will see your home objectively but also strategically. When staging a home, it’s impossible to make everything absolutely perfect for every potential buyer. That’s why it’s important to find the best features of your home to highlight. Stagers can see the potential value in every aspect of your property and will know where best to apply your money and hard work. They might identify if you have under-used space and if you could rearrange your furniture to make your rooms seem bigger. They can replace or add new window treatments in order to emphasize a home’s natural light. A staging professional will identify and highlight what’s best about your home so that potential buyers will recognize and desire those features as well.

There are lots of details that go into staging your home for sale but the key benefit of hiring a professional stager is that they bring a fresh perspective. For example, what you might consider the best feature in your home might not be what buyers are looking for. You might need improvements in places you don’t notice because you see them every day. If you want the best possible price for your home, definitely consider hiring a staging professional to help.

Which Home Improvement Projects Add Value to Your Home?

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Home improvement projects not only help you personalize your space to suit your style, but they can also boost your property value. When you are investing in a home improvement project, it’s important to choose one that is going to allow you to enjoy the greatest return on your investment.

These home improvement projects typically add the most value to your home:

Kitchen Remodel

A kitchen remodel is one of the most costly home improvement projects that you can take on, especially if you decide to renovate your kitchen from the ground up. However, this is also one of the most valuable investments that you can make in your home. A renovated kitchen can provide you with anywhere from a 50 to 80 percent return on your investment, depending on the choices that you make and the amount of money that you invest in the project.


New Windows

Installing new windows in your home is an improvement project that will increase your quality of life inside your home while also ensuring you enjoy a generous return on your investment when you go to sell. It is important to opt for energy-efficient windows to get the most cost savings and see the highest returns. Don’t forget about the rebates and tax credits you may be eligible for when you invest in energy-efficient windows.

Improved Deck or Patio

When you make a commitment to improve your outdoor living space, you are investing in your own enjoyment of your home. However, a freshly painted deck or a new patio can also add a lot of value — either project can offer a 30 percent to 60 percent return on your investment.

Basement Refinishing

Finishing the basement in your home can transform this storage area into a new, functional living space. If you add luxury features, such as a full bathroom or a wet bar, you may find that you see an even larger return on your investment from this project.

Any home improvement project — regardless of its size or scope — is going to require an investment of your time, energy and financial resources. When you select value-added home improvement projects, you may find that your investment pays off in dividends when you list your home on the market for the highest possible price.