The costs of home ownership always include the cost of home repairs and improvements. Average homeowners should put aside about one to three percent of their home’s value every year to spend on improvements. Of course, smart people will figure out how to spend less so read on to get the best bang for your buck.

A good way to get things done in your house is to ask for help from friends and family. You might want to ask close friends and family members to help you repaint your kitchen. You can pay them off by buying them lunch or taking them out to dinner, it’s probably cheaper than hiring someone to do the job for you.

When choosing a contractor, make sure to interview them and check references. There are few things more painful than a home improvement project gone wrong. At best you’ll have to live in …