Are You Making The Most Of Sweat Equity?

Are You Making The Most Of Sweat Equity?

by Bill Prudehome

Sweat equity is using your labor to make home improvements that increase the value of your home.

What has changed?

The do-it-yourself home renovation market has expanded dramatically over the past 20 years. Manufactures are now producing products aimed directly at the home handy person rather than professional trades people and contractors. These manufacturers are supported by an array of building material retailers that are catering to the do-it-yourself individual. Equipment and tool rental facilities have expanded their offerings, locations, and advertising to attract the do-it-yourself market place.

Packaging of building materials is now designed for point of sale purchase. Products are now packaged in sizes and weights that allow an individual to load the product in their personal vehicle. Packaging is now colorful, to attract the prospective buyer and includes detailed instructions on the proper use of the product.

Along with the change in the packaging of materials, the do-it-yourself market has created millions of pages of information. Books on home improvement provide step-by-step instructions on all aspects of almost any project. The availability of books on home improvement has been expanded by the Internet where websites offer chat forums on do-it-yourself projects enabling individuals to draw on the experience of others as well as expertise from professionals - at no charge. The Internet also provides websites that provide general information, manufacturer's websites that provide specific product information, retail websites that provide convenient purchase and websites that provide on-line videos on the installation of almost anything you can think of. Television shows on home improvement, decorating and landscaping have multiplied exponentially over the past few years. Many of the video rental stores provide home renovation videos as part of their inventory.

This change in the market has created hundred's of thousands of new do-it-yourselfers. An area that up until a few years ago was dominated by men is now attracting women even the Internet has begun to have specific websites that cater exclusively to the home handywoman.

It is allowing the homeowners to add value to their homes by renovating, decorating, and remodeling their homes by using these newly developed products and information and adding their personal labor. In many home renovation projects, trade labor costs can easily be equal to or exceed the value of the material. This is especially true in areas such as flooring, painting, wallpapering and landscaping, projects that are not overly difficult but very labor intensive.

If you are not currently taking advantage of this market change to increase the value of your home, you are missing out on a great opportunity. Besides, the monetary value of sweat equity there is an intensive pride in standing back and looking at a completed project that you did yourself.