Anyone who has ever owned their own home can tell you that it takes a great deal of work to keep it looking great and working efficiently. On average a homeowner will spend about one to three percent of their house’s value on home improvement jobs every year. However, there are ways to cut back on cost, so here are some tips to help you save money and still be able to improve and upkeep the home you love.

If you can afford it, go for hard wood floors and stay away from laminate. Laminate looks like real wood but it cannot be refinished. In about 10 or 20 years time, the floor will need replacing rather than just getting it refinished.

Adding or replacing the weather stripping around windows and doors is a great way to improve the energy efficiency of your home. It is a cheap fix that …