An Increasing Number
Of Homeowners Turn To Online Shopping Before Tackling
Improvement Projects Or Making Purchases For The Home
How many hours did you spend at the
local home improvement store last weekend? If you're
like many do-it-yourselfers, you've likely spent
countless hours searching the aisles looking for
ideas and the items needed to complete that long
overdue home improvement project. But for every homeowner
that went through the hassle of searching the shelves,
there's another who accomplished the exact same task
in less time, thanks to a bit of high-tech research.
According to Jay Shatz, producer for the Do It Yourself (DIY) Television Network,
more consumers than ever before are logging onto home improvement web sites.
In fact, in response to increasing consumer demand for online product and contact
information, as well as instructions on various home improvement projects,
the DIY Network now offers "web-extras" on its site at www.diynet.com.
"These
web-extras consist of additional instructional video
footage that appears only online," says Shatz. "The
majority of the site's additional information focuses
on the two most popular areas of home improvement--gardening
and indoor projects."
INDOOR PROJECTS
So, whether remodeling inside or out, the Internet offers numerous resources.
Let's start inside the home and work our way to outdoor projects.
The Kitchen
The kitchen is likely the most popular room in the house, and also the most
frequently remodeled. Kitchens serve as gathering places for dinner, as well
as the room where family members often times chat, complete homework and pay
bills. That said, proper lighting is an essential part of a well-designed kitchen.
Homeowners looking to change the lighting in their kitchen or to improve the
décor can visit GE Lighting's Virtual House at www.GELighting.com/virtualhouse.
The site allows consumers to identify ways to incorporate better light into
their own homes by taking an e-tour.
This exclusive concept house - designed by a top lighting specialist at GE
- offers a number of interactive features, including advanced 360 degree IPIX?
technology, which gives viewers a real-time room-by-room experience. The Designer
Notes section offers a detailed account of the design process, tips and an
overview of the final lighting effect. Or for those who would like to try out
different techniques for themselves, visitors can click on the Virtual Lighting
Designer option to compare lighting options through on-line, interactive product
demonstrations.
If you are less interested in aesthetics and more concerned about saving money
on your electric bills can obtain energy-efficient information using several
online tools, such as the new online GE Lighting Auditor or GELA (gee-lah).
With a few simple keystrokes, consumers using the GELA program can calculate
lighting usage, compile a personalized report of more energy-efficient options,
and discover how much money they could save by implementing the suggested energy
tips.
The Bathroom
As the second most often remodeled room in a home, a bathroom makeover is all
about luxury. In fact, consumers spend about $4.8 billion each year on bathroom
remodeling projects and accessories. So, if you're thinking about tackling
a bathroom project, a great place to turn for help and advice is the National
Kitchen & Bath Association. Their site, www.nkba.org, concentrates on remodeling
tips and ideas for the bathroom and serves as an excellent source for first-time
homeowners.
And, if you're dreaming of remodeling your bathroom but don't want to spend
hours at the store searching for those perfect fixtures, Moen's web site module
called, 'Design Your Own Bathroom, allows users to create several different
design and color schemes for the bathroom from the convenience of their own
homes. Located at www.moen.com, this module complements existing sections for
consumers to 'Design Your Own Kitchen,' 'Design Your Own Vertical Spa,' 'Design
Your Own Faucet,' as well as view other tips and trends in kitchen and bath
remodeling.
OUTDOOR PROJECTS
Once you have completed your indoor projects, it's time to move on to the outdoor
improvements. These tasks can range from, painting an entire home, to building
a deck, to installing a driveway or even installing a security system. Consumers
can obtain helpful information and tips from the following online sources:
Painting
Imagine your home painted in over 100,000 different color combinations. Sounds
impossible, right? Well it isn't thanks to www.doityourself.com. With help
from this site and a photograph of your home, you can see first-hand, without
ever picking up a paintbrush, exactly what your home would look like by utilizing
the Power Painting(TM) feature. Also, home improvement repair experts host
community forums where they share valuable home improvement tips and information.
Security
When it comes to protecting property, many consumers feel the hassle and expense
of installing a complicated security system outweigh the benefits. However,
easy-to-use, easy-to-install GE Security and Surveillance devices offer consumers
the ability to create their own level of security by using several units together
or separately, in one room of the house, or throughout the entire home. Cameras
transmit up to 300 feet, allowing consumers to monitor the driveway, see who
is at the door or even watch children playing, all from one location. The small
lightweight device can also easily be mounted on a desk, wall or ceiling. For
more information, visit www.GELighting.com.
Decks
In recent years, the popularity of home decks and gazebos has grown enormously.
However, rather than hiring a professional to build a dream deck, many homeowners
are taking on the project themselves. For step-by-step guidance throughout
a gazebo or deck building project, including specific help in areas like sizing
footings, selecting lumber, multi-level decks and roof framing, www.bestdecksite.com
offers plenty of information.
So remember, before tackling that home improvement project it pays to log onto
the Internet. The web is constantly evolving and proving to be an instant library
of endless information that can serve all age groups, genders and interests.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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