Finding a home can be a difficult task. With so many choices on the market shopping for a home has really never been so difficult. One option to think about is home improvements that can save you time and money when shopping for a home.

Last year I decided I’d had enough of renting. I had a great condo in Pompano on the beach, but I just wanted to have something permanent of my own. I kept reading about how great the real estate market was in my area, and I had some money tucked away from my day job, so I hired a realtor and I started looking.

I’m a fairly picky person, and I know what I like when I see it. I think my realtor took me to almost every house that was available in the neighborhood I liked, and I couldn’t quite find what I was looking for. Then suddenly it hit me: I was saving so much on the purchase price of the house and I could easily buy a home I liked and fix it up to match the ideal home I can see in my head. I bought a house in Pompano Beach, and I spent over $50,000 fixing it up.

Now, home improvement projects can be quite difficult. I had to think long and hard about what projects I should complete that would both make me happy and make my home more valuable. As an example, I heard about a couple that spent thousands to transform their garage into a guest room. When they went to sell the house, the buyers were all asking how the garage could be transformed back into a functional garage. All of their renovation money went right down the drain. I made sure to research every option before I started a project. In fact, I heard that kitchen remodels do most to help increase the value of a home, and I love a kitchen that’s both modern and functional, so I spent a lot of effort on my kitchen. It’s an amazing space now.

I did some of the remodeling work myself, but when I needed help, I made sure to use contractors who had licenses in Florida. I wanted to make sure the work was covered if something went wrong. I had people come to my door that offered to do the job for a low fee, but I just wanted to make sure the job was done right. I felt bad about it, but I turned those people away. I think you should do the same.

About the author: Joshua Kerrigan lives in Florida, and holds down a respectable job in yacht repair and marina management. In his spare time, Joshua Kerrigan enjoys both swimming and running.