You’ve got your eye on the out-dated kitchen or you think you might want to just tear up your carpeting and install hardwood floors, but before you start to rip out the cabinets or the carpet make sure to establish some guidelines for your home improvement plan. A good home improvement plan should take into account: budget, financing, scope of work, functionality and aesthetics, resale value.Budget ConsiderationsOne good way to find out what you can afford is to simply get three estimates from contractors. Discuss what you want with the contractor and if the estimate is high, ask them how you can reduce the costs. The estimate should be separated into cost of materials and cost of labor. By getting a professional opinion first, you may find that the bids are very similar and you have a good starting point for the high-end cost of your project.Now, you can begin to factor in whether there is some work you can do yourself. This will improve the amount of cash outlay necessary to complete the work. Another way to get to meet your budget is to shop for a cheaper source of materials or change the type of material used. Either way, these are highly flexible items in your home improvement budget.Sources of FinancingIf one doesn’t have the money, the inclination is not to do the home improvement. Cash, however, is not the only way to pay for a home improvement plan, you can also finance. If you find you don’t have enough cash, you can use a home equity loan to finance the remodeling of your home. Try to identify additional forms of financing in case you need additional monies to complete the project. In the end, a home improvement project should add to the resale value of your home for it to be a sound purchase.Scope of WorkThis is where a good plan is essential. If you are planning a major remodel, you will want some basic plans drawn up, preferably by a professional. You don’t want to find out later that the wall you envisioned removing for a more open space is a critical weight-bearing wall. Similarly, you don’t want to plan for electronic appliances and devices in an area where there are no outlets. If you plan on revamping a kitchen, the dimensions of workspace and appliance real estate are very important. Don’t try to eyeball it or you’ll end up paying for it later in time, additional work, or wasted purchases. By trying to define the scope of the work on paper first, you can bypass many of the simple problems that arise from not having thought the improvement plan out thoroughly.Functionality And AestheticsObviously, we don’t just want to substitute one thing for another, we want the new home improvement to outshine the old room. We want it to work better for us and we want that “ah” factor too. Have you done your research on the functionality of the appliances and space arrangements? How about the aesthetics and maintenance of the materials you chose? Does the improvement help to accommodate the growing needs of your family? Will it continue to be of service after 5 years? 10 years? These are all factors that should be considered and weighed against budget, scope, and resale value.Resale ValueThis is a tricky value that can’t really be foreseen that much. We know that kitchen and bathroom remodels recoup the most on the sale of the house. No home improvement will recoup 100% of the price it took to remodel, however, if you are in a climbing real estate market that might not matter. What you don’t want to do is to add a home improvement that detracts from the value of your property. Adding a fifth bedroom in a neighborhood of four bedroom homes would be detrimental to the value of your home. Adding a swimming pool in areas where houses with pools don’t sell well would also be considered an investment that could not be recouped. Some people still do it anyways. The point is that most home improvements are done to meet the needs of a particular family and the desire for a more comfortable living space. While resale value is important, it is just one of the many considerations that have to be evaluated in a good home improvement plan.

Women start to feel self-conscious when they are pregnant because their body shape starts to change. Therefore, women are advised to dress well to feel good about themselves. Many of the expectant mothers start to wear maternity clothes around the fourth month. The maternity clothes need not be baggy pants and sweater; the clothes can be fashionable and stylish. Today, every woman can find stylish maternity clothing from top designers. The guidelines to follow when purchasing maternity clothes include the following.· Plan for the clothingThe process of buying maternity clothes is gradual. Every expecting mother should know exactly what to wear when they are pregnant. Women who are anticipating the arrival date of their babies should plan for their clothes. Depending on a woman’s outside activities, they will need at least 6 to 12 sets of maternity clothing. Furthermore, they will need to make separate plans for the inside and outside attire.As you do your shopping, you will discover modern stylish and conservative dresses. Therefore, you will need to choose clothing based on your culture and likings. A woman’s health is nevertheless the primary factor in choosing a suitable maternity dress. Because of the hormonal variations and changes in the body, clothes have a significant impact on the health and comfort of the unborn baby. It is important to purchase clothes that will allow the free circulation of blood and allow the body to breathe through the skin.· The material of the maternity clothesThe clothes should be made of the right material to avoid a situation where the skin gets a nasty rash, allergies and itching- putting the woman in a painful situation. It is important for the woman to wear the right clothes that do not suffocate them. The natural cotton fibers are recommended highly over the synthetic fibers. It is important to choose soft, porous, spongy and flexible cotton made clothes.· Clothing that matches a woman’s lifestylePregnant women do not have to stay at home. If at all they are working women, they will be expected to continue working during this period. They will also need to keep travelling. Some of the women choose to engage in light exercises. Therefore, it is important to have clothing that can cater for a busy lifestyle.· Choose the correct size of clothingThe correct size of clothing is an important consideration when choosing maternity clothes. As the belly grows larger, it is important to purchase bigger size blouses, pants and bras. The correct size of clothing is important to avoid a scenario where the clothes are too loose making you to look awkward. Nevertheless, tight clothes are totally out of place.