Home improvement projects take a lot of sweat, cash and determination to complete. With the help of technology, however, any home improvement task can be easier. Take a look at some of the best iPhone applications to help with your next home improvement project.
For Planning
KAD Software’s Estimation Apps. This application is well worth the $0.99 upfront charge. KAD offers a variety of apps here to help you predict what you will need, and how much of it, to successfully complete your home improvement project. Wallpaper, tile, and paint are just a few of the customized app interfaces that will get you started making the most of your home improvement projects.
Renovation Budget Tracker. Even the simplest home improvement tasks can be really expensive if you don’t keep a careful eye on your budget. This $2.99 app has custom categories for spending and also keeps a running tally of what you have already spent, alerting you when costs related to your home improvement projects are too high.
For “How-To” Instruction
Power Tools. The name is fairly self-explanatory: This $0.99 app tells you more about power tools than you ever knew you wanted to know. There are buying guides and simple how-to tutorials. There is even a feature that tells you exactly what a particular tool sounds like. This is a great app for amateur do-it-yourselfers who are just starting to build up their home improvement tool box.
Construction Instruction. With hundreds of videos, photos, articles, and even vendor manuals, this free app helps you from start to finish on any construction project at home. It’s also helpful if you are having contractors do the work for you because you can use it to examine the work in progress.
For Outside
Gardening Toolkit. For $3.99, you can have access to advice on how to plant, cultivate and harvest more than 800 garden plants, from flowers to herbs to vegetables. Your climate and geographic location are also taken into account, which keeps you from planting the wrong things in the wrong season, or in the wrong type of soil. It also offers notifications to keep gardeners on track with the garden upkeep.
Landscaper’s Companion. If you want to change the way your yard looks but aren’t sure where to start, this app can provide you with plenty of insight for $5.99. It boasts a database of more than 20,000 plants so you can have a quick reference point and come up with some ideas of what will work well in your yard.
For Inspiration and Organization
Evernote. This is an overall great application to have for a variety of tasks and works really well with home improvement project management. You can organize lists for things like shopping and keep your project on the right time scale. The best part? This app keeps your home improvement projects on task for free. You can also use the scanning ability of the app for any papers or documents to help you declutter your space.
BrightNest. Ever feel overwhelmed when it comes to keeping up and maintaining your home? Sometimes the best home improvement project is to just get organized, and this free app can get you there. With cleaning schedules and organizational tips, it can get your home into shape and then keep it that way.
Pinterest. It’s simple, but true. Home improvement hacks abound on this photo-centric social network. Whether you want to install a new ceiling fan or you are looking for a way to organize your kids’ shoes, you can find plenty of ideas on Pinterest that can translate into your own home.
Would you add any apps to this list?
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
