If your home was built before 1975, there’s a strong chance it has aging cast iron plumbing—which could be corroding from the inside out and nearing failure. A professional plumbing inspection, especially with a camera scope, can help identify issues early and prevent costly damage, giving you time to plan and peace of mind.

We’ve compiled a list of 7 home improvements you can do yourself that will increase your home’s value and curb appeal. Although some of these may take a little money and a lot of work, you’ll be happy down the road.

These steps are a good starting place to get your wheels turning. You can research real estate investing for years and not learn as much as you will by actually pulling the trigger and getting into your first project. I wish you all the best!

Ashley Wainscott, CEO of Simple Sold Austin home renovation firm, broke down what to expect and how to prepare for successful renovations for us and our client's this week. Open House Austin is big on sharing education for our first-time buyers and new homeowners on how to make successful investments. Ashley is big on educating her reno clients too.

Renovation loans can be a great way to combine a home purchase or refinance with home improvement financing in one loan with one closing. So we had an expert answer some of our first-time buyers questions in Austin, TX.