Summer has officially arrived and with the good weather comes all those home renovation projects. It doesn’t matter if you plan to sell your home in the near future or if you intend to live in it for years to come, keeping a property up-to-date is a critical part of ownership.
The following are home maintenance and improvement projects that don't require a lot of time and money. Some are DIY projects others are worth hiring a professional to do it.
Painting the exterior
First impressions are everything, especially in real estate, and it is surprising what a little paint can do for the appearance of a home – and its value. Some statistics show that the average return on the resale is 90%.
This is one of those projects in which I strongly recommend hiring a contractor; professionals have the right tools and expertise required while following health and safety procedures to avoid accidents.
An average for an exterior paint job is $3,000. Again many factors determine the final cost, like actual size or if the contractor needs a scaffolding, among other issues.
Tips: When painting your home, consider using warm and inviting colours.
Indoor Painting and Wallpaper
This is one of the cheapest indoor home maintenance projects you can handle easily by yourself or with a little help from your family. Repainting the entire part of your house can be costly and tedious. However, strategically touching up some parts of your home interior will save you time and money.
Simply covering up the dirty spots on your wall will do the job but the colour has to match the existing one. The new appearance and feelings a new paint and wallpapers will create to spruce up your home cannot be overemphasized.
This is a great project for the summer days as it gives you the advantage of opening all your windows for proper ventilation and drying.
The cost of repainting depends on the cost of the paint and other needed materials plus the size of the room to be covered, but it can be as low as $200.
Deck Maintenance
Spending time on your deck on a warm evening is one of the best parts of the summer.Deck maintenance can be an easy DIY project that is best carried out on summer days when the weather is better.
Start by checking for broken or loose boards. Once you assess the state of your deck, you can begin repairing the damaged areas. You can use a pressure washer to clean it and repaint it if needed. However, if the damage is too much, you might want to look into building a new deck. Decks should not only be beautiful but safe as well
Landscaping
Spending some time gardening is the top summer home improvement project that can transform your home. It is also a great activity that improves the quality of life during hot summer periods. Landscaping is affordable and creates a good first impression on visitors (and even potential buyers).
Regardless of what summer project you decide to tackle, keep in mind you do not have to force yourself into a home maintenance project you won't enjoy all in the name of adding value to your home. Select the most suitable projects you can handle and leave the others for professionals.
If you are thinking about selling your home in the fall, contact me here for a free market evaluation and to chat about summer improvement projects for your home.