Outside Project Overview

Many home improvement projects focus of the outside of the home. The exterior of a house is the first thing people see and when it is looking out of shape it reflects badly on the whole house. Besides just looking bad, an exterior that needs some attention can effect insurance rates. This is why many people decide to improve the outside of their home first.

One of the biggest improvements to the exterior of a home is to fix or paint the exterior walls. Many people have vinyl siding on their home which usually stays in good shape for many years. Sometimes, though, it can be broken or otherwise damaged and need repair. It also needs a good power washing on occasion. If the home is sided with wood siding, then it needs to be painted on a regular basis. Stucco or brick exteriors need regular cleaning and may occasionally need some repair. All of these tasks are time consuming and are a large undertaking. Improving the exterior walls goes a long way towards making a house look better.

Another common exterior improvement project is the gutters. Gutters require regular cleaning, unless gutter guards are installed. They are also prone to damage and occasionally need replaced. Gutter are an important project because if they are broken, damaged or full of leaves and debris then they can not do their job and water damage could occur to the home.

There are other outside projects that help to add style and functionality to a home. A person may add on a deck, pave their driveway or design landscaping. Projects like these add value to the home and, generally, just make it look better.

Whatever outside home improvement project you decide to take on, it is important to plan. Being outside makes you a slave to the weather. A project started too late in the year could end up having to wait for the Spring to be finished. These are usually the most physically demanding of all home improvement projects, too. If you are going to start an outside home improvement project then it is very important to understand all aspects, so you can get help, if needed.

Home Improvement Before Selling

Many people go into huge home improvement projects once they decide to sell their home. The idea is that they think doing these projects will increase the value of the home. The truth is that many projects are not going to raise the selling price. If you are planning to sell your home and feel you need to make improvements, then you should read below about what types of improvements to do and those to avoid.

The biggest rule when it comes to home improvement before selling is that projects should only be done if they are something that must be done or else the house will not sell. Besides necessary projects, you can also undertake some minor projects that are inexpensive, like painting the walls. Just avoid anything too expensive because it will not pay out in the end. Do not add on things like central air, a swimming pool or anything else that is consider extra because it will not reflect in the selling price.

Another thing to consider when doing improvements before selling is the outside of the house, including walkways, decks and landscaping. If you really want to increase the home’s value this is the place to look. First impressions come when the buyers step onto the property. Whatever is reflected by the exterior of the house will set the tone for their feelings abut the rest of the house. Inexpensive and simple things like, filling in cracks in sidewalks, painting a deck or adding a cheap stepping stone walkway can make a big difference.

When it comes to doing home improvements before selling it is very important for you to make sure they are done well. Shoddy work will not improve the selling price and could actually lower it. Hire a professional instead of trying to do the work yourself unless you are skilled at whatever the project is.

Doing home improvements before selling is very tempting. Often times you think that by doing a few projects you will help the selling price, but many times that is not true. Just remember any project that is too expensive and that is not necessary is just a waste of money.

Home Improvement Twice a Year Maintenance Project

To keep your house looking good and to keep it in the best condition you should plan on doing some regular home improvement maintenance twice a year. For those who live in places that have all four seasons you should do this in the Fall and Spring. If you live in a place that doesn’t experience an extreme cold period then you should simply plan to do maintenance around April and October.

One of the reasons for this regular maintenance is to repair any damages caused by weather. Extreme weather conditions can really do some damage to a house. By doing regular maintenance twice a year you will catch damage before it snowballs into an extreme problem. So, in the end, twice a year maintenance will save you money.

The following list explains the projects you should include in your twice a year maintenance schedule.

• Clean the yard of debris. Leaves and other debris should be bagged up and disposed of so it does not damage the lawn, house or other structures.
• Clean gutters. Dirty gutters can lead to water damage for your roof, walls, windows and basement.
• Treat all wood on the exterior of the home. This includes gutters, trims and decks. You should only have to treat once a year and it should be done prior to winter or, if you do not get snow, the season you get the most precipitation.
• Look for foundation or wall damage. Caulk any cracks you see and make plans to repair any foundation problems once good weather comes.
• Trim trees or shrubbery away form house. Tree limbs hanging onto a roof are the main source for all kinds of bugs in the home. By simply cutting back the limbs you can avoid large problems with many household bugs.
• Repair screens and storm windows, if needed. You should also give all windows and screens a good exterior cleaning.
  

These simple tasks will probably take a couple days, so be sure to plan ahead. It is a labor intensive project, so recruit the family to help out. Everyone will benefit from this preventative maintenance and you will be thrilled at how many problems you can avoid by sticking to a twice a year routine.