Of course there will always be big projects that you can do on your home to improve its value and to make it a better place to live. The problem is these big projects require money, specialized skills and tools that you probably don’t have on hand. So while they definitely will bring up the value of your home, the question is how to do it in a cost effective manner?
If you plan on selling your home, the trick is to get the best deal by doing affordable home improvements. Consider focusing on the little things around your home that can use some TLC. Do-it-yourself projects can significantly help in raising the value of your home.
Tune Up Your Landscaping
You should know that almost everything at your home has a service life. Things like roofing, paint, and carpeting gradually wear down and become degraded. On the other hand, your landscaping is a different story. As the years pass by it grows and become better; it could actually improve the value of your home as long as it’s managed correctly. If you haven’t taken the time to prune your trees and bushes to give your yard a manicured look then it’s time that you should.
In a natural setting, rodents and insects work to turn the soil over and keep it from being compacted. Nutrients are also added to the soil through biological decay processes. You should know that your landscaping is not a natural setting. It would be smart to buy a soil test kit so you can monitor the nutrient and pH levels to promote healthy root growth.
The Time is Now for Termite Prevention
If you’re like most homeowners, the talk of termite abatement only comes up when it is time to sell your home. The best move is to prevent termite damage. In most cases, termite control costs absolutely nothing if you know where to look and what to do.
Pressure Wash Your Driveway and Cement Flat Work
Time can really take its toll on driveways and cement flat work. Time can make your driveways look dingy, stained and outdated. The good thing is that in most cases all it needs is just a good wash. Take note that driveways and cement flat works does not get easily cleaned up.
The best thing to do is to check with your local rental yard for pressure washers. A pressure washer works great for blasting away years of discoloration. For the final touch up, pick up some muriatic acid and a long handled scrub brush and use it to give your cement a bright new surface.
Tub Tile & Kitchen Caulk and Grout Tune-up
Replacing caulk around sinks, bathtubs and showers can make a huge difference in the overall look of your home. If the tile grout is missing then replacing it will bring a freshly done look to a kitchen or bathroom and both of these jobs are super easy and cheap to do.
Just scrape out the old caulk, scrub out any discoloration caused by mold with a toothbrush and cleaner then apply a new bead. Re-doing grout involves the same basic process. Buy some tile grout of matching color and then work it into the gaps between tiles where it’s missing.
Clean Calcite off Your Windows
Over time windows can become dotted with little spots of calcite and paint splatters especially when windows weren’t covered properly. Just like the caulking in kitchens and bathrooms, it’s a problem that brings down the look your home.
Take a day off and go over all the windows in your home with steel wool to scrub off the calcite deposits and a razor blade to scrape away any paint drips.
A Few Final Words:
Homes are a lot like cars. There are a lot of parts and components and overtime it will begin to show its wear and age. There are major projects such as painting that can make a big and fast difference, but at the same time there are lots of little things that can be done to bring up the value of your home. Consider setting aside a little bit of money each week to repair a couple of small things. A missing knob on a kitchen cabinet, a crack in the cement walkway or a leaky faucet is just some of the things you could repair. Do that for a year and watch what a difference it makes in the overall look and value of a home.
