Summer means hot temperatures, kids on break from school and maybe a bit of traveling. But if your busy schedule allows, this time of year could be a terrific opportunity to knock out some home projects that could make things easier on your wallet and your life in general – and help to maintain the value of your home.
Homeownership involves more than making your house payment, and the investment you make throughout the year in keeping the interior and exterior of your home in peak condition will pay dividends in its future value and your earned equity moving forward.
But where’s a good place to start? Kelley Walters, writer for NAR’s HouseLogic.com, has some out-of-the-box tips. These ideas might not be the first things you think of when looking at home projects but I think you’ll appreciate her points.
Organize the basement
The two most common types of clutter? Old clothes and seasonal items. Just the kind of stuff that winds up in the basement.
So this month, face your messy basement head on. Not only will you regain space but you’ll also save time and even knock out any clutter-related depression. (Yes, that’s a thing.)
Now that you’ve got your basement organized, maybe it’s a suitable time to consider this next project:
Finish the basement
The solution to a cramped house could be right under your feet. Transforming an unfinished basement into a media room, home office or even a rentable space builds equity, upping your home’s resale value.
Start this project now and you can kick back and enjoy your new space all winter long.
Buy paint on sale
July is not the time of year you think of painting, right? It’s usually too hot and humid. That’s probably why so many places put paint on sale this month. Stock up now and you’ll be ready for that painting project on your fall to-do list. (P.S. Latex and acrylic paint can last up to 10 years; oil-based, up to 15.)
Hit up recycling centers
Summer is home improvement season. That also makes it the savvy buyer’s time to seek out deals at recycling centers and home improvement resale stores.
Since this is project time – not to mention moving season – a lot of folks are ditching their old stuff. Take advantage and snap it up at super low prices.
Kelly really offers some terrific tips on paint sales, purchasing repurposed items and getting the basement cleared out or even renovating it into a new usable space, but let’s think about some projects you can tackle (no pun intended) outside your home before football season and baseball’s pennant races start.
Clearing overgrowth
This is one task no one enjoys doing, but this time of year is certainly when Mother Nature likes to reclaim that back property line or the tree limbs overhanging your roof. Just be careful to pace yourself and don’t take on the project if you’re not comfortable with the scope or the degree of difficulty involved.
Don’t feel quite up to tackling the outdoors? Refreshing that back patio or deck could certainly make an enormous difference. While the labor might be intense during these dog days of summer, a plan to have a pressure washing project in the afternoons can make the latter part of the day a welcome reprieve from the heat.
I mention this as outdoor living spaces are always a plus when adding value to a property’s livability and a favorite amenity for future buyers.
No matter the effort involved or the impact on your pocketbook, these projects can be rewarding to the overall maintenance and upkeep of your property’s value. Trust me when I say a Saturday afternoon in the fall in a refreshed outdoor living space, well maintained yard and new basement media room will make your investment all that more rewarding.
So, as summer stays with us and the temperatures remain hot, remember that no matter the time of year, it’s always a great idea to consult a Realtor for your homebuying or selling needs. Realtors have the expertise to make sure you get the most out of your investment all year long. That’s who we R.
Founded in 1912, Greater Chattanooga Realtors is a regional organization with more than 2,500 members servicing Hamilton and Sequatchie counties in southeast Tennessee and Catoosa, Dade and Walker counties in northwest Georgia. The association is one of approximately 1,100 local associations and boards of Realtors nationwide that comprise the National Association of Realtors. Greater Chattanooga Realtors owns and operates a multiple listing service that’s one of approximately 600 MLSs in the country and services more than 2,700 users.