Is
this the year that your yard will be the talk of the neighborhood – in a
good way? Your tax return can fund a number of outdoor home renovation / improvement
projects that can increase the curb appeal – and your enjoyment – of
your home. From affordable DIY projects to major additions that require
the skilled labor of a local contractor, here’s a quick look at some
popular home renovation & improvement projects for the spring and
summer.
Re-sod Your Lawn
A
raggedy, ill-maintained lawn can turn even the prettiest lot into an
eyesore. Get rid of the bare patches and crabgrass with an all-out
makeover. Tearing up and re-sodding or re-seeding a lawn isn’t a project
that requires a lot of skill, but it is time and work-intensive. You
can rent the necessary tools to make the work easier, but it’s easier
still to hire a local contractor skilled in doing lawn care and
maintenance to do the work for you. You can even contract with the lawn
maintenance company to take care of the mowing and upkeep throughout the
summer – and generally for a very affordable cost.
Plant Flower Beds
Flower
beds along the frontage of your property or lining the paths are a
quick and easy way to give your home an instant facelift. Gardening may
be a pleasure for some, but even avid gardeners might prefer to avoid
the backbreaking labor of preparing a flower bed for the first time.
Depending on the size of your intended flower patches, you can probably
hire a local contractor with a cultivator to break up the lawn, turn the
soil and add any amendments needed – and leave you the fun work to do.
Extend Your Kitchen
Turn your backyard into a complete outdoor kitchen.
Professional contractors are expert at building out a patio or deck and
outfitting it with everything you need to entertain in style. Working
with a local contractor gives you a number of advantages over doing it
yourself, including the fact that most pros have connections with local
distributors of appliances and construction materials. That often means
that local contractors can often work deals and get their hands on hard-to-find items that will turn your backyard into a showplace.
As
a bonus, each of these home renovations & improvements actually add
more value to your house. They’re among the top ten renovation projects
that provide a decent return on investment when it comes to the
valuation of your house for sale.