Spring is not only the best time of year to give your home a good cleaning, it’s also the best time of year to take on several home improvement projects. Spring projects like these can improve your home’s looks and performance, and rarely cost more than $1,000, so you can easily take care of these issues before they have a chance to lead to bigger problems down the road.
Siding Repair
Winter weather can really do a number on your siding. Hail stones can dent or damage anything from aluminum to vinyl, while painted wood siding frequently needs to have sections replaced that have been subjected to moisture over the cold wet months. In most cases, repairing a section of siding can help your home maintain its curb appeal, while also helping to ensure that problems like rotting wood don’t spread, necessitating further repair.
Costs
The average cost to repair siding of nearly any type is about $300, with a full range of up to $1,000 for more invasive types of repairs.
Money Saving Tips
The best way to save money on a repair is to try to color match the new siding to the old. That way you only have to replace damaged boards, rather than the whole section. You can also paint aluminum or vinyl siding to match existing siding if you are unable to find matching planks to help keep costs down.
DIY Considerations
Aluminum and vinyl siding can both be very easily repaired by most homeowners. Things like dents can be popped out of aluminum, and cracked or broken boards can be removed and replaced without needing to disturb too much around them. Wood siding, masonite, brick, and fiber cement siding, however, should be left to professionals for repairs, as should any major repairs that appear widespread.
Paint Your Front Door
Just like the paint on the rest of your home, your front door can be subject to things like peeling, cracking and fading over time. The freeze/thaw cycle in the winter can make this even more obvious, as can things like salt or ice melt getting splashed on the door by slush as people make their way indoors. Repainting your door is fairly easy and inexpensive, and can really give your home’s curb appeal a big boost.
Cost
The average cost of painting a front door is about $100 per door. The total cost ranges from about $20 for a DIY job to $300 for high-end doors and paint jobs.
Money Saving Tips
The best way to save money on front door paint jobs is to invest in high quality enamel paints for the job. They’re less likely to need touch ups as frequently as other paints, which means you need to paint less often. If you’re comfortable painting the door yourself, tackling this job DIY can really save you a lot of money as well. Just be sure to use a primer and two coats of paint to ensure you’re doing it right.
DIY Considerations
Most people can comfortably tackle the job of painting themselves. The only time you may want to leave it to the professionals is if you have a door with windows, glass inserts, or a lot of carvings and features that may take a specialized approach.
Stain Your Deck
All that snow, ice and freezing rain hitting your deck this winter could have done a lot of damage to the stain and finish of the wood. Stain is necessary not only to keep your deck looking great, it also helps prevent the wood from absorbing moisture and rotting over time. So if your deck has begun to peel and show the wood through in places, it’s time to put on a new coat of stain. Doing so will not only help protect your deck from the elements, it will also improve your home’s curb appeal.
Cost
The average cost of staining a deck is around $2 a square foot, assuming a deck of around 500 square feet. In most cases the cost will not be any higher than $400 for the total job.
Money Saving Tips
Your deck will need to be power washed before it can be stained, and this needs time to dry before the stain can be applied. Save time and money by doing the power washing yourself; schedule the professionals to come in after the deck has had a chance to dry. If you’re comfortable with tackling the job yourself, DIY can also save you professional fees, as most pros will take about 4-5 hours to do the job, and charge for their time.
DIY Considerations
Most able bodied homeowners will be able to tackle this job on their own. Keep in mind that you will need to rent or purchase a power washer to thoroughly clean the deck. You’ll also need to remove old, peeling stain, and apply at least two coats to ensure good coverage.
Air Duct Cleaning
After running your furnace all winter, it’s a good idea to get your air ducts cleaned come spring. This is particularly crucial if you’ve had any work done indoors over the past year, as construction dust and debris can build up in your ducts, reducing your HVAC system’s efficiency. Likewise, if you or your family suffer from allergies, cleaning out the ducts periodically can help improve your air quality.
Cost
The average cost of having your ducts cleaned is between $300 and $500 for a professional cleaning. The total range of costs is between $200 for cleaning the ducts in a small house to $900 for older ductwork that may need some upgrades done at the same time.
Money Saving Tips
Change your filter regularly on your HVAC system to help prevent dust and dirt build up in your ducts. You should change these seasonally at a minimum, but some brands recommend changing them monthly. Remove your filter and hold it up to the light; if you can’t see through it, it’s time to replace it. Clean and wipe down your grates periodically as well to help get rid of buildup that could be falling into the ducts, necessitating their cleaning.
DIY Considerations
Special equipment and knowledge is required to clean out the ducts properly. While you could possibly clean around the openings and the grates, cleaning the ducts themselves should be left to the professionals.
Fertilize Your Lawn
Help bring your lawn back to life after a cold, snowy winter with fertilizer. Fertilizing your lawn helps feed it with nutrients it needs to grow. Some fertilizers can also help eliminate weeds, and improve the overall quality of your lawn at the same time, so it requires less water or maintenance in the future.
Cost
The average cost to fertilize your lawn is around $.03 a square foot, assuming a 6,000 square foot lawn. The total costs range from around $.02 a square foot for a DIY job to $.04 a square foot during the peak season.
Money Saving Tips
Make the most of your lawn fertilization by ensuring that you water your lawn either early in the morning or late in the evening to prevent the sun from drying out both your grass and the fertilizer at the same time. If you have your lawn professionally serviced regularly, ask about bundling in fertilization with other services such as mowing to help reduce costs.
DIY Considerations
Nearly any able bodied homeowner should be able to tackle this job. All you need is a spreader and the ability to traverse your entire lawn. If you have a lot of steep hills or other issues, however, it may be better to hire a professional.
Keeping your home looking and functioning well in the springtime doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Follow these tips to help ensure your home looks and functions its best this year. For more cost savings, visit these Cost Guides.
This post was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. Check the blog daily for top real estate tips and trends.
