7 Home Improvement Tips for Your Home’s Exterior
Revamping the exterior of your home is a great way to add value to your home. It can also be a great way to save money. Most people do not think of improving their home’s exterior as a way to save money, but these 7 home improvement tips for the exterior of your home will show you how you can save.
Improving the exterior of your home adds instant value to your home. By doing simple things like painting your front door, replacing landscaping, and adding a walkway, you can increase the value of your home by about 12% according to the Realtors Association. Of course, improving the exterior of your home can also result in energy savings.
Improving the exterior home will also make you feel better about your home. There is nothing better than pulling up in front of a home you can feel proud of. Exterior home improvement is a great place to invest your home improvement dollars and can come with great benefits.
1. Start From The Top and Work Your Way Down
Before you get to any of the fun exterior home improvements, the first of the 7 home improvement tips that you should follow for the exterior of your home is to start from the top and work your way down. What does that mean? It means to start with your roof. You may be thinking that there is nothing wrong with your roof and if it ain’t broken why fix it? The fact is, there may be things happening to your roof that you may not even realize if you have not had a roof inspection in a while. Unfortunately, without a professional inspection, you may not realize anything is wrong with your roof until it starts to fail and you have a leak.
Roofing shingles can be worn, flashing can deteriorate, and other small issues may be happening that are getting ready to turn into big problems. A certified roofer can inspect your roof and let you know if there is anything that needs to be addressed. Making small repairs now can save you a ton of money down the road. Additionally, a little roof maintenance can extend the life of your roof which, of course, is another way to save money.
A strong, durable roof is responsible for protecting all the systems in your home. Keeping your roof in great shape can reduce the risk of costly damage. Many people do not realize that the quality of their roof can affect the quality of their foundation. If you notice that you need a residential foundation repair service and are not sure what caused the problem in the first place, all you need to do is look up at your roof. A faulty roof can cause foundation damage. Start at the top and make sure that your roof is in good condition before you start on the other projects. It will ensure that your other projects are successful and save you money now and in the future.
2. Do This Next
The next tip on the 7 home improvement tips for the exterior of your home is to make repairs before you start making improvements. If you need garage door repair, make sure you put that on the list above for landscaping or painting your exterior. A functioning garage door is not a luxury it is a necessity. A faulty garage door is a risk factor. It can cause injury and property damage.
Everyone works within a budget and it may be disappointing to think that you may have to cut into your budget to pay a garage door company to repair your doors or replace them, but ultimately, you do not want an exterior that is all “show and no go”. In other words, the function should always trump aesthetics when you are making budgeting decisions. Besides, a new garage door will instantly update and upgrade your exterior. The point is you want to make sure that everything on the exterior of your home is fully functional, including your garage doors.
3. Have the Right Equipment Ready To Go
Number three on the 7 home improvement list for your exterior improvement list is making sure that you have all the equipment in place that you need. It is important that you properly prepare for those big projects like removing siding or tearing down a deck or porch, especially if you are going to DIY the project.
Waste removal in small spurts can be time-consuming and can delay the progress of the project. Even if you are going to hire a professional to manage the job, you may want to consider your own waste removal simply because it will save you money. If the contractor does not have to work on carting off the debris you may realize some savings for the project. Of course, if this is a DIY project, removing waste will be on you fully. Renting a waste container can be an easy solution for carting off the waste. Typically, you can rent these containers by the day, week, or for longer terms. The cost is affordable and it will save you a lot of trips loading up dump trailers to haul it off yourself.
Having the right equipment on hand can be a saving grace for any large exterior project. You should also ensure that if you are planning a DIY project you have enough materials and the right tools to complete the project. It is always best to order a little more material than you think you will need and have to return it than it is to order less material and have to stop the project while you wait to get the rest of the material.
One of the reasons that homeowners choose to hire residential demolition contractors is because they come with all the tools and equipment that are needed to get the job done. Do the math before you decide. Consider the cost of the tools and equipment that you will need for the project before you decide if this is something you want to take on as a DIY project.
4. Leave These Tasks To The Experts
Tip number four of the 7 home improvement tips for the exterior of your home is to know when you are way out of your league. There is nothing wrong with DIY projects. There is nothing wrong with investing labor equity in your home, but you do have to know where to draw the line. For example, if your HVAC needs to be moved, repaired, or replaced, this is a job for an HVAC contractor. You never want to violate your warranty by attempting repairs or moving an HVAC system on your own.
If the exterior of your home needs to be wired or you are running electricity to an outdoor structure, pay an electrician to ensure that the project is done up to code. Roofing, tree removal and trimming, and other activities that are risky to your personal safety should also be left up to the professionals.
You may have to spend a little more to have a professional manage certain parts of the project, but in the end, it is well worth the investment. Safety should always be a priority for your home and the people that live there. You may be able to save on some of the costs if you speak to the contractor about what you can do to reduce the costs. Some contractors will allow you to manage part of the project while they manage the part of the project that needs a certified professional.
5. Keep In Mind That Replacement Is Not the Only Solution
Tip number five of the 7 home improvement tips list is to keep in mind that not everything that is damaged on the exterior of your home needs to be replaced. In some cases, you may be able to save money by salvaging part or all of it. For example, things that are water damaged may be able to be restored.
A water restoration company may be able to reverse some of the damage. Let’s use wood steps as an example. If you have wooden steps leading into your home, and five of the eight steps are damaged, you may only need to replace the five steps that are damaged. It is important that you have an expert take a look at the damage to determine what can be saved and what will need to be replaced. In some cases, water damage can be hard to detect if you do not know what you are looking for.
Before you decide that every step needs to be ripped out and replaced, connect with a professional that has the skill set to determine what you can save. It is a lot cheaper to replace only what you need to. It can cut back on costs significantly.
6. Shop Around For Materials
Tip number six of the 7 home improvements for your exterior tip list is to compare material costs. You will be amazed about how much the price can vary on materials from one supplier to another. Set a budget and look for mid-range priced materials and compare your options. Professional appraisers agree that materials like paint, and vinyl siding and the quality of either do not really play a role in the value of your home.
If your plans include things like replacing your front door, painting the exterior, or even replacing all the siding on your exterior, you want to take extra care in who you do business with. Look for sales and discounts. The cost savings can be huge when you compare material costs.
Another way to save on material costs is to take advantage of things like “veterans discounts”, “first responder discounts” and other discounts that are rarely advertised. You almost always have to ask if these discounts are available. For example, at a well-known big box home improvement store, if you are a veteran, you instantly get 10% off your entire order even on items that are already on sale. That can be huge if you are spending $1000 on materials or more. Ask suppliers what type of discounts they offer. Some suppliers offer discounts for teachers and other professionals. You just have to ask.
7. Have a Plan And Stick To It
This final tip on the 7 home improvement tip list for the exterior of your home should have been the first tip. It is important that you plan every phase of your exterior projects. Your plan should include a budget for the project with a little wiggle room just in case, the time it will take for the project, and whether you will need help with the project. Treat the project like you would treat a paid-for job. Set it on your calendar with a schedule to ensure that you stick to it.
One of the mistakes homeowners make when they are improving the exterior of their homes is that they plan too many projects at once. Slow and steady wins the race when you are revamping the exterior of your home. Start a project, finish the project, and move on to the next project. Do not start too many projects simultaneously. That is bad for your budget and bad for your mental health.
Having too many irons in the fire at once can mean that the ball will get dropped and something will not get done or it can mean that shortcuts are taken that will come back to haunt you. Enough cannot be said about planning your projects and sticking to the plan.