Home Improvement, One Step at a Time

Open House by Nicholas_T on flickr...Hope this doesn't remind you of your house. (It is not mine, by the way...Really.)

We spent a little money recently. Actually, for us, it was quite a bit.

We added to our driveway and re-sided the house. These projects also led to some new landscaping (to finish off the driveway extension) and a new front door (still to come…You can’t have a new spruced-up house, all crisp and fresh, and still have the old, sad, gray door. I’m just saying.)

These projects came about after my husband and I saw the problem my parents are having selling their southern Indiana home.

I have learned many wonderful things from them–too numerous to list. But unfortunately, I am seeing first hand, that if you let home projects build up, they become too big, too overwhelming, too expensive to fix. For property to hold its value or, better yet, increase its value, improvements must be made.

So, we started making a list of big projects that needed to be done. The siding and the driveway got top priority. Partly because I was afraid our neighbors would either take up a collection for us or get a petition up to oust us (due to peeling trim) and partly because we suddenly have a fleet of vehicles and don’t want to park on the street. (I know. That’s a little whiny.) Next, is the front door. And somewhere down the list is new windows (ours are pretty bad) and a screened-in porch. And that’s just the exterior list!

Confession:  Our trim work has been peeling for two years. It is easy to put off this kind of project because of cost or because life gets busy. Food and clean laundry take precedence. Now, obviously, peeling trim did not mean total replacement, but it was something we had kicked around for a few years–changing the color and getting rid of all of the dents. The peeling was simply the impetus we needed to bite the bullet.

And though the job wasn’t cheap, we hired a fair and wonderful company in the Cincinnati area (C.K. Siding and Construction). We are very happy we made the decision. The house looks like we care about it! A major face lift. It kind of makes me want to do the windows…But not yet. I’m not totally crazy.

Even if you don’t have the cash right now, make a list. I have several going, but only one for the big, exterior stuff. Prioritize your list, biggest need/desire on top–thinking through each decision. For example, if you need a new roof (a high-priority item), try to think about whether you intend to paint your house, maybe next year. If so, then pick a shingle that will look good with the new, future color. (And pray that it doesn’t look horrible with the current color!)

With a long-term plan in place, decisions become slightly easier. Then, save, save, save. Paying for things as you do them is so much more fun than doing repairs or improvements on credit…Yes, I speak from experience.

Above all, get started on something. Letting maintenance or improvements build until they become emergencies is a bad, bad idea. Life is a bit unpredictable. Suppose a sudden job change requires a move. Houses that have been maintained are much more attractive to buyers than those with the dreaded deferred maintenance. Plus, a cared-for home is a lot more comfortable and enjoyable to you, the current (hopefully, long-term) owner.

Tip: Simple window cleaning will give a cheap, quick lift to your home (while you are saving for that bigger project), so grab the vinegar, warm water, and newspaper and start cleaning. (Or enlist the able-bodied, summer-drained youth in your house to get busy!)

Here are some pictures of our projects in progress. I still need to take some “after shots”–because we really did finish this phase!

New path leading to the new driveway (addition)

New plants for the new area around the new driveway (addition). I got an amazing deal at Lowe's on a very hot 4th of July weekend!

Figuring out where to plant the new stuff...Did I mention what a great deal I got on the plants? Thank you, Lowe's!

Have I mentioned how much I love having two strong teenagers with young backs? This one got everything in the ground, after helping with the fill and the path. Thanks, Max!

My sweet yardman. Never complains about my lists...Well, hardly ever.

Now, the siding. Which, as you know, means we need/want a new front door. Also, the garage door (new last year) needs to be painted a nice Tuscan Clay.

New siding is complete! Antique Wicker with Tuscan Clay trim. We love it!

View from the back yard

The windows are still the old, pretty bad windows, but the new trim made the most of them! Thanks, again, to C.K. Siding and Construction. Chris Koenig did a great job.

Thanks for letting me show and tell! Now, what’s on your list?