Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Category:
Personal Finance Tips
So, during those cold winter months you’ve been putting off a few of those odd jobs and now they’ve caught up with you. It’s understandable, you get home from work and it’s pretty dark already, it’s too cold, it’s too wet… it can wait.
Well, now is the time. You’ve got the long summer evenings and it’d be a shame to waste them. Here are the top five home improvements for summer.
1. Start with something easy but messy, like cleaning out your guttering. This is a good start for a couple of reasons.
- You’ll get dirty. This is a major contributing factor to the feeling of a job well done. Cleaning out the gutter probably won’t take very long but as you stand at the sink, scrubbing your hands, you can give yourself a big pat on the back.
- It’ll probably get everything else dirty too. So, now you’re in too deep. It’s not one of those jobs where you can stand back and look with satisfaction at what you’ve done. Instead, there’ll probably be a bit of muck splashed about. Lucky you saved the painting until later.
2. Now for some painting, both inside and out.
- Nothing brightens up a home quite like a fresh coat of paint. So clean up and get to it. Now it is warmer and drier you can get on without weather interruptions.
- Exterior woodwork can suffer severely from damp over the winter. When it’s nice and dry, give it a rub down and a fresh coat to battle the elements. Pay particular attention to windowsills.
3. Once the windowsills are looking good, it’s a great time to have a proper go at the windows.
- Now it’s lighter out, let some more in. You can use a store-bought glass cleaner or make your own. Try experimenting with vinegar, lemon juice or washing up liquid.
- Since the weather is better, you’ll be able to see what you’re doing and take full advantage of those summer evenings.
4. Next, it’s time for those blinds. This is a labour intensive job, there’s no getting around it. If you’ve got gleaming windows, you can’t have your blinds let them down.
- It is definitely better tackled if you take the blinds outside. That way you can leave them out to dry in the sun.
- Fresh, clean and dust free; this is one of the jobs that make looking out of your house a much nicer experience. On sunny days, this is what it’s all about.
5. Whether you'd like to lay a patio, build some decking or spruce up what you’ve got, summer’s the time to make your outdoor living space more beautiful and comfortable. It is a big job but the rewards make it worthwhile.
- Furnish and accessorize your outdoor space to be an extension of your indoor living areas. It should act as the bridge between these spaces.
- A patio provides a safe surface for a barbeque and a great venue for summer gatherings, so strike when the weather’s still good.
Whether you’re looking to undertake a big job, like a new patio, or you’re just looking to give the windows a good clean, the summer’s the time of year to do it. Just try to get it finished before the winter rolls around again.
