Summer is a great time for home improvement projects and DIY updates around the house.
Set some time (and money) aside this summer to give your home some TLC.
But some lower-cost projects can add value for less money.
Credit: sturti/Getty Images
Here are some simple, affordable home improvement projects to try this summer that won’t break the bank.
Take advantage of the warmer weather to give your home ahigh-powered cleaning.
Apressure washercan quickly remove buildup on siding, driveways, decks, patios, and walkways.
Credit: Jay Wilde
As youclean your home’s exterior, direct the spray downward to avoid forcing water into cracks or seams.
Use a lower-pressure setting on surfaces that could easily be damaged, such as painted siding or wood decks.
Before starting this project, check with your local authorities, as building codes and ordinances vary by location.
Credit: Adam Albright
Declutter Your Home
A summerhome improvement projectthat can make a big difference in your living space is decluttering.
Plus, you’re free to use your earnings toward other home repairs.
Refresh Your House with Paint
Summer is the perfect season for more significant paint projects.
Credit:Kritsada Panichgul
The warm weather lets the paint cure properly and ensures that it will last longer.
Dulles recommendspainting parts of your home (or all of it) whiteto make it look bigger and brighter.
Commercial real estate investor and founder ofProperty CashinMarina Vaamonde sayslandscape your front yard.
“Gardens make homes more aesthetically pleasing, and they also can add to the property value.
She also suggests lupines and hydrangeas as other beautiful (and low-maintenance) additions to your garden.
Don’t worry: this one is quick and won’t take as much time as cleaning your gutters.
Hoskins suggests looking for filters with a MERV rating between 8 and 13 for optimal protection.
If you find a small damaged area, it’s possible for you to clean and repair with caulk.
Check the integrity of your caulk at siding seams and in the corners.
A fresh bead of caulk might be needed to secure the siding.
Remove theold and dry caulk, then run a fresh bead where needed.
Either way, summer is the perfect time to replace your doorbell.
To ease you through the process, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide for installing yourvideo doorbell.
Kritsada Panichgul
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Plant a Garden
The longer days give us more time to work outside.
If you want to start small, consider araised garden bed.
Clean Your Windows
Clean windows improve your home’s curb appeal and allow natural to fill your rooms inside.
They also give you a better window to the world outside.
Butcleaning windowscan present a logistical challenge.
How do you safely get to your exterior windows, especially those on the second floor?
Garden lights along a sidewalk can add style as well as safety.
There are plenty of low-voltage landscape lights to choose from.
Or for the easiest way to add light, buy some solar lights.
They are a stock item in the big box stores or you’ll find lots to pick from online.
You pop them in the ground and that’s it.
The sun charges them throughout the day.
The lights come on in the evening.
Another way to bring light to your yard is by hanging string lights in your tree.
Wrap them on low hanging branches or around the trunk.
If a permanent installation is an option, hire a pro to install uplights on trees for extra drama.
The longer summer evenings will be more fun with light
