Now that the days are getting warmer, there’s never been a better time to dive into spring home improvement projects. According to real estate experts, spring is the best season to list the house if you plan to move — you could receive 12.6% more on the asking price in May and 10.7% more by selling in June.
Whether you intend to stay or go, sprucing up your home’s interiors and exteriors is a good idea when the weather is nice. Here are seven home projects to start now before summer.
1. Clean the Gutters
You have numerous responsibilities as a homeowner — cleaning the gutters is one of them. Removing debris and leaves should be a top priority as the snowfall melts into a rainy spring.
Clogged gutters can lead to inadequate drainage, causing interior and exterior damage to your home. Stagnant rainwater may also rot roof shingles and attract pests.
Additionally, gutters send rainwater away from the house, ensuring you don’t saturate the ground and negatively affect the foundation. When the ground is wet and the temperature drops in the evening — spring can still be chilly — it could lead to cracks.
2. Refinish the Deck
Dine al fresco on a refinished deck this spring and summer. Most decks are constructed with wooden materials, which require maintenance to prevent rotting and discoloration.
Begin sanding down the deck with 80-grit sandpaper to create a smooth surface — pressing too hard could leave dips in the wood, so apply even pressure. This step should be followed by another round of sanding using 100-grit sandpaper.
Always choose an outdoor stain that protects the deck from the elements to give the wood a facelift.
3. Reinsulate
Reinsulating your house before the hotter months is the perfect spring home improvement project if you live in a warmer climate. Otherwise, you’ll want this repair done before the following winter.
Insulation improves your home’s energy efficiency by preventing air leaks and warm air from escaping. Fiberglass is the most popular insulation material for its moisture resistance and different cuts, including batts, rolls and loose-fill.
Although traditionally lightweight, medium and high-density fiberglass insulation is available.
4. Upgrade HVAC System
Consider upgrading your HVAC system as you reinsulate your home. A programmable thermostat can further improve indoor air quality, comfort and energy savings.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, programmable thermostats store six or more settings for your ideal daily heating and cooling preferences. You can also override your settings without modifying the set daily temperature. Homeowners can save 10% on their utility bills by turning the thermostat back 7-10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours each day.
5. Update the Kitchen
Spring might be the best time to tackle a kitchen renovation. Whether you’re interested in redoing the backsplash, swapping out the cabinets and hardware, upgrading the appliances or adding an island, kitchen upgrades always have a high return on investment.
Updating the kitchen is one of the best perfect spring home improvement projects because contractors haven’t filled their schedules with other renovations yet. You can start and finish your kitchen upgrade before the summer when home construction ramps up.
6. Add Some Color
Maybe your tastes have changed or you want to be on trend with today’s hottest paint colors — or perhaps you hope to lighten up a dark house with neutral tones.
Spring is one of the best times to paint your home’s interiors. Adding a splash of color or touching up the walls can give your home the refresh it needs to sparkle — it’s also safer.
Paints contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can harm your health when inhaled. You can avoid breathing in fumes by opening a window — summer can be too hot for this, while winter is too cold. The spring weather is still cool enough to help the paint dry faster.
7. Spruce Up Landscaping
Don’t overlook the power of landscaping to change the overall appearance of a house. Curb appeal affects the listing power of a home in a cutthroat housing market, while homeowners demonstrate a sense of pride in their residence when they maintain their property.
Mow and fertilize the lawn, lay new mulch in the garden bed, plant fresh flowers, powerwash walkways and paint the siding this spring. A harsh winter could wreak havoc on your home’s exteriors, leaving behind unsightly dirt, debris and scratches.
Likewise, the ground has to be prepared correctly for spring flowers and regrowth. It’s worth looking at your home’s curb appeal as you decide which spring home improvement projects to tackle.
Jump Into These Spring Home Improvement Projects
There are endless projects you can do as the weather gets nice. The transition from winter to spring presents plenty of opportunities to enhance your home’s interiors and exteriors. Start with the projects that require the most attention and work toward manicured landscaping as the property returns to life.
