Summer is the perfect time to give your house a little extra sparkle on the outside. You can make your house the envy of the neighborhood without spending a lot of money. You just need to come up with a list of projects, and then decide which ones are most important, affordable, and easy to manage with your given resources. Many outdoor improvements that you can make to your home look attractive, but a few of them can also make your home more secure and unattractive to burglars. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want that?
The best way to start is to assess your home. Walk around the outside of your house and write down a list of the areas that seem to need some work. Are there overgrown shrubs that need pruning? Does the exterior of your house look grungy? Is there a creepy corner of the yard where no one ever goes? Next, take a walk around the neighborhood, and see what your neighbors have done to address these problems. Notice how walkways, flowerbeds, and patio areas are laid out. Take pictures of shrubs or trees you like (with the homeowners permission, if they happen to be around). You’ll get some great ideas that will help you tackle these projects.
Here are a few tips to handle the major areas around your home:
- Clean up – You’d be surprised at how easy this is. A bucket of water, a squirt of dish soap and a sponge can clean anything off of vinyl or aluminum siding easily without the cost and mess of a professional power washing crew.
- Lawn – Even if the grass isn’t perfect, mow your lawn often. It does wonders for curb appeal, and sends the message to neighbors and burglars that this home is well maintained and secure.
- Trim Trees and Shrubs – Overgrown landscaping provides areas for burglars to break in to your home unseen, and let’s be honest, it’s ugly. Trim your shrubs and trees away from doors and windows, so it looks neat and lets anyone notice is someone is trying to break into your home.
- Security Cameras – The technology these days lets you keep your home secure in style. Most cameras are small and unobtrusive, not large and bulky.
- Fences – A fence is useful for so many reasons, but they are tricky to get right. First think about why you need a fence (pet, child, pool safety, décor) and then check out the different types of fencing available.
- Lighting – The right lighting around your home can make it look beautiful and highlight lovely trees and shrubs. It is also the key element to home security at night. Thieves love the dark, and lighting is their enemy. Add lighting all around your home so there are no dark, hidden doors or windows. Use low power CFL or LED bulbs and motion sensor lights which only go on when they detect movement to cut down on electric bills.
- Outdoor Furniture – Spending time outside is always more enjoyable when you have comfortable furniture. Estate sales and Craig’s List are great place to find affordable but sturdy pieces. (If you live in a hurricane zone, you may want to make sure you have secure storage space for the furniture.)
Don’t let the summer heat overwhelm you. Once you plan your projects, divide them into smaller steps that you can do in the early mornings and late evenings. Make sure you drink plenty of water, and take advantage of cool, breezy days. This summer, make the most of your time and make your home look its best.