Cheap Tricks – Recession-friendly ways to update your home
Though the past couple of months have yielded better news about the housing market, many owners and would-be sellers (like me) are still in shock from the nosedive in home prices.
So understandably, most homeowners are a bit leery of investing in their nest. But let me set you straight. Now is exactly the time we should be sprucing up our property - the biggest asset most of us will ever have.
We might not have the funds to transform our baths into “spa retreats” or load up our kitchens with fancy appliances. But we should devote (a little) money to making small but critical enhancements: the kind that are both recession-proof (they’ll in crease the value of your house) and recession-friendly (not a budget-buster among them). And best of all, you can save money by doing them yourself!
POWER UP: Cheaper than painting, power-washing will instantly improve the look of your home and, should you live in an area that is prone to mold or mildew, extend the life of your siding. A good power-washing can last several years, but don’t forget to seal it with a proper exterior-sealer. You can rent power-washers at home superstores for about $30 to $50 per day. Buying one can run you anywhere from $200 to $1,000, depending on the size and the pressure of the washer. A washer hooks up easily to your existing hose or water supply. You will need a ladder for second stories, and for a 2,000-square-foot house, you can typically finish the project in two weekends.
WASH AND DRY: Give your outdoor furniture a scrubbing; there are special, expensive products for this, but sudsy water and a garden hose do the job just fine. Let the furniture air-dry thoroughly, then store it covered with an old sheet (inside) or plastic drop cloth (outside). Doing this prep work now will make setting up next summer a breeze.
SQUARE ROOTS: Put those weary-looking annuals out of their misery; replace them with affordable, hardly mums in the golden colors of fall. And don’t toss those green tomatoes! When the nights begin to chill, bring them inside and store at room temperature in a brown paper bag to ripen.
EASY BREEZY: With fuel prices sky-high, now is the time to think enery-efficiency and install a ceiling fan. The best thing about adding a fan is that you can save big at least $1,000 on your seasonal heating bill – by circulating the warm air through your house. Plus, you are helping the environment by saving energy. (And while you’re installing your ceiling fan, don’t forget to call in the experts to have your furnace tuned up – this simple maintenance ensures peak efficiency.)
STOP THE RUNNING: Fix that running toilet: That constant drip is money coming out of your pocket! The new Barbara’s Way Toilet Repair Kit (available at select Wal-mart stores and Amazon.com for $19.99) comes with easy instructions to help you replace the fill valve, gasket or flush valve (usually the source of the problem).
GET COZY: Now’s the time to make sure everything fits snugly. Check the weather-stripping around doors and windows – a little extra measure of protection. Installing weather-stripping is a snap and requires minimal equipment: just a trusty tape measure and safety goggles. My favorite brand is Frost King, which retails for between $9.99 and $19.99. Do it Barbara’s Way!