Is the warm weather giving you the urge to make a few outdoor home improvements? Many property owners take advantage of the time off during the summer to add decks, install above-ground pools, fix their roofs, and deal with dozens of other small and medium-sized projects in back and front yards. Those who reside in northern regions view the summer months as the last chance to take care of additions and fix-ups before winter hits.
The wisest way to begin is to conduct a thorough inspection of the outside of your home to try and spot needed repairs. After that, move to non-necessary but desirable jobs like pool installation, patio enclosure construction, and more. Armed with a detailed list of all the chores you want to take care of before cool weather arrives, you can work from the master plan and make relatively accurate cost estimates.
To pay for it all, head to the monthly budget and see where you can make some cash flow adjustments. Refinancing student loans is an obvious choice if you have some college loans that haven’t been paid off yet. Consider doing the smallest, least costly project first and stopping when you run out of time or money. Don’t expect to finish every item on your list. Just do what time and finances allow and save the rest of the improvements for next year. Here’s how to get started.
Cut Monthly Cash Outflow
It’s possible to save a serious amount of cash by refinancing several student loans into a new agreement with better terms, more favorable rates, and a longer repayment period. For decades, working adults have used refinancing as a way to reset finances and free up capital for home-related projects. Replacing multiple payments and mismatched rates with a single loan, one due date, and uniform terms can greatly simplify your financial life and cut monthly expenses at the same time. The move is an effective way to cover the dozens of little things you’ll need to buy for summertime home improvements.
Do the Smaller, Budget-Friendly Projects First
Don’t start with the big stuff. Instead, tackle small tasks, like putting up a patio cover or replacing a section of guttering first. Then, it’s easier to know how much money and time you have left over for the larger chores. Completing even a minor repair is a psychological incentive to move on to the next, slightly more complex project and helps prevent procrastination. It also helps educate you against window replacement myths or myths about other large-scale projects that you may have previously been duped by.
Don’t Skip the Initial Inspection
Don’t assume the entire roster of work must be DIY. Research how to choose the best contractor then calls in a local contractor for roof repair, painting, and complex deck installations. Only work solo if you have the skills, tools, and helpers to safely and successfully reach completion. That’s why it’s so important, to begin with a thorough inspection. You need a detailed roadmap in order to know when to call experts. Above-ground pools can be more complicated than they appear, so be careful ordering DIY kits that could end up being assembly nightmares. The same is true for patio enclosures, many of which call for high-level carpentry skills and expensive tools most homeowners don’t have sitting around the garage.
