Easy Weekend Home Projects

Money may be tight and home values may have decreased. More families are staying home these days. It's a great time to spend a little to get more enjoyment out of your home. Here are a few easy-to-do tips to increase value in your home while not spending a lot of money.

Replace Old Knobs and Door Handles. This is an easy, inexpensive way to dress up or change the look of doors, cabinets, and more. Many homes in the Cleveland Ohio area are older and have outdated hardware. These small changes can actually transform the look and style of your home. Whether you choose vintage glass, shiny metal or even rustic wood, installing these new knobs and handles can add to the value of your home, as well. Don't overlook the hinges! If you can't quite get to those now, but have a squeaky door, try spraying the hinges with a cooking spray like Pam. It works!

Install a Greenhouse Window. A beautiful addition to any room in the home, a greenhouse window will allow you to grow flowers, herbs and other plants even during the winter! Replacing a regular window with a greenhouse window adds dimension, light and display space while eliminating clutter. Available at home supply stores, they come with many options including granite finishes and glass shelves.

Paint, Paint, Paint! Painting can instantly change your home's look and feel. Don't limit your color change to just your walls — an updated color on furniture or cabinetry can really spice things up, as well. Play with new colors, patterns and techniques. Don't be afraid of going bold; remember, if you don't like the way the color looks, you can always paint over it! There's a wall, trim or doorway in everyone's home that could use some paint or freshening. Cheap and easy, get to work!

Replace Builder Lighting or Oudated Fixtures with remote ceiling fans. Not only will it save energy and keep your air circulating, it will add appeal, value and enhance the beauty of a room and pull all your decor together from the floor up. Ceiling fans today are modern, fun, classy and relatively easy to install. They come with directions and there's help online. If you purchase one in a home improvement store the sales people will help you as well! Make sure you call on their advice and expertise, that's what they're there for!

Work on your closets and cabinets. Most homeowners have secrets hiding in their closets and cabinetry. The closet is the least looked at part of the home and there we tend to find cracking or peeling paint, old contact paper and clutter! How about taking a few hours and organize, adding new shelves, hooks or hardware and giving yourself more room by throwing out some of the items you think one day you'll use but haven't in a decade! (linens included) How many sheet sets do we have?? Hmm.

Don't forget your home's air quality! Change your furnace filter! You can add a couple of dryer sheets to the new one to add a cheap and whole-house air freshener. Remove your vents and soak them in a hot bleachy bath while you vacuum inside to remove dust and build up. Clean the hard to reach spots in your home that you don't get to often. Behind entertainment centers, baseboards, behind heavy furniture and under beds. Removing dust in the home can make it smell better and create a healthier environment!

Curbing Your Curb Appeal

Whether you are trying to sell your home or just make it more appealing, the exterior is the first thing buyers or guests will see. It is important to make sure that from the curb your home is aesthetically pleasing. It does not really matter what the inside looks like if the outside is an instant eye sore or turn off. Adding charm to the exterior also adds value and overall attractiveness to the entire property. Make sure you are not overdoing it or going about it the wrong way. Overkill is not necessary and unfortunately it is prevalent. Learn to let go and curb your curb appeal.

As a Realtor, I can not tell you how many times I have walked onto a property with someone, and the first words were “Uh oh, I hope the inside looks better.” Or “Wow, so far, so good.” Let us focus on the dos and don'ts of proper curb appeal.

Siding should be well kept and painted if needed. Carefully choose a proper color to accentuate the style or features of your home and neighborhood. Bold colors are chancy and have to be selected with caution. It doesn't matter where you are in the country, Every location is different. Some Victorian or traditional homes here in Ohio, in areas such as Lakewood, Rocky River, Cleveland Heights and Beachwood, are best suited for bold colors. If your home is modern, earth tones may clash. Cold colors such as blues and purples typically do not work well with brick homes while pale or neutral colors may drown out a home’s architecture depending on the surroundings and other homes on the street.

Pressure-wash any dingy siding, decking, awnings and porches and replace siding sections that may have dents or flaws. Any mold or moss growth should be removed (Bleach and pressure-wash). Old television antenna or satellite dishes should be taken down and chimney caps in place along with proper flashing.

Windows and screens should all be in tact and cleaned regularly. A stiff bristle hair brush works well for screen build up. New storm doors are a great way to add appeal for a decent price. If your current doors/screens are in need of paint or replacement, it may be something to consider.


Windows in today’s market are looked at seriously and replacement windows are almost expected. New windows can add a wow factor instantly. If you can’t quite swing it, at least make sure your existing windows are sparkling, free of cracks, functional, and there are no missing storms or screens. Paint the window trim if needed. No paint should be chipping or pealing including on the home, porch, awnings, or windows.

The yard should always be looking its best. Bushes and landscaping should be neat and trimmed so that the beauty of your home is seen. The lawn should be edged and flower beds maintained if present. Patches on the lawn should be filled in and weeds removed on a regular basis.

Proper watering is necessary to maintain the work and money you’ve put in. Wild flowers purchased in quarter packets should never be planted if they are going to become overgrown and not kept up. If you have had mulch in the past but have not freshened up the beds with new mulch recently, replace or remove. Ferns on the porch or planted flowers in pots that are now wilting or dead should be removed instantly and flower color choices should not clash with the home’s color scheme.

Too many different style bushes, trees or flowers bunched together can clutter and overcrowd the beauty of each group individually. Complement the landscaping and space accordingly. Large porches should have large planted pots. One small hanging basket on a wrap around country porch is best put away. A happy medium of colors/sizes of flowers and plants is key.

Large trees that are or are starting to hang onto the home or garage should be watched and trimmed often. Not only can it cause harm to your roof but it scares potential buyers away and looks neglectful. Gutters should not have plants growing inside of them. I’m serious. I have seen gutters that have not been cleaned in so long that there is build up and growth.

Make sure all outdoor items that are not being used are put away neatly, including lawnmowers, toys, hoses, garbage cans, and couches and refrigerators on porches. If it does not belong outside, it should not be there.

Address numbers should be the proper size and color for your home or location it is placed. Adding new address numbers or a new mailbox is a cheap and effective way to spruce up the home.

Lighting is also a crucial part of exterior appeal. Solar or ground insert lighting along flowerbeds or walkways should all have bulbs. If one is blown out, the entire effect is ruined. Keep with the same lighting choice. If you’re working with amber lights, stick with amber. Place accent lights near doors and make sure the home looks welcoming after dark.

A home buyer looks at the exterior first. If the items mentioned above are not addressed properly they view it as neglect. If you are neglecting the outside, what should they expect on the inside? Don’t let them raise eyebrows before even stepping foot on the inside. Guests, visitors and neighbors will appreciate your efforts and notice your attention to detail and maintenance. Most importantly, you won’t be coming house, you’ll be coming home. You will reap the benefits and be pleased with your work and homes curb appeal.

Contact our RE/MAX team of expert Realtors in Ohio for more home tips and assistance.