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Summer is the perfect time for outdoor BBQ’s, wearing flip-flops and shorts, and going on vacation. With wind, rain, and snow things of the past, it’s also the perfect time for home improvements. If you are going to be travelling this summer, there are a few home improvements you might want to get out of the way before you head out on your journey.
Right up there with a list of safety tips you should follow when travelling abroad, there should be a list of improvements you make to your home as well. Think about it. If you do these things before you go on vacation, then you won’t worry about them the whole time you’re gone. With that in mind, put these projects on your list before you start packing that suitcase for some summer fun.
Install Security Cameras
One of the first things you want to do as a home improvement project before you travel is to check out security cameras for home use. Since most of these cameras allow remote monitoring, you can keep an eye on your home while you’re on vacation and call in the authorities should you see something suspicious. This gives you the peace of mind of knowing that while you’re having fun, your home is still protected.
Landscaping
No one wants their yard and landscaping to suffer before they get back home from vacation. It will cost you roughly $3,000 to $3500, but it will be well worth the cost. There are two types of landscapers out there to choose from. The architect plans your landscape for you and the contractor puts the plan into motion. Improving your landscape before you go on vacation means that you don’t have to worry about having to take care of it when you get home.
While it may seem that landscaping should be at the bottom of your home improvement list, there are many reasons, from increasing your home value to curb appeal, that it should move to the top.
Improvements for Energy Efficiency
Energy-efficient home improvements will usually run as low as $50 to as high as $10,000, according to the changes you make. Many homeowners can’t even afford to travel during the summer because their electric bills take all of their cash. Making a few improvements in that area before you leave will not only make you feel more environmentally friendly but save you quite a bit of money as well.
From adding more insulation to your home to replacing your current windows with double-paned, there are many, many ways that you can improve the energy efficiency in your home before you leave for vacation. While you might not be able to afford to make all of the energy improvements at once, getting a good head start on them will make you feel better about your home while you’re gone.
Kitchen Renovations
Ranging from $4,000 to $40,000 in cost, summer is the perfect time to do kitchen renovations. You’re out and about more, so you’re not eating at home and cooking as much. Most families BBQ a lot in the summer months or attend block parties, so the kitchen doesn’t get much use.
Some of the top kitchen renovations to consider before travelling are replacing those old appliances, updating your lighting, installing a backsplash or island to the kitchen, and sprucing up your cabinets. Wouldn’t it be nice to come home from vacation to a brand new kitchen? Think of the meals you could make as a family during the fall and winter seasons of the year when vacations are pretty much at a standstill.
These are just a few of the home improvements you should consider making before you head out on vacation this summer. Not only will you have a grand old time while you travel, but the headaches of making improvements when you get home will also be left behind.
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