Well, we’re nearing the end of summer. Maybe you’ve checked off every major project on your list, or maybe you didn’t have any to begin with. If you’re looking for something to keep you occupied until Labor Day, then check out this short list from Service Magic Connection. While the list is far from comprehensive, it includes some projects to increase the value of your home. It’s a solid list and serves as a great jumping off point for anyone looking to add value to their abode. But the list covers interior improvements, which, let’s face it, you can do at pretty much any time of year. So I’m going to add some lawn and garden improvements of my own, because those are a little more season-sensitive. And with the two lists, you’ll have no excuse not to keep working on DIY projects until the new year rolls around.

Do the exact opposite of this.
Photo: From Flickr, by Afroswede.

Gardens, front and back

A garden won’t always add substantial value to your house, but if you do it right, you can increase the curb appeal significantly, which of course will help your bottom line. I’d recommend a flower/shrub garden in front with a vegetable garden in the back. If you don’t have that kind of space, you can add small flower bed in front and build some raised planter to grow your favorite veggies. You should think about installing a rain garden. It’s an easy project that will bring color to your front yard while also preventing fertilizer from running off your lawn and into the storm drain when it rains.

If you’re not one for vegetables–or even gardening in general–consider building a walled stone patio in the back. You can set up a table and eat on it during warmer months, and it will really make your back yard pop. And for those in dryer climates, you can save a lot of money watering a lawn with rock gardens. When they’re done right they look pretty awesome and won’t require constant watering to stay alive. 

Now just tell me that doesn’t look lovely. Seriously, tell me. I dare you.
Photo: From Flickr, by Quiltsalad (nice patio, Quiltsalad. You’re doing it right).

Seed your lawn

This one is pretty obvious. After all, who wants to buy a house with a dead lawn? And while it’s the end of the summer, what you might not realize is this (and also fall) is a great time to seed certain types of grass. Your house will thank you for it, and your neighbors probably will too. If you have a healthy patch of grass, keep up the good work. And make sure that lush lawn stays healthy with the right amount of fertilization.

Install a walkway

This is a pretty easy project that can really transform a yard. One of my earliest DIY experiences was helping my father install a walkway when I was about 8 or 9 (naturally I wasn’t doing a lot of the heavy work, but it still felt nice to be included). At the time our “walkway” was really just a bunch of stones plopped down into the grass. Let’s just say it wasn’t pretty. So one summer we installed two brick walkways. One went down to the driveway, the other out to the mailbox. All said the project only took a few weekends and the look and feel of the yard shot through the roof for–more or less–the price of bricks. Add to that the it takes to dig out the paths, add sand, and lay the bricks and you can have a walkway pretty quickly without a huge investment. If you do it right, and don’t mind adding a bit of sand to the path every few years, you won’t even have to cement the bricks into place.

Install Lighting

Lighting can be a tough one, especially if you want to run wires to various points in your lawn. Electric lights are the classic way to accent the trees, shrubs, and plants in your yard during twilight and early night-time hours. But thanks to advances in solar technology, wires aren’t the only solution. You can easily purchase small lights to line your newly installed walkway, cast shadows on trees, and highlight patios and porches. And since they run on solar power, you won’t have to dig up your lawn to run wires; and as an added bonus, you won’t see your electric bill budge at all. This is one of my favorite tricks as a little lighting can go a long way to making your yard the envy of the neighborhood.

Walkway? Check. Regionally-fitting rain garden? Check. And if I’m not mistaken, that’s a light. I give this yard an A+. There’s even a fence for added levels of amazing.
Photo: From Flickr, by Field Outdoor Spaces.

So today I’m linking to a PopularMechanics.com post about things to do before you head out of town on vacation. It seems fitting since it’s the beginning of August, and, at least in my experience, August is vacation month. Their list of seven tips includes: turning off your water main, checking the sump pump, turning up the thermostat, using a soaker hose to keep your garden alive, unplugging appliances, lighting rooms with timers, and adding antifreeze to toilets (for winter travel). It’s a good list. You can check it out here. 

We do NOT recommend setting your house ablaze before leaving for vacation. –Photo by DVS via Flickr.

Now I’m going to add three tips of my own: 

1. Lock up your priceless valuables

You can never completely guarantee your house’s safety while you’re away. And while insurance will cover all the easier stuff to replace such as TVs and other electronics, you can’t put a price on heirlooms and other sentimental items with unlimited value. So lock them in a safe, then hide it in an obscure spot (if it’s small enough to steal). If you don’t have a safe, leave the possessions with a trusted friend or family member who lives nearby, or hide them in a very strange place. You should leave the cheap jewelry in a place where thieves will normally look, such as a dresser drawer. Then hide the priceless stuff in your junk drawer, between mattresses in a kid’s room, between sweaters in the top of your closet, or somewhere else a cat burglar would never think to look. 

2. Eat your perishable food

Or freeze it. This one is pretty obvious. Clearly you don’t want to come home to a fridge full of rotting fruit, sour milk, and rancid cuts of meat. Try to get creative with your meals the week before you leave. You can use a site such as My Fridge Food for ideas. They basically hand you recipes based on what you happen to have at the moment. It’s lovely.

Before you leave, either bring some of the fruit and other snacks in the car (if you’re driving) and toss the stuff that has the potential to wreak havoc on your fridge. Then make sure you take that trash out. 

3. Find a caretaker

OK, this one is a gimme. But if you have someone nearby you really don’t have to worry about any of the things on either one of these lists. The house will look lived in–but you should still hide your priceless possessions, of course. They can collect your mail, water your garden, and even keep an eye on pets. Not everyone has a friend or family member nearby, but here’s a tip: find a single friend, or a young niece or nephew. Someone you trust, but who doesn’t have nearly as many nice things as you. They’ll probably jump at the chance to eat the food in your fridge, watch your big screen TV, and play your video games. Problem solved. 

A favorite among builders, the Hitachi NR83A2 pneumatic nailer is certainly a great addition to the weekend warrior’s tool shed. The unit can be purchased for around $300 and is worth every penny. At just under 8lbs., the comfortably gripped NR83A2 won’t cause physical strain while working on those big projects.

This framing nailer has a sequential actuation switch which can operate in either single-fire position for precise nail placement or bump firing mode for production speed. The 3/8” air inlet allows up to 120 PSI of pressure. The round head framing nailer can hold up to 70 fasteners (between 2” and 3 ¼”) at a time with a well-designed two-piece steel magazine [884-065]. Measuring 21 x 4 x 13, the larger sized nailer is made for regular to heavy usage. Its assembly also includes an open nose [884-060] to clear rare instances of jamming.

The NR83A2 is user friendly with a tool-less depth adjustment. An added bonus is the simplicity of shifting the air pressure on the gun rather than repetitively going back to the air compressor to make the changes. The NR83A2 unit also includes three hex wrenches and a pair of safety glasses. For further ease on the job, get the Hitachi 19413F 100 x ¼” polyurethane air hose. It’s practically kinkless, and the length will save time on those big nailing projects like rough framing, trusses and sheathing.

The Hitachi NR83A2 is virtually indestructible. It’s not uncommon to hear stories of construction workers accidentally dropping the framing nailer from rooftops or scaffoldings onto concrete with it still functioning as well as the day it was purchased. If you do need parts for this tool, you can find them here: Hitachi NR83A2 nailer parts. Unlike the less expensive nailers on the market, you can go through an entire box of nails without the constant expectation of jams. Whether you’re doing around-the-house projects or building houses, you will definitely get your money’s worth with this dependable tool.