Home Projects To Tackle In Early Spring

This week of gorgeous weather was the perfect pick-me-up we all needed to get excited about spring. While it’s a bit too early to get into hardcore lawn care and gardening, there are plenty of jobs around the yard and in the house that are perfect for this time of year. Here are a few of my favorites. 

Painting

This weekend is looking good weatherwise, which means it’s a great time to give the rooms inside your home an instant facelift with a coat of fresh paint. This job is great for this kind of weather because you can open up the windows to let the paint dry quickly, so long as it stays dry outside. If you’re wondering what’s on-trend this year, a quiet sage green from Benjamin Moore called October Mist 1455, a versatile and calming green/gray called Evergreen Fog from Sherwin-Williams, and a soft sea glass green called Breezeway from Behr were named the 2022 Colors of the Year. 

Yard Pick Up

With so many recent windy nights, your yard is bound to have sticks and fallen debris to take care of. It’s a rotten task but with a little early spring raking, you’ll be able to pick up what’s been left from winter and give the lawn a good thatching. Invest in an ergonomic rake so you don’t hurt your back and shoulders and consider composting to enjoy beautiful soil for flower and vegetable planting. 

Mulching

While it’s still a little early, it looks like winter weather is behind us so there is no reason to not get started on those beds now. Be sure to rake first and consider a weed treatment of your choice before you pick up your mulch. If you need some delivered, just give me a call. 

Wood Floor Treatment

If your floors are looking a bit dull, brighten them up by giving them a light sanding and a few coats of polyurethane. Wood can be tough to maintain because it’s used and abused so often, but if you have a maintenance schedule that you stick to every few years, you’ll not only keep them looking great, you’ll also lengthen their lifecycle. Keep those floors shining by putting felt pads on furniture legs and avoid any cleaners with ammonia, vinegar, or harsh chemicals.

Deck Staining

For this one, make sure no rain is in the forecast as you’ll want a few sunny days to ensure your stain dries properly. Sweep or blow any leaves and pesky whirlybirds from the surface, cracks, and crevasses of the deck. Apply cleaner or use a power washer to get rid of any mold and mildew and tighten up loose nails or screws. Always apply stain on a dry surface in thin coats to get the best result. 

Do you have a weekend project that you’re tackling while it’s still cool? I’d love to hear about it. Send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Home Upgrades Worth Their Resale Value

For a lot of us, much of the past year has been spent thinking about how to make our homes more comfortable. With so much still hanging in the balance, I thought it might be worth talking about the types of remodeling projects that score big points in the real estate market, and which ones might not be so lucrative if you decide to sell your home. 

People generally think that any kind of upgrade to the home is going to raise its value. But that’s not always the case. Highly customized renovations that are specific to your family or jobs that will require a fair bit of maintenance actually end up discouraging potential buyers. Sure, you might think a wall to wall aquarium in a basement bonus room might be a great idea, but the next owner of your home may not agree. So what are the best renovating projects to reap high resale rewards?

Energy Efficiency Windows 

Homeowners who are old, young, first-time, seasoned, empty-nesters, or with young families all love a home that’s warmer in the winter, cooler in the summer, and is easier on the wallet. According to the 2020 Cost Versus Value Report published by Remodeling Magazine, vinyl and wood window replacement nabbed nearly 80% of their resale value in Hartford County. Windows are a fantastic investment and not only for their heating and cooling abilities. Replacement windows are easy to clean and they are excellent at reducing noise pollution. 

Kitchen Remodels

As the busiest and most used room in the house, kitchens tend to be a huge selling point in the real estate market, which makes an outdated kitchen a big no-no for a potential buyer. According to the same Cost Versus Value Report, a mid-range kitchen remodel is likely to get a seller upwards of 63% of their investment. What’s key is to stick to very neutral tones and a layout that suits cooking, eating and gathering. Most people love an island that can be used for food prep as well as a casual eating space. Lots of storage will hit the mark too. 

Garage Doors

This may surprise you, but the highest ranking home upgrade on the 2020 Cost Versus Value Report was a Garage Door Replacement which was valued at 104% of its cost here in the Hartford area. This means that most homeowners actually made more than they spent on the project when they sold their homes. Garages are an important feature in any house as every buyer wants to maximize their storage space. Plus, with more homeowners looking for additional living areas for home offices, giving the garage a little facelift isn’t a bad idea. 

The “No Go”

With plenty of lucrative projects for the savvy homeowner, there is one upgrade that’s not worth the spend if you’re planning on selling your home. According to the report, bathroom additions are an expensive project and not one that potential buyers really appreciate. An average $50,000 mid-range bathroom addition netted only 43% of its cost and an average upscale bathroom addition recouped only 38% of its cost. Between structural changes, plumbing, and fit-out, this is one project that might not be worth the investment if you’re planning on a home sale in the near future. 

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Around the House Jobs To Tackle Before the Cold Comes

Now is a great time to get working on any home improvement jobs before the cooler weather sets in. Whether it’s taking preventative measures to make sure the ice and snow don’t do a number on your home or just routine repairs that you’ve been putting off, these next few weeks will be the perfect time to spruce up your house. 

Probably the most important home maintenance job for this time of year is to take a look at your gutters. Before we know it, tree debris will be falling and the leaves will be clogging up gutters and downspouts. If you’ve ever thought about installing gutter guards on your home, now is the time to do it. They will protect your gutters from the leaves and help you to avoid that cumbersome autumn clean-out.

One of my favorite ways to update a home is to install a new entry door. A lot of houses in our area still have wood doors, which are prime for serious heat leakage. Installing a new door made from fiberglass will help to retain warmth and give you a great, contemporary style. They even come in wood grain or solid color finishes to keep with the look and feel of your current exterior.

Now is also one of the best times to look at vinyl siding, which can dramatically improve the appearance of your home while reducing overall maintenance and upkeep. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-third of new homes in the U.S. are built with vinyl siding, and that number continues to rise every year. Why? Vinyl siding is durable, long-lasting, and comes in a variety of finishes to suit a homeowner's personal style. My favorite part is that it never has to be painted or stained, and you don’t have to worry about rotting or insect problems which can come with traditional wood cladding.

Finally, with winter on the way, it's time to take a look at your windows. When I visit a house, I will often use a thermal camera to see how much heat is being lost, and old wood sash or aluminum windows are both major heat drains. New vinyl windows are great in terms of energy efficiency and heat loss reduction, and at our house, we love the tilt-in sashes for easy cleaning. 

Being a homeowner requires a lot of maintenance, but the investment is worth it to keep you and your family comfortable all year round. Plus, with today’s hot real estate market, any of these updates will help you to get a better price if a sale is in your future plans. 

What is your favorite tip for giving your house a facelift? I'd love to hear from you so send me a message on Facebook at www.facebook.com/odonnellbros. Happy Labor Day everyone!

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.