Learn the Bottom Line About Fall Home Fix Ups Worth Doing at DIYORNOT.com and m.diyornot.com on Your Smartphone

ST. MICHAELS, MD, September 12, 2010 (Press-News.org) According to a recent survey by American Express, 62 percent of homeowners plan to invest in home improvement projects to enhance the appearance and value of their property. That supports the latest release of LIRA, the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity by Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies that predicts an increase in home improvement spending by homeowners. Since more homeowners are staying and improving instead of moving the question for do-it-yourselfers is what improvements give the best payback for their effort.

The answer from DIYORNOT.com, featured as "one of the 20 best money websites" by CNNMoney.com is simple: Choose jobs that return the best bang for the buck like inexpensive preventive maintenance and improvements that will save energy dollars in the future.

Little or No Skills and Cost Required
Rake leaves and pine needles and remove twigs to tidy up the lawn and garden beds. Clean up debris around the heating and cooling unit to allow the air to circulate around it and operate efficiently.

When the garden beds are cleaned, add a light layer of mulch to protect the plants. A garden service will charge $324 to lay a 4-inch-deep spread of organic mulch in a 300-square-foot area. You can buy the mulch for $75 and do it yourself and pocket a 77 percent saving.

Give a light pruning to trees and bushes and save 56 percent for your effort. Expect to pay a landscape service $80 to prune and groom a small tree and a couple of bushes. Even figuring the cost of shears and loppers, which will run about $36, you'll save and continue to save every time you use them. The next pruning job won't cost you anything but your time.

Keep gutters and downspouts clear so water can flow through them and direct water away from the house and prevent soil erosion. Refasten any loose straps and patch any holes to protect siding from water damage. You'll pay a handyman $75 to clean 100 linear feet of gutters, but you can do it for $30, the cost of the repair material.

Check the sump pump in the basement to see that it works. Remove debris that may clog the pump and test it with a garden hose connected to a faucet to fill the sump with water. The pump should come on long before the sump pit fills. If it doesn't make sure it's plugged in and check that the fuse is not blown. If the pump still doesn't work, have it serviced.

Easy Energy-conscious Upgrades
For a quick fix to seal old drafty windows get a kit with plastic sheeting and double-faced tape that you cut and install on the inside of the window. With a blast from a hair dryer the shrink-wrap tightens and seals the window with a clear, tight-fitting film. An easy-to-use window insulation kit (for four windows) costs $25 or hire a handyman for $84 to do the job.

Air gets into windows at gaps in the joints around the frame where it meets the siding so seal any cracks with caulk. It'll cost about $50 to do it yourself compared with hiring a contractor for $144. The same is true for leaks around door frames where old weatherstripping doesn't prevent air from infiltrating. Replace with new material for $35 and do it yourself or hire a handyman to do the job for $65.

Energy experts agree that you'll lower your energy bills if you increase the insulation in your attic. In a 1,200 square foot attic a contractor will charge $984 to lay down batts of poly-wrapped insulation directly over what's already up there. You can do it yourself for $550.

Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature so it warms the air only when someone's in the house. If no one's home during the day set the daytime temperature lower so you're not paying to heat the air in empty rooms. Set the unit to kick on with warm air about half an hour before you arrive home. A contractor will charge $143 to install a programmable thermostat; if you have experience with electrical projects you can do it for $100, the cost of the unit.

The bottom line: Concentrate on preventive maintenance repairs and upgrades that add value to your home. To help you make worthwhile improvement decisions that payback you'll find the costs of hundreds of projects at www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com.

DIYorNot.com is the online edition of the newspaper column of the same name, which is syndicated by Tribune Media Services. It went online in 1987 on HouseNet BBS, a bulletin board service that evolved into HouseNet.com, the first home and garden channel on AOL and home improvement Web site. More information can be accessed online at www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com.