I once saw a shirt I found rather funny that read: “Toronto has two seasons: Winter…..and Construction.”

It’s quite true.  As soon as the good weather rolls around, the construction begins.

But summer also cues the start of something else: renovating.

Isn’t home ownership great?

There’s always somethingyou can do to your house or condominium to increase the value, the usage, or the amount of satisfaction it brings you.  Whether its a simple task like pruning a few flowers in the garden outside, or adding an extension to the back of the house, it feels good to work on your pride and joy; your largest asset.

I once dated a girl whose parents house was ALWAYS under construction.  Have you ever met these people?  They are always doing somethingto their house.  There is always a tarp laid out on a floor, or a ratchet set flung open on a staircase.

The first time I walked in, I noticed they were “renovating.”  This went on for two full years, and while I never stuck around to find out how it ended up, I would bet money that they still have scaffolding in the foyer.

First, it was the kitchen cabinets.  The introductory family dinner was prepared in a war-zone of a kitchen.

Second, it was the hardwood floors in the kitchen, which probably could have been done at the same time as the cabinets.

Third, it was the living room, which got wainscoting, crown mouldings, pot lights, a bay window, and pillars which were not load bearing but just for show.

I finally lost track of all that they did to their house, but I questioned why they didn’t just do all this before they moved in a few years earlier.

Most normalpeople elect to renovate or update maybe once a year.  We’ve all heard of “spring cleaning,” and generally speaking, that leads to “summer reno’s.”

I usually divide these renovations and activities up into four categories:
1) Cleaning
2) Small Reno
3) Medium Reno
4) Large Reno

Spring Cleaningcan’t be considered anything more than hard work and elbow grease; no matter what you do, it’s just not “renovating.”  Cleaning of exterior windows, be it yourself or through a hired company is job number one.  It’s time to empty your basement and attic and give clothes to Goodwill and perhaps have a garage sale.  Powerwash the back deck, maybe even power-sand it to finish.

Landscaping possibilities are endless, and while you probably think you won’t enjoy the physical labor or take pleasure in the pretty array of backyard botanicals, trust me when I say that I couldn’t tell a lilac from a lilly until this year, but my thumb is now quite green.

Small Renovations can be as simple as painting a wall in your house.  Perhaps you’re painting the whole house or just one room.  How about the front porch which is cracked and weathered?  Home Depot has products such as Beauty-Tone that can give the porch a shiny new look.  Adding crown moulding gives a room a very “finished” look, and can be completed by a professional in one day’s time, with another day for painting.

Carpets not only look worn over time, but they absorb smells and spills throughout the years.  There’s nothing quite like the fresh feeling of a new, thick, spongy carpet beneath your feet.  Adding runners to the stairs will appeal to the eyes, or maybe removing the old worn runners and re-finishing the hardwood staircase is an option.

Medium Renovations might consist of building a new back deck to better utilize the space off the kitchen and living room.  Perhaps it’s time for new hardwood flooring throughout the living and dining room, or maybe the shingles on the roof have become weathered and need to be replaced.

With energy efficiency in mind, many people are putting in new windows throughout the house; a job that is more expensive than it is tedious.  Adding more insulation in the attic will also help to keep heat inside next winter and save money on your hydro bill.

Large Renovations could be as much as a gut-reno of a house whereby you have to live somewhere else for six months, but I’m talking about things you can do while you’re at home.  A very common project today is taking an unfinished basement and making it into a clean, finished living space.  It’s not as invasive as most people would think, and it can provide an extra bedroom, washroom, and family or play room.

“Open concept” is a popular buzz-word these days, and it’s possible to remove the centre-wall that divides many houses down the middle without disrupting your day to day lives too much.  Think of east and west Germany after the Berlin Wall came down!  Now your kitchen and hallways are finally joined with your dining and living rooms!  Hooray!

Renovation possibilities are virtually limitless…

My list is by no means complete, but is intended to conjure up some mental images of either the before-and-after of a renovation, or yourself actually doing one or more of these things.

Many people already have two or three ideas in mind and might even have a time-line and a battle-plan in place.  But for those that don’t, take a walk through your house or condo and make a list of two things: 1) things I could change, 2) things I must change.

From here you’ll be able to differentiate between those wants and needs, or to simplify: what you have to do to keep your house from caving in, and what aesthetic changes you’d like to do if you have the money, time, and effort needed.

If there are leaks in the second floor roof, cracks in the exterior foundation, or the air-conditioner is on its last legs, you’ll put these in your list of “things I mustchange.”  If you’ve grown tired of the paint color in the living room, or you’ve seen what your neighbor did with her new kitchen island, put these in your list of “things I could change.”

Your house or condo is probably the largest asset you will ever own, and this is something I tell people time and time again on my blog and in person.  Think of yourself as an animal that hibernates over the winter, and re-emerges in the spring and summer—after a long, cold, confined winter, it’s time to get back to business and keep your property in good repair by identifying anything and everything that you should or could change about your home, and following through with some or all of those things.

You might elect to use the “do-it-yourself” approach or you might hire a paid professional.  Both methods have their pros and cons, but as long as the jobs get done, you’re keeping your property up-to-date and ensuring your asset does not depreciate.

There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of a job well done.

Here’s a picture of my new cedar planter boxes on my patio, complete with clematis, hostas, hydrangeas, stonecrops, foamy bells, and many more.  Since I took this photo, these shrubs and flowers have grown halfway up the lattice!