As summer winds down, the focus often turns to fall home repair projects. This is a good time to make a list and divide it up over the next several months. You might need time to interview a few contractors, check the cost of attic insulation, or gear up for upcoming home repair projects.

The top fall home repair projects include:

• Cleaning windows and gutters
• Checking around the house for leaks, holes (that critters can use to get in)
• Repairing sidewalks, stairs, and driveways before inclement weather moves in
• Power washing and sealing a deck
• Yard cleanup
  • Putting away pots
  • Cleaning tools
  • Storing patio furniture
  • Planting bushes and perennials

Here’s a good fall project list from Home Depot to get you started. (Try hiring a contractor for the chainsaw part of pruning trees!)

Insulation is Key Home Repair

One important priority in northern climates is insulation. Check your attic and wall cavities (if you have access to them from the attic or basement) to ensure you have adequate insulation. Here’s a good primer from the U.S. Department of Energy on where insulation should go. You’ll be amazed how much it affects your energy bills and comfort level.

Interviewing Contractors

Some of these projects will go more smoothly if you bring in a contractor–whether he’s a replacement windows contractor, bathroom remodeling contractor, or handyman. As you narrow down options, remember:

• Look at the contractor’s previous work in person. Check grout lines, patio edging–all the details.
• Get permits to ensure you’re in compliance with local codes.
• Get a contract in writing. Here’s a thorough discussion by Houselogic.com regarding what your remodeling contract should cover.

Have you ever walked through a friend’s house and said, “Wow!?”

Wouldn’t it be nice to have that type of reaction when walking through your own house? Think back to what drew your attention–was it a beautiful front porch or a large patio with nice landscaping? Why not add a similar interior design boost to your own home?

Putting the Wow in Interior Design

As you decide what to change, consider interior design projects people tacklebefore selling. Some hire “stagers” who move furniture around, add art work, and spruce up the interiors. Even if you’re not planning to sell, follow these tips:

• Create a “WOW” area in each room: It might be bold pillows or a watercolor above the fireplace– something to catch a person’s eye. Here are more interior design tips from Spruce Staging.
• Declutter: This is a good strategy for everyday life, whether selling or just doing some home improvement. It makes the house seem cleaner.
• Add a few bold colors: Neutrals and earth tones are great, but you need a little color pop here and there. People will remember this type of home improvement splurge. Take this advice from helium.com, and try brown and blue together.
• Spend a little extra on a few home improvement items: People will remember a few rows of nice Italian tile or a fancy wooden vent hood over the range.

When debating where to add emphasis, look for areas along your home’s natural traffic flow. Can you add a chandelier to highlight a decorative arch going into the dining room? How about a tray ceiling with rope lighting in the dining room? The home improvement list goes on and on.

Sprucing up your interior design can be fun. Approach it like a designer would–start from the front door, and add a little pop in several key places.

If your bathroom storage is lacking, a little organization–and a call to a contractor–can help. With today’s storage units, cabinet dividers, and assorted bathroom organization bins, it’s easy to turn a cluttered bathroom into an organized one.

If you’re trying to figure out a bathroom organization plan, start by making a drawing of the room. Look for any spaces that aren’t used efficiently. Here are some bathroom storage options:

• Base cabinets: If you’ve ever reached way in the back of the cabinet, you know where to find wasted space. Look for bathroom storage options that divide the space and allow you to use that far-reaching space for extra towels or infrequently used items.
• Linen closet: Most are stuffed with towels and linens, but have gaps near the top of the unit. Once you realize the importance of dividing the vertical space, you’ll gain bathroom storage space for those heating pads, extra drawer liners, makeup mirrors, and other tall items. If you don’t have a linen closet, talk with a contractor about taking space from an adjacent room
• Wall niche: That’s right–a contractor can cut a hole in the wall, creating a recessed shelf in the wall cavity. This is ideal for soaps and knick knacks in a shower stall, says Examiner.com. Every little bit helps.
• Vanity drawers: Look for deep drawers for your hair dryer. Then, add dividers to compartmentalize hair clips and smaller items. Here’s more from HGTV on how to sort your bathroom items and get organized.
• Bins and baskets: They’re always helpful for storing toilet paper, extra towels, magazines, and other items. They’re versatile, and you can move them around as needed.

When in doubt, do as Martha Stewart does, and focus on finding a place for everything!

If you’ve been following the whole green movement, you know plenty of ways to be environmentally friendly when remodeling and buying home-related products. From countertops made with recycled materials–to mulch made from old tires–to wall tile made from crushed glass, going green’s never been so easy.

If you want to make an impact in a large area, consider green flooring, which can make a bold statement throughout several rooms.

Green Flooring Options

Green flooring includes a wide range of products, like cork , bamboo, and wood reclaimed from old barns. When buying reclaimed wood, be prepared for a rustic look with a few imperfections. In many cases, you’ll find knots, scrapes, and old nail holes, but it’s all about the character.

If you’re considering bamboo, here’s the rundown on this versatile material from Green Building Supply. Bamboo is a grass, so you know it’s renewable!

Green Flooring Shopping Tips

When shopping for green flooring, the trick is to find the right style, sizing, and material for your home. If you’re working with a large room, you can use wider, six-inch boards without worrying about the room closing in on you. In smaller spaces, try narrow, two-inch “rescued maple” boards like these featured by Agedwoods.com.

Your contractor may have to scour a few lumber yards or specialty suppliers to find the right recycled or reclaimed product. So, build that into your construction schedule.

Defining Green Building

Before buying green flooring or a door made of reclaimed wood, consider where it originated. One green building factor is travel distance to the store or job site. It’s all about the carbon footprint and reducing fuel usage.

So, buy locally (or within a 100 mile radius), if you can. This will help you stay as “green” as possible!

Just have a weekend for home improvement? Don’t worry. You can still spruce up your home in that limited time.

Home Improvement Planning

Even when doing a quick weekend project (or two), it’s important to plan. Look around the house for quick remodeling projects you can do with or without a contractor:

• One room where new drapes or paint can make a big impact
• A great place for new floor tile (try the contractor on this one)
• A piece of furniture to be distressed (much less expensive than buying antiques) Diynetwork.com tells you how to do it in a day
• One wall where faux finish painting would be a big hit
• Three or four small repairs that take a few hours each–new faucet, repairing cracks in the wall, etc.

And, don’t forget the outdoors. Any of these Lowe’s remodeling projects can improve your yard:

• One new flower bed with roses, coneflowers, or hydrangea.
• A walkway or small patio (a contractor can work for those, too)

Now that you have your wish list, dig a little deeper. What supplies will you need? If you’re painting, will you need to repair the walls first? (If so, start that part the night before or plan for more contractor time.)

Clear the Calendar for Remodeling

Next, clear your calendar. If you plan to devote a weekend to home improvement, you need a full weekend because:

• Remodeling projects always take longer than you expect
• You’ll need extra time for surprises, spills, and running out of supplies (and going back to the hardware store)
• You’ll want to finish Sunday afternoon instead of late Sunday night

So, get rid of the lunch date, the manicure, the golf game, and the kids’ shopping spree. Those can wait. This weekend is for home improvement. Ready. Set. Go.

Looking to save money when remodeling? Of course! Here are five easy ways to save some cash when upgrading your home:

• Find the right contractor: That’s right. This isn’t the time to skip the contractor. The right contractor can actually save you money by being efficient and knowing where to find the best prices without sacrificing quality. Here are good questions to ask your contractor from the Federal Trade Commission.
• Don’t overpay for materials: Sounds obvious, but some people think they need expensive tile all the way through the bathroom. Instead, buy inexpensive tile for the bulk of the floor or wall, and, then, splurge on decorative tile in a few spots. Here’s a look at some unique tile designs from furniturestoreblog.com. You may want to tone them down, but be sure to keep the impact.
• Do some of the work yourself: That means the demolition, painting, product selection, etc. Figure out what you can do, and stay away from the rest. Don’t take on a full kitchen remodeling unless you’ve done one (or more) before. You may think you’ll save money, but, in the end, you may end up paying more. Here’s why:
  • You won’t get contractor discounts, which can be ten to 20 percent of the material or product cost for a kitchen remodeling alone
  • You won’t know how to schedule the project efficiently, which often translates to paying subcontractors for standing around
• Be careful about shipping and delivery charges: Heavy materials can be expensive to ship through an online order. If you need your materials delivered, be efficient, and group deliveries together to save money.
• Use special financing rates, but watch the details: Many stores offer zero percent interest for six to 12 months, but pay on time, or you’ll incur finance charges. If you have a home equity account, consider using it. Here’s the scoop from Bankrate.com.

Need a little extra space? Here’s how to get it using a little creative space planning.

If building a room addition isn’t practical right now, look at your floor plan for any nooks and crannies you can beg, borrow, or steal. With the help of a contractor, consider these options:

• Under the staircase: This is a popular remodeling project in older houses. Can you fit a small powder room there or a closet with shelving? Here’s more from Washingtonian.com
• The kitchen pantry: If you have enough cabinet space in the kitchen, can you turn the pantry into a powder room? If you need it as a pantry, make sure you’re maximizing all the vertical space with a great shelving plan. Try these kitchen pantry tips.
• A screened in porch: Remodeling a porch into a four season room can allow more flexibility for entertaining.

Remodeling Your Attic

Your attic is another option, depending on the ceiling height and other structural issues. If the headroom isn’t great–lower than eight feet–it might still work as a playroom. This can help free up part of your family room for other uses. Before remodeling your attic, talk with a contractor and figure out:

• Electrical outlets: Where will they go? Can your existing wiring handle the extra load?
• Plumbing: If you plan to add a bathroom or sink, what’s the easiest way to get the pipes to the attic?
• Natural light: Is there enough, or will you want a dormer?

Here’s a good article from Mother Earth News on all the structural hurdles to consider.

Once you identify options, ask a few contractors about cost and any structural limitations. Look for the option that will give you the most space and usability for the least amount of work.

August is the time of the year when lawn care gets frustrating–it’s too hot, the grass is turning brown, and you just don’t feel like weeding. If you focused on lawn care all season, take a few weeks off, and think about your fall lawn care plan. What are your priorities? Do you have outdoor home improvement projects on your list.

Here’s what you can do now:

• Evaluate: When did you fertilize? Did you spend the summer battling pests? Here are tips from the Ohio State Extension Service on controlling Japanese beetles and grubs.
• Make Your Fall Lawn Care List: Identify places where your grass needs reseeding or your flower beds are overgrown. Before committing to reseeding, think about how much time you have for this type of home improvement.
• Consider Who Will Do the Work: If you’re exhausted just thinking about lawn care, consider hiring a landscaping contractor or lawn service. Get a few estimates, and look for a service that offers some flexibility. You may want to expand their duties to include cleaning out gutters or trimming large hedges.

Fall Lawn Care Musts

Now, it’s time to make your fall list. In most parts of the country, this is a prime time to fertilize, plant trees and shrubs, and reseed your lawn. For more on what nutrients your lawn needs, try these tips from the University of Minnesota.

If you hire a landscaping contractor, ask for a thorough evaluation of your lawn, flower beds, and trees. What’s working and what’s not, from a health and maintenance perspective? Also, think about safety when using and storing the fertilizer. These lawn care tips can help.

Lawn care doesn’t have to be frustrating, as long as you have a plan and the right people to help.

We all understand getting that gorgeous new kitchen often comes with a little discomfort–not having a kitchen for a few months, washing dishes out of the bathtub, etc. But, remodeling doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Here are some ways to make your project more fun and enjoyable.

Understanding the Remodeling Process

Many homeowners get a little jittery about remodeling because they lose some control. That’s why it’s important to find a contractor you can trust. Then, focus on understanding the process. Start with these tips from Hometime.com and focus on:

• Scheduling: When major things will be torn apart and replaced
• Timeline: A realistic sense of how long the construction will take and what might delay it
• Workers: Who will be in the house and when?
• Temporary Space: With a refrigerator, microwave, and nearby sink or bathtub
• Contacts: Who to call if you have a problem or question–your kitchen remodeling contractor should be accessible throughout the day

Remodeling Around Kids and Pets

As you plan your kitchen remodeling, don’t forget about children and pets. They need to understand change. With kids, spend some time explain the remodeling process. Show pictures or, for older kids, look through the blueprints. Ask for their opinions when its appropriate. Doing so can help them feel part of the process.

Remodeling with Safety in Mind

Safety also is a priority when remodeling around kids and pets. Talk with your contractor about how equipment will be put away each day and when rooms might be blocked off. For pets, find a quiet place away from the noise where they can stay, says Realestate.com.

Managing the emotions that often surround remodeling can be tricky, but a little work can take some of the bumps out of the road that lies ahead.