4 Home Improvement Projects You Can Do While You’re on Vacation

By HomeAdvisor (A Patch Brand Partner)

As vacation season kicks into high gear, some homeowners are using their time away from work for more than just photo ops and R&R—they’re also taking care of important home improvement projects while they’re away.

No, we’re not talking about cloning yourself so you can be in two places at once (if only!). The beauty of the four projects below is that your job ends when you board the plane, leaving the work behind. They’re the kind best left to professionals, so you can save the fun jobs (like that fairytale tree-house your daughter keeps demanding) for yourself. The best part? They all take place outdoors, so you don’t even need to make a spare set of keys!

Build an Outdoor Oasis

Sure, your yard is paradise…to the family dog. But what about your vision of a shaded deck with built-in benches and a grill for entertaining? As you pack your bags for August adventuring, now’s the time to make that dream come true!

1. To begin, call a family meeting to get everyone’s ideas: from your Victorian gazebo to a backyard workshop for your husband. Once you come to a compromise, sketch out your ideas using a computer program like Google Sketch-Up, a paper notepad, or even a napkin (just make sure there’s no ketchup on it first).

2. After your vision is set, it’s time to determine your budget. Start by looking at the average cost for yard or landscaping projects, and remember to factor in additional costs such as assessments or permit fees.

3. Find your contractor. You can ask friends or neighbors for a recommendation or use HomeAdvisor, an online search tool for vetted and reviewed professionals.

TIP: As you narrow down contractors, remember to look beyond price. A contractor who says they do things “up to code” means they’ll do the bare minimum to meet your area’s building code requirements. You want one who goes above and beyond.

Dive Into Pool Repairs

Is your blue heaven not-quite-so-blue anymore? A properly maintained pool can be the crown jewel of your home, but doing those repairs means skipping a precious summer afternoon of cannonballs off the diving board. Fortunately, your summer vacation is the perfect time to return your pool to its glory days…while you laze on a hammock in faraway lands.

1. Make a list of pool problems you’d like to solve. Common issues include faulty heaters, discolored water, algae or mold, water loss, trouble maintaining the proper chlorine levels, loose tiles, wrinkled vinyl liners, or cracks in fiberglass liners, concrete, or gunite.

2. Find out how much your project will cost. This cost estimator gives you average prices for your area, and can help you determine the price for each element of your pool refresh.

3. Find a pool professional for your project. You can ask around the neighborhood, or submit your project details to HomeAdvisor and find reviewed and vetted local contractors who are available within your timeframe.

TIP: Your summer vacation is also a great time to repair a hot tub—or even install one. What better way to celebrate your homecoming than with a relaxing soak?

Give Your Home a Facelift

You wouldn’t wear the same makeup forever…so why should your house? An exterior paint job can not only leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated, but also up your home’s curb appeal.

The week you spend snapping pics of mountain vistas is the perfect time to tackle an exterior paint job. You’ll avoid paint fumes, won’t have to worry about a guy on a ladder peeking through the window when you’re getting dressed, and (best of all) you’ll come home to a house that feels brand new, even though it’s still filled with the same cherished memories.

1. Check the condition of your current exterior paint job. Dirt, dust, moss and residue are good indications that you’ll need a power wash. If pieces of your siding are coming loose, they’ll need to be replaced before they’re repainted. (Many painters will factor this into their job estimate.)

2. Determine the total square footage of the area you’d like painted, and inventory additional features such as doors, shutters, and window sashes.

3. Use this cost estimator to help determine your budget. In addition to providing high, low, and average costs, they also offer prices for extras features such as the ones listed above.

4. Pick your painter. HomeAdvisor can help you find reviewed and vetted professionals in your area: simply enter your project details to receive instant quotes.

5. Go color-crazy! If you’re feeling overwhelmed by choices, your painted may be able to help you pick.

TIP: Before you go on vacation, buy samples of your top 2-3 color choices and try them out on a small patch of exterior wall for a few days so you can see how it looks in different types of light.

Redo Your Driveway

If your driveway currently resembles the salt flats of Death Valley, there’s no better time to have it resealed than when you’re away. With nobody around to park, drive, bike, or play on the asphalt, the new tar will have plenty of time to dry—and, as a bonus, you and your family won’t be around to smell it. Even better, resealing your driveway requires minimal advance planning, so you can hire up a pro and get the job booked even if your car is already packed and the kids are yelling that it’s time to hit the road.

1. Evaluate your budget. According to HomeAdvisor’s national data, most driveway repairs cost between $800 and $2,100—so you can still have funds leftover for souvenirs.

2. Find your professional from among hundreds of screened and user-reviewed contractors specializing in concrete repair and resurfacing.

3. Slowly pull away: your vacation awaits!

TIP: The size and shape of your driveway may influence your costs. Large, long, or hilly driveways can cost up to $4,000 to repair, according to HomeAdvisor’s national data.

Conclusion

No matter how you choose to upgrade your home this summer, taking care of those projects while you’re on vacation lets you multitask even as you relax. Once you’ve planned your project, it’s time to pack your bags, check your itinerary, and prepare to come home to a house that’s as refreshed as you are!

To find average prices and receive contractor quotes for your summer-vacation home improvement project, visit HomeAdvisor.

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons