There's nothing better than waking up early on a Saturday during the dog days of summer to get started on a few home improvement projects, but don't discount what you can get done during winter either.
Truth is, this time of year is perfect for interior renovations, while warmer weather is better served for sprucing up the exterior. Here are a few projects you can get done even if it's snowing outside:
1. Find the leaks
Paying unusually high utility bills lately? This could be due to a couple of hidden air leaks around the home, according to U.S. News and World Report. Small holes found along your walls, especially in spots near outlets or vents, could be contributing to heat loss, which can add anywhere between a 15 and 35 percent premium to your bill, the source reported.
Grab a tube of caulk and a can of Great Stuff from your local hardware store and start hunting for those cracks. Use the foam as an insulator, apply caulk judiciously to patch up the hole, sand it down and paint over it if need be to give it the finishing touch.
2. Tackle the bathroom
You've always been saying how you want to give the tile grout a thorough cleaning—and now's your chance. Be sure to set aside some time to tackle the annual deep-cleaning bathroom tasks everyone tends to put off until they no longer can.
Grab both a stainless steel and a sponge scrub and your favorite disinfectants, then make sure you get to all of the built up mildew, dirt, dust, rust and everything in-between.
"Take advantage of material and appliance discounts during the winter."
3. Give the kitchen a new look
You don't need the warm weather to update your kitchen and spin it into a more modern design. McClurg, a design and building agency, reported that homeowners can take advantage of the discounts on materials and appliances often given in the winter—it isn't until springtime that everyone begins to make home improvements, and that's when retailers hike up the prices.
4. Clean the clutter
Why wait until spring to start cleaning? When the thermometer starts rising in temperature, you should be spending time outdoors, not digging ancient relics out of every nook and cranny. Quicken Loans recommended focusing on closets, the mudroom and other high-traffic areas.
If you plan on selling your home in the approaching months, consider going one step further and getting all of your warm-weather cleaning out of the way. As long as there isn't any snow on the ground, you should have no problem tidying up the place. With a major hurdle out of the way, you can go ahead and list it as soon as the first leaf starts to show.
5. Spice up the interior
Painting is perhaps the most fitting indoor project that can be accomplished during the winter. Give your home a brand new feel by dedicating a weekend to a room that needs a new coat, or a totally different direction in color. Painting can provide a new spin for houses of any age, and it's a fun home-improvement activity to boot.