If you’re dying to add some light into a room, skylights are a great tool. Everyone enjoys walking into a room with good natural lighting. The light of the sun seems to bring the outside in for a nice warm feeling.

It’s also quite beautiful when a morning sunbeam shines down into a living room through a skylight placed high up to emphasize the beauty of a room. It also makes a great impression when guests enter your home.

Just the same, a couple of skylights placed in bathrooms and master bedrooms seems to be all the rage these days both for added effect, and natural lighting. Skylights provide up to 30% more natural light than your existing windows, and they can make a small space seem larger.

A few decades back, adding skylights became extremely popular. Unfortunately, the problems resulting from poorly designed skylights started flooding in. Problems included, leaks, faded carpet and fabrics, heat loss, and condensation. Skylights seemed to open a can of worms maintenance-wise.

The good news is that today’s skylights aren’t what they used to be. They’re a ton better! Today’s modern skylights have addressed many of the faulty design problems that plagued earlier skylights. This has made skylights a popular choice in modern homes once again. With improved designs and factory-manufactured flashings, the improved weather-tight ability has, in most cases, made leaks a thing of the past.

Energy-efficient Low E glass has addressed the faded fabric and heat loss issue. Bottom line is that today’s skylights are loads better than the one’s years ago, and can really add a level of class and beauty to your home!

Many homes deal with water problems. It could be flooding your garden beds, or worse yet, it could actually ruin your foundation. Water in the basement, or crawlspace is a definite sign that you have a water problem. If left untreated, this can cause major problems that can easily add up to thousands of dollars in damage.

Old, leaky gutters could be the reason you are having problems with water. The sole purpose of a good gutter system is to direct water away from your home.

When gutters are not working and are clogged up, the water has no where to go, but into your crawlspace, landscaping, or your foundation. Experts say, a maintenance free gutter system is the way to go. Not only will you never have to worry about cleaning out your gutters, you will never have to worry that water is building up under your home.

If you do have a water problem, the first thing you need to do is determine where the water is coming from. You may have a line leak, or it may be coming in from the outside and you just need to extend your downspouts. One thing is for sure, a maintenance free gutter system is a great investment and will give you peace of mind.

It is not good to have water standing in your crawl space, and this should be resolved immediately. Sloping the ground near the crawl space so that the water flows away from your house is also a good idea to keep water away from your house.

Skylights are sometimes viewed as a luxury addition to the home, they can actually be a green home improvement. Think about it, a skylight is really just a window, so all the advantages of installing energy-efficient windows apply. That includes improving your home’s looks, lighting, energy efficiency, and overall comfort.

There are a few reasons that skylights are so popular in living a green lifestyle. The first is that, like any window, the right skylight has the potential to help increase energy efficiency in your home (and reduce energy costs), especially when it comes eliminating heat transfer and making the most of passive solar heating.

The other reason skylights are so green, is that they maximize natural lighting,

as well. Though they are not automatically an energy improvement; they must be placed strategically and be shaded in the summer to maximize energy savings. A skylight with southern exposure, will provide your home with valuable passive solar heating in the winter months, reducing home heating costs. A skylight on west-facing roofs will add to your cooling costs all summer long.

If you’re selling your home, or just want to improve your curb appeal, there are easy things you can do. The best way to really see what other people see when they look at your house is to take a picture of the outside of your home. If you have a digital camera, view the color versions first, then remove the color and look at it in black and white, because it’s easier to see problems when color isn’t around to affect our senses.

What is your first impression of the house and yard area? What are the best exterior features of the house or lot? How can you enhance them? Ok, now let’s be honest. What are the worst exterior features of your house or lot? How can you minimize or improve them?

Next, walk towards the house, looking around you as if it were your first visit. Is the approach clean and tidy? What could you do to make it more attractive? Sometimes it’s as simple as repairing a loose shutter or sprucing up your potted plants.

Local realtors say whether you plan on selling or not, there are things every homeowner should do to keep their home in tip top shape.

Simple ways to spruce up your home:

• Kill mold and mildew on the house, sidewalks, roof, or driveway.
• Stow away unnecessary garden implements and tools.
• Clean windows and gutters.
• Pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks.
• Edge sidewalks and remove vegetation growing between concrete or bricks.
• Mow the lawn. Get rid of weeds.
• Rake and dispose of leaves, even if your lot is wooded.
• Trim tree limbs that are near or touching the home’s roof.

Don’t forget about your home when it gets dark outside. One quick way to improve evening curb appeal is with lighting.

Simple ways to add curb appeal at night:

• String low voltage lighting along your driveway, sidewalks, and near important landscaping elements.
• Add a decorative street lamp or an attractive light fixture to a front porch.
• Make sure lighting that’s visible through front doors and windows enhances the home’s appearance.

These are all relatively inexpensive way to increase your curb appeal. Whether you plan on selling or not, follow these tips and you’ll have the best looking house on the block!

In the current real estate market , many homeowners are opting to stay put and make improvements  to their homes. Not a bad idea, considering the fact that it is truly a buyers market. Many buyers are looking for the deal of the century and are flat out refusing to pay top dollar for a house. So, with that said, is it time to update your home’s exterior?

Give your home a wow-worthy makeover that fits your family’s lifestyle and budget. Whether your house is on the market or you just want to rev up its curb appeal, consider an exterior update for your next home improvement project. Think about it, your home’s exterior is the first thing potential buyers or your neighbors see when they look at your house. An inviting entryway looks great from the street to your door and signals a cozy, attractive interior.

Keep in mind that even the smallest of updates, such as a fresh coat of paint, can drastically enhance a home exterior. Choose durable exterior materials that can withstand the test of time and the elements. When selecting a color scheme, search for one that complements the style of home you live in, and consider using color to highlight and define your home’s architectural features. With today’s vast collections of exterior paints, hardware, and materials, you can create a beautiful, cohesive look on any budget.

Now that you’ve made the easy and fun updates to your home’s exterior, you need to tackle some of the bigger areas. I’m talking about  doors, garages, lighting, roofs, siding, stonework, and windows.  My realtor friend, Debbie tells me new siding is a huge plus. She also says old, on its last leg, residential roofing can be a deal breaker. Many are even investing in metal roofing because it lasts three times as long and is by far the most durable. Erie Construction of Evansville, Indiana is a trusted leader in the industry and can show you why investing in your roof can drastically increase the resale value of your home.