You will need to periodically update your home, if you want to get into home improvement. You can do this by yourself; it is possible, or you could hire someone. Follow this article's tips.

Examine your lot to look for areas where the soil is low. Consider adding some compacted soil to these areas so your home isn't damanged from erosion. This is especially important around structures who might suffer rot or seepage around their foundation.

A great alternative that you can do is to change the outside siding on your home is stucco. Installing stucco on the exterior of your home may not be the most difficult home improvement project, but it is in your best interest to hire an experienced professional.

Spacious attics look best with a dormer window. This will not only enhance the exterior of the home, but increase the square footage inside as well. In return for a modest cost, dormers make your home more livable and more valuable.

Always turn off the water if you are going to work on your kitchen or bathroom. You'll need to find the main shut-off in your home before you start any work that involves your plumbing. This step will help you prevent a flood.

Steel wool can be stuffed into a hole which is being used by mice to come into your house. Mice will not be able to chew through the steel wool and will stop using this hole.

If you're doing some home improvement, look into plumbing and rewiring issues first. You generally want to do these prior to other jobs since they require access to the inside of your walls. In addition, it is generally easier to have needed maintenance on your wiring and plumbing done if you have walls torn open for renovations anyway.

Start a new project involving landscaping to boost the aesthetic appeal of your home. You can plant lovely flowers, bushes or vines with whimsical trellises and strategically place stepping stones about the yard. Adding proper landscape to your yard greatly increases first impressions and goes a long way in increasing the value of your home.

When the rainy season comes, a gutter clog changes from a minor annoyance to a serious threat. Leaky gutters on the sides of houses can cause water to seep into the basement, which will eventually cause a flood. Regularly clean your gutters to avoid this problem.

Change your home's light bulbs for those that are energy efficient. By doing this you will minimize your utility cost and also preserve the environment, and they will provide better light and last longer as well. So change your old light bulbs for ones that use energy efficiently.

The bristles will bend and wear out faster. Instead, hang it up so the bristles will stay straight and continue to work well for a long time. As well, you should hang up your mops. This helps them dry and stay mildew-free.

Have you seen many homes and thought about the numbers of bathrooms and whether they work for you? There is a direct correlation between the quantity of bathrooms and the value of the property. Adding a new bathroom can really boost the financial value of your house.

Make sure to be safe when working on a heavy project. If you are lifting heavy items, make sure to wear a brace. Helmets are also good if there is a risk of an object falling.

Install a lighting system that is enabled by motion detectors. You can lower your electric bill by using the lights only when necessary. Motion detectors are also useful for keeping thieves at bay.

Tape off surfaces and trim to protect them during dirty work. Cover surfaces to avoid creating more work from damage. You should also cover your walls to keep splatter and other debris from ruining their paint job.

If your home improvement project is taking place near or around the kitchen, fireplace or anything else with a gas line, find the shutoff switch prior to starting. You should also be extremely vigilant when working near the gas supply. Starting a fire or causing an injury during your project is undesirable.

Adding new features to your home should not be that difficult. Although you can pay a contractor to complete a project that you want done, it is possible for you to do many projects yourself, even if your experience is limited. The tips in this article will help you to complete a project yourself.