DIY backyard upgrades on a budget

Upgrading your yard will almost certainly increase the market value of your home. If you haven’t upgraded your landscaping in years, it may be time to look into it. And what better way to kick off the 2018 spring season than putting your creativity and skill to the test with budget-friendly DIY landscaping projects?

Patio

According to PaveTech, the average concrete patio will cost around $700 using pavers and doing all of the work by yourself. When professional concrete contractors and excavators are used the costs will increase dramatically. “You can set a patio in brick, stone, dirt or concrete, it really depends on your budget and what you’re willing to do yourself,” says Cargal Group Realty owner, property manager and renovation manager Derrek Cargal. “I personally think that DIY enthusiasts can lay pavers or brick patios without too much trouble, however, if they’re looking to set a pattern with stone and concrete, they may want to leave the hassle to a professional.” Besides being an affordable addition to your home, “they also add home value if done well,” said Derrek. “It really depends on the buyer’s preference and taste, but putting in a nice patio is a great addition to a home.”

Fire pits

An outdoor fire pit can be a great addition to your backyard. “Home Depot has a kit where you can build your own fireplace for $500- $1,000 and it can be done within 6 hours on a Saturday,” said Derrek. A common 5’x5’ stone fire pit, usually averages $700. Adding a built-in seating space to accompany your firepit can add another $1500-$2500 to the project total, but makes for a comfortable and cozy backyard getaway, especially if you love roasting marshmallows and making smores in the fall. Fixr.comsays that premium stones, such as granite and bricks with more detail, can increase the materials cost by up to 40%.

Lighting

Landscaping lighting costs depend on several factors including the size of the yard, number of lights purchased, obstacles to installation, and material and manufacturer of the fixtures chosen. The average lighting project can cost between $100 and $350 per fixture. If you’re putting these lights in by yourself, you can cut significant labor costs. Plus, Lowes.com has a great step-by-step guide and video on how to install the lighting yourself as well as a list of tools and resources you need to get started.

Storage Space

“She Sheds are a big kick right now,” said Derek. “It’s an escape for owners to take their creativity to the next level. It’s actually a regular storage shed with lots of style added.” According to homeadvisor.com, the average cost to build a shed is between $800 and $4,000, depending on the materials you choose (anywhere from $300 to$5,000). “It all depends on the details,” said Derek. “One time, we built a shed for a customer and basically tied it into the side of the house where it matched the house exactly. The shingles and the siding matched the house exactly. With materials, it ran almost $2,000.” But if you’re not in the mood to build a shed yourself, there are always places that have sheds you can purchase where the company brings them and puts them in place for you. “You can have sheds custom built with air conditioning and power for your utilities,” said Derek. “A typical 8X8 shed with regular materials with metal and shingle roofing could probably be done with a concrete patio for about $3,000 – $5,000.”

Tips from a pro on the best projects to take on

“If you’re new at DIY landscaping, stay away from building decks as this is more of a safety concern,” says Cargal. And the easiest DIY landscaping you can do is having a maintained yard. A green, healthy lawn always helps a home’s presentation and will give more curb appeal. Think about it- that’s the first impression people have of your home, so it’s important that it’s mowed and maintained.”

Home Improvement Financing

Your savings are important and if you don’t want to empty your emergency cash stash, a LendingPoint loan may be a great option.

Even if your credit score is lower than you would like it to be, you do have personal loan options. LendingPoint is dedicated to serving the NearPrime consumer with credit scores in the 600s. A personal loan can even help improve your credit score. By taking out one of our personal loans. you can make affordable monthly payments and build your credit story by making on-time payments each month. As you continue to make your payments on-time, you build your credibility and your credit history.

We offer decisions in minutes and funding as soon as the next business day to help make your home improvement dreams a reality. There is no time like the present to start your home-improvement project.