“During the late summertime, there’s still an opportunity to get outdoors,” Oosterhouse says. “Take advantage of the nice, warm weather and do the outdoor projects during this time. Save the interior projects for when the weather has cooled down.” But if you’re facing a laundry list of things to do, this advice can feel overwhelming. With Oosterhouse as our guide, we took a look at the best projects to tackle during the last of these warm-weather days and beyond. How can we achieve this? Oosterhouse shares that your windows are a great place to start, as they are basically giant holes in your home. “Start with windows, then move on to other spaces like doors,” he suggests. Routine gutter maintenance can avoid a host of unsightly problems, including clogging and malfunctioning, so this tip is extra-important before fall. “I clean mine all the time—I just did it this morning,” Oosterhouse shares. “Since construction workers are usually busiest in the spring, you can usually get a better deal during this time of year if you’re doing something outdoors,” he shares. “I’m actually building an outdoor deck right now not only to give myself enough time to finish, but also so we have a little bit of time to enjoy it.” “Don’t get into something that’s going to put you in over your head before the weather gets cold,” he says. “With construction being delayed, something that should take two months to complete is taking much longer—and there are only two months of decently warm weather left.” This is especially true if you live somewhere with cold winters, Oosterhouse warns. “Be mindful of how much time you have left before starting a big project,” he notes. “I would say late summer is a good time for smaller projects that can be wrapped up in about a month or so.” “Sustainability is important to think about, and one place to start is by looking at our home energy consumption,” Oosterhouse says. “I have the Schneider Electric’s Wiring Devices in my home, which come equipped with an app called Wiser Energy. I never thought I could see exactly how much energy I’m consuming from an app on my phone.” But one word of warning—for anything electrical, it might be best to consult a pro. “You can DIY all you want, but at the end of the day, you want your home to be safe. It’s important to know your limits,” Oosterhouse says. “No matter how handy or how much of a weekend warrior you are, the professionals are there for a reason.” Adjust your home’s indoor and outdoor lighting for a more ambient space. You can add task lighting if you have a workspace or mood lighting if you have a hangout space, Oosterhouse suggests. “I think people kind of tend to forget how essential lighting is for setting the mood for a space,” he notes. “As homes are getting smarter with the electronics that we’re using, it’s also easier to set things up on a timer and control them from your smartphone.” “I predict there are going to be more ‘medium-sized’ home projects,” says Oosterhouse. “People are going to start tackling the interior portion of their spaces and realize how they can better improve it. Oosterhouse also thinks there will be more updating on the interior vs. the footprint of the home. “The regular homeowner is not looking for the next best home, but rather what they can do best in their home,” he says. “It’s important to know what you’re doing—your limits, your capabilities—but I want to also empower people to just get out and try it,” Oosterhouse says. “Do the project you’ve been thinking about, or get out and find a new project.”
