As snowbanks shrink and birds return to the U.P., thoughts of spring are inevitable. And along with them often come thoughts of home improvement projects. Maybe the house needs new paint or siding, or maybe it’s just time to finally get the closet organized. Local home improvement professionals are suggesting a whole array of projects for which the season may have arrived. “People are pricing projects right now for garages, additions, the things you can’t really do in winter,” said Bob St. Pierre, salesman at Iversons Home Center in Gladstone. But not all projects have to be on that large of a scale, he said. Homeowners can quickly add value to their home with easy weekend projects, too. St. Pierre’s suggestions include updating indoor paint, installing new shelving, building a closet organizer or a new porch railing. Or, if a few family members or friends are willing to help, a new deck could be installed. “When spring is coming, decks are a fairly easy project that adds value to your house,” St. Pierre said.

For many, painting a room is also a sign of spring. “People start rearranging furniture, and you realize rather than cleaning, you want a fresh coat of paint, said Eileen Gustafson, decorating consultant and store manager at Sviland Paints in Escanaba. She added although realtors often advise home sellers not to drastically redecorate, small updates can make a home more attractive to buyers. “(Paint is) an economical way to upgrade your home for resale, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be colors, you can just go through and do a neutral,” advised Gustafson. Dan Viau, of Top Line Builders in Bark River, said homeowners should keep an eye on regular maintenance, as well, if they want to increase the value of their home. “It can involve shingles, siding, anything that’s already there but needs to be replaced,” Viau noted. “Bathrooms really take a beating, with all the moisture. And it’s a room that the whole family uses, but they go overlooked in a lot of cases.” He said a popular home improvement project in recent years has also been kitchen remodeling. “It’s not necessarily an addition on the home. Sometimes you have to take care of what you’ve got before you move on,” Viau said. Countertops, windows, cabinets and bathrooms are all popular winter projects, added Bill Rodman of Rodman Home and Kitchen Specialists in Escanaba. St. Pierre said particularly for home sellers, paying attention to details is important. “(Buyers) do look at your kitchen cabinets, and they look at your windows,” he said. Carpets can sometimes get overlooked as well, but are easy to update and change, he said. Ceilings and window trim also are important details, Gustafson said. If it does come time to sell a home, Viau said home improvement projects pay off. “The home is still a good investment, even though it’s not a good economic climate right now,” he said.

By: Kim Hoyum - khoyum@dailypress.net