Five improvement ideas for homeowners receiving a tax refund

April 15 is almost here and you know what that means, but hopefully you’re getting a refund this year.

You probably have dozens of ideas for spending the money, but here are five possible improvements to make at your house along with the possible cost.

1. Put new sunscreens on your house for summer

Summer will soon be here and one good idea for beating the heat is by installing sunscreens on your windows, particularly on the west side of the house.

These screens differ from those that keep out bugs. Sunscreens are made of polyester coated with PVC (polyvinylchloride) to prevent heat transfer through your windows.

Remove them in fall and store them in the garage until next spring.

Cost can range from several hundred dollars to more than $1,000, depending on the number of windows.

2. Install a fire pit in your backyard

Gathering around a fire pit is a great way to spend more time outdoors with your family. You can have a stone fire pit built for about $1,200, or do it yourself with a kit for a few hundred.

You can use propane to light your fire or have a gas line run out to the area, but be sure to hire a plumber to install the gas connections.

3. Have new storage areas built in your garage

Is your garage a jumbled mess? Maybe that refund would be well-spent on putting cabinets into that garage.

You can spend $300 or so on racks and shelving and put it up yourself, but $600 or $700 worth of cabinets, done by an expert, could make a huge difference.

4. Buy a new outdoor barbecue

It’s going to be too hot soon to cook in the kitchen, and after all, your old grill is looking pretty shabby. Good quality portable gas grills start at about $500.

5. Dump the old couch and buy a new sectional with a chaise lounge built into it

You want to be able to stretch out and relax during that long, hot summer of baseball games. You can probably buy one for $1,500 to $2,000.

You can find even more home improvement ideas you for your tax refund here.

For more DIY tips and information for all the projects around your house, home, castle or cabin, visit Arizona’s largest collection of homeowner DIY advice and information at www.Rosieonthehouse.com.

And if you are in need of a quality contractor you know you can trust, visit our list of Arizona’s very best contractors or service providers for your home improvement projects at RosieontheHouse.com – Arizona’s most trusted referral network.

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