Glenda Feeken - Come Live and Play on the Kenai

Boring? Hardly. Upgrading and maintaining your homepreserves its value, giving you a nice return on your investment. Plus, youll enjoy the fruits of your labors every day.

With summer on the horizon, here are four outdoorsy ideas for spending your refund.

Add outdoor lighting

Show your house in its best light, even in the evening, with anoutdoor lighting scheme. Youll enhance your homes architectural features and play up landscaping details, plus youll be adding safety and security to your property.

Heres a quick price check on a professionally installed system:

• 7 LED outdoor lighting fixtures to illuminate 100 feet of walkway: $2,275.
• A transformer to convert household current into low-voltage: $400.
• Two motion-detector security lighting fixtures: $300.

Total: $2,975

Install a patio

Abackyard patiois an inexpensive way to add some sweet living area to your home.

For a professionally installed brick or concrete paver patio thats 12 by 16 feet--plenty of space for a table, chairs, and barbecue equipmentyoull pay about $15 per square foot, or $3,000 total. Expect a payback of 30% to 60% on your investment (plus many hours of great outdoor living).

Otherpaving materialsinclude limestone, slate, and granite. Concrete is a less expensive option that costs $6 to $12 per square foot, installed.

Upgrade your deck

Make your deck more livable withupgradesthat add shade, increase privacy, and provide convenience.

• Shade sails provide soft, diffuse shade for areas not covered by trees and building overhangs. Theyre made of weatherproof materials that never need maintenance, and come in various shapes. Professional installation of a 12-foot triangular sail costs about $3,000, including the sail and support posts.
• Cable railings are thin stainless steel cables stretched between posts. They open up views and add a contemporary feel. Expect to pay $70 per lineal foot for the railings plus pro installation.
• Built-in planters add visual texture and help define separate areas of your deck. Integrate their construction with built-in benches to add seating. Youll spend $150 to $250 per lineal foot for cedar or redwood planters and benches, including materials and installation.

Replace your air conditioning

Hoping the old unit holds on for another year? Newcentral air conditioning unitsrequire 30% less electricity and lower energy bills by 30% more than AC units made just a few years ago. You also may qualify for a$300 energy tax credit. Prices for a new energy-efficient central air conditioner start around $3,000.

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John Riha has written seven books on home improvement and hundreds of articles on home-related topics. Hes been a residential builder, the editorial director of the Black & Decker Home Improvement Library, and the executive editor of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. His 1972 suburban house has been an ongoing source of maintenance experience.

Visit HouseLogic.com for more articles like this. Reprinted from HouseLogic.com with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.