At times it can be expensive to simply maintain the biggest asset most people will ever own: their homes. Keeping this fact in mind, here is a list of ways to increase your home’s value without breaking the bank.

• Hiring an inspector could be the most cost-effective thing you ever do. This is true if they find a small problem that could morph into something much bigger down the line, such as a termite infestation or a water leak.
• Tremendous value is added by simply painting a room.
• Energy efficient homes that feature items such as special windows and/or programmable thermostats, save you money and are a marketable asset if you do need to sell.
• Landscaping improvements in the form of large shade trees make homes more desirable. They can also cut your cooling costs up to 40%.
• Improve your home’s air quality by replacing old carpeting, or removing it entirely if you are lucky enough to have hardwood flooring underneath.
• By adding a small luxury item such as a water filtration system, you are adding value to your home and saving yourself money since you will no longer need bottled water.
• Replace old fixtures such as an old ceiling fan for a newer, more updated-looking model. It will make your home more pleasant on hot days, and will appeal to buyers if you need to sell.

• Iris: Bearded or not, this flower never disappoints if you plant it properly. Make sure the bulb is set slightly above the soil surface.
• Delphinium: In full sun these bloom tall spikes in either blue, purple, red, pink yellow and white.
• Peony: Needs full sun and time. Peonies usually take a couple of years to become established and show their gorgeous petals. Never bury the buds more than two inches below the soil’s surface.
• Purple Coneflower: These re-seed themselves and do well in hot and dry spots. Remember, “the first year they sleep, the second they creep and the third year they leap with color.”
• Yarrow: In white, yellow and pink this plant actually needs a hot, dry spot with poor soil.

Experienced gardeners know the value of an easy to care for perennial as it gives the garden color and interest every year with very little care, provided that their location is carefully chosen and roots are properly established with good watering. These particular perennials are hardy and highly resistant to disease, making them a foolproof garden addition for many years to come.

• Astilbe: If you have a shady spot with moist soil, this plant will fill it in with nice foliage and it’s soft, feathery plumes of either white, pink or red.
• Bee Balm: Deer resistant, this pompom flowered plant attracts bees, butterflies and hummingbirds due to its succulent nectar. It thrives in full sun or light shade.
• Bleeding Heart: Shady gardens are the perfect spot for this spring bloomer. The unusual dangling, heart-shaped flowers are lined up side-by-side on each stem and come in pink, white and red.
• Daylily: These do amazingly well in hot, dry spots. They bloom all the way from early summer to fall.