Half the battle of outdoor home improvement projects is actually finding time to complete them. With more time spent at home in recent months, it isn't much of a challenge to head out, roll up your sleeves, and spruce up your home's exterior, especially if you're thinking about adding your home to the list of Bakersfield homes for sale. You don't have to be highly skilled or spend thousands on contractors to give your home an update. If you need some inspiration, our agents have rounded up five DIY outdoor projects for any skill level.

1. Start with Some Simple Power Washing
   An outdoor surface that's free of dirt, grime, mold, mildew, and algae is a thing of beauty. With the help of a power washer, you can easily stop the unsightly dirt from ruining what would otherwise be picturesque sight. You can buy or rent a pressure washer from a home-improvement store. And once you have the device in hand, you just turn it on, stand there, and blast away months of buildup. This is an efficient and more manageable way to clean your outdoor area than scrubbing by hand. The best part is that you can power wash all sorts of outdoor surfaces, including your deck, siding, walkway, driveway, patio, outdoor décor, and gutters.
   
   
2. Create a Bird Sanctuary
   Creating a bird sanctuary is a great way to attract several species of birds and give them a safe place to rest, feed, and refuel. Here's what you need for a thriving bird sanctuary:
   
   Water: Birds need water to bathe and drink. You can build a birdbath out of galvanized steel basins or painted flower pots. Fill it with clean water and clean it regularly to prevent build-up.
   Food: A DIY bird feeder is a great addition to your yard and an excellent way to offer a treat to your local birds. A bird feeder can be made from almost anything, including upcycled teacups and saucer, bottles, and cans. Fill it with peanut butter, dried fruit, cracked corn, seeds, oats, or sugar water.
   Shelter: Building a birdhouse is a simple and fun project you can do with your family. You can build it out of almost anything and it can be of any shape, size, or design.
   
   
3. Build Raised Garden Beds
   Kitchen and flower gardens are hot right now, and it's not too late to show off your green thumb with a raised garden bed. Raised beds keep your vegetable, herb, or flower garden safe from excess moisture, animals, and accidental trampling. They also offer more growing options if your area has poor soil, you're not interested in preparing the existing soil, or you don't have much expandable space. Raised beds are less physically demanding, easier to maintain, and allow greater control over the growing medium. Just build an above-ground garden box that's 3 to 4 feet wide and mix your high-quality soil, fertilizer, and compost. Plant the seedlings and watch your garden grow.
   
   
4. Do Some Quick Landscaping
   You know pruning and trimming your trees and shrubbery, mowing your lawn, and edging the perimeter enhance your landscape and make it look polished. So go to the garage and make it happen. Turning on your lawnmower will cut the grass and make the task a breeze. But to make your lawn look perfect, you'll need a straight-edged shovel or half-moon edger to create a clean edge. Next, prune and trim trees and bushes, and remove all diseased and broken limbs to promote healthy growth and provide an instant refresh. You can also plant a few colorful annuals to brighten up your front yard.
   
   
5. Make Your Entrance More Inviting
   A wooden door is blah, but a cheery front-door color that makes a bold statement can go a long way to increase your home's curb appeal and make a lasting impression on guests. Consider repainting the door in a color that draws the eye to the entrance, replacing or polishing worn hardware, and maybe adding potted plants next to the front door. You may also want to get a new set of house numbers and replace your worn out mat with a new one that will give your entrance a warm and welcoming persona.

Whether you're a buyer or seller looking for a home with more outdoor space around Bakersfield, CA, our team can make the search or sale easier for you. Contact us to learn more about the services we have to offer.