Everyone knows about spring cleaning, although many never seem to get around to it. If you've sworn an oath to really get your Columbia SC home cleaned up this year, we have some things you need to include on your Columbia SC home spring cleaning list.

Columbia SC Home Spring Cleaning To Do List:

Sell Some Stuff

Now that the weather is warmer, it's time for a yard sale. Gather up all your unwanted stuff and put it out on the lawn. Might as well make some money on some of that clutter you no longer use.

Give Away Some Stuff

If you don't sell it in your yard sale, do NOT take it back in the house. Take your un-sold yard sale items to a local Columbia SC charity and get a tax deduction for it.

Throw Away Some Stuff

If you have large items that cannot be sold or donated, you don't have to keep living with them taking up space in your garage or storage shed. Haul ‘em away.

Clean Thoroughly

The idea of spring cleaning isn't about your normal vacuuming and dusting. It's time to get more serious. Move furniture and clean underneath and behind, including your refrigerator, and your washer and dryer. Pull back the blinds and clean the windows. And while you're at it, clean the blinds. They're probably pretty gross too.

Organize Your Stuff

Those closets you've been ignoring? It's time. Really. Plan your attack and go for it. You never know what you'll find in there that you've been missing (or forgot about). And cleaning out your closets are also a great way to find items to sell and donate (see #1 and #2 above).

Paint a Room

Paint colors stuck in a decade-old funk? It's time for a fresh coat. Check out your local Lowe's or Home Depot for the latest trends in paint colors.

Plant New Flowers

Spring is the time to get your garden in high gear. Flowers, bulbs, and certain veggies thrive in Spring.

Consider a Move

Now that you've done all of the Columbia SC home spring cleaning you've been putting off for years, maybe it's just time to sell and move! If you are thinking of moving, remember that all the same rules apply for getting your Columbia SC home ready to sell as they do for getting it Spring ready to live in yourself. So, basically, you're not going to be able to avoid getting that whole shower scrubbing thing done either way, staying or moving.

To get more tips on Columbia SC home maintenance and ways to save money by doing-it-yourself, check out our other articles by clicking on the Columbia SC Home Improvements link to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

When it comes to Columbia SC home security, you have three options. Hire an outside company and pay for a monthly monitoring fee, do it yourself, or don't have any home security at all.

We don't think the third option is a very good one, and the first option can get expensive.

Here are some ways to have Columbia SC home security, do it yourself and save a lot of money in the process…

Having some sort of home security in place is not only smart, but in some cases, it might save you a few dollars a year on your homeowner's insurance. Check with your agent to see which home security system qualifies for a discount in your particular case.

To get more tips on home improvements and ways to save money by doing-it-yourself, check out our other articles by clicking on the Columbia SC Home Improvements link to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

Doing a home repair job yourself can save you a ton of money. But if you're not careful, it can cost you even more than hiring a professional to do the same home repair job for you.

Here are some "Do it Yourself" mistakes you need to avoid if you really want to save money on the project.

To get more DIY tips, along with other Columbia SC home improvement ideas and tips, click on the "Columbia SC Home Improvements" link to your right under Columbia SC Real Estate Categories.

Planning to do some Columbia SC home remodeling and think you have it planned down to the penny what it's going to cost? Better think again.

We've touched on the importance of making sure you have a budget in other articles we've posted on this subject. Even when people make a budget, what they often forget is to factor in for surprises.

It's always a good idea to budget 20 to 30 percent over your remodeling estimate so that you're covered no matter what happens. Here's just a sampling of the surprises you might encounter when tackling a Columbia SC home remodeling job.

Columbia SC Home Remodeling – Hidden Horrors

If demolition reveals a colony of creepy crawlies lurking beneath your drywall, you'll have to call in the pest control folks to evict them before work can proceed. Insects and vermin are just one unpleasant surprise you might discover — you never truly know what's going on behind the walls until you tear them out. Prepare for the possibility of mold, faulty wiring or plumbing, asbestos and other pricey pitfalls.

Columbia SC Home Remodeling – Storage Issues

You'll need to stash your stuff somewhere while work is in progress. If you don't have a garage, attic, basement or a willing friend with a large spare room, you may need to rent an offsite storage unit for the duration of your Columbia SC home remodeling project. Depending on size and other factors, these units can cost anywhere from $20 to a few hundred bucks a month.

Columbia SC Home Remodeling – Higher Utility Bills

Who's electricity powers all those table saws, nail guns, paint sprayers and floor sanders? That's right — yours! In addition, heavy traffic in and out of the house could cause your heating and cooling bills to escalate, especially in hot or cold weather.

Columbia SC Home Remodeling – Eating Out

Does your Columbia SC home remodeling project include a kitchen makeover? You won't be whipping up meals in your brand new kitchen for a while, and you can spend a small fortune on restaurant meals and takeout in the meantime. Even prepared or microwaveable foods cost significantly more than cooking from scratch, so add this cost into your budget.

Columbia SC Home Remodeling – Higher Property Taxes

Major additions or updates, particularly in spaces such as kitchens and baths, can increase your home's assessed value, and that can enlarge your tax bill. Assessors typically get copies of building permit applications, so they'll know about your project and may determine that it warrants upgrading your home's value.

These are just a few of the many costs you may need to factor in when planning the budget for your Columbia SC home remodeling. If you've done a remodeling job and had hidden or unexpected expenses related to the job that we haven't covered here, tell us about them in the comment box below.