Makeover the Exterior of Mom's Home as a Mother's Day Gift

Mother's Day is a time when the weather is getting warmer and the term "spring cleaning" arises. The spring season breathes life. The birds are back, the leaves appear, and the grass grows. With dad and the children pitching in, a home-exterior makeover can be a most memorable Mother's Day present.

There is no better time than Mother's Day to bring about a fresh look to the outside of the home. Start by telling mom that she is number one and deserves a fresh look to the house.

The lawn will make the biggest difference. Rake up the left over leaves from last fall. Mow the lawn even if the lawn doesn't need to be mowed because it will add that nice trim look.

Go to the nearest greenhouse or home improvement center and pick out some annuals. These are flowers that only live one year. These will work best for Mother's Day because you can pick out flowers that are in full bloom. Plant them in the front yard preferably near the front door or picture window. If there are no practical areas to plant, then buy decorative pots and plant the flowers in it. These decorative pots can be placed by the front door or stairs leading to the front door.

Trim the bushes, small plants or hedges. You don't have to be Edward Scissorhands. Just trim off the growth and make it look uniform. Another good tip is to buy a few bags of mulch and spread it in between the plants to give it that clean look. All the weeds need to be removed prior to spreading the mulch.

Mom will be thrilled if the outside windows are cleaned. Home improvement centers offer a window cleaning kit that lets you wash the windows using only a hose for hard to reach places. I have had a professional window washer tell me that all he uses is soap and water but the squeegee is of good quality.

If your exterior door is painted, then think about adding a fresh coat. If you are going to go from a dark color to a lighter color, make sure you prime it first or it won't look right.

For those with painted garage doors add a new coat of paint to go along with the front door. Most doors should be painted with latex semi-gloss. A flat paint will scuff very easily.

Even using the hose to clean the sidewalk, driveway and even the siding of the house will give it that extra sparkle.

While you are at it, wax the car and vacuum the rugs. This will add to the whole feeling as mom pulls into the driveway. She will have this big smile on her face, seeing such a neat and pretty house and mostly because of the love that went into it.