[Dan in Pasadena]

The perimeter is a good idea. Decomposed granite when rolled makes a very attractive walking path and you can do it yourself whereas you may not feel comfortable doing concrete work. Besides, on a slope like that, concrete will eventaully get undermined by rains.

You can buy pre-cut redwood deck kits from many home improvement centers. How about the perimeter clearing and off the house, paint the house as you said. Then put in the walks which arrive at a couple of carefully placed smaller redwood decks? Perhaps one with a hot tub and one with a nice BBQ and seating? You can do a project like that over time and bit by bit out of pocket. Get the cat too, you need the erosion control. I'd probably still see about a pest control contractor too. Oh and the ferns, get the New Zealand tree ferns, they are beautiful and cheap.