Whether you just want to improve the quality of your living space, or add value to your home at resale, DIY work can do wonders. There is so much you can do as a homeowner, and knowing which DIY projects will pay off eventually is just the start. We have come up with a list of projects that have the most impact on your ROI and will make your home a more beautiful place to live.
Give your lawn some love
Many homeowners do not realize this, but giving your lawn a well-needed makeover can increase the resale value of your home for well over 300% in ROI. The majority of work you can do yourself. Just keep your lawn cut, watered and green. Bigger landscaping projects will further increase the appeal of your home, so plant drought-resistant flowers and plants, redo your walkway, add beds of mulch for a nice clean look. If you have a vegetable garden, give it some much-needed attention. Additionally, an outdoor entertainment area, like a deck or lounge is fairly easy to DIY and will add a lot of charm to your home.
Introduce light to your home with stylish fixtures
A well-lit home is something every potential buyer is looking for. Replace outdated fixtures with modern, elegant designs. Adjustable LED lights, sleek modern fixtures and focus lights can create an appealing atmosphere at any time of day. Add an eye-catching chandelier in the dining room and create a focal point that everyone will notice. If you have the budget for it, install ground lighting in your yard, since this is a simple tech upgrade that will boost the value of your home.
Give it a paint-job
Nothing makes a home shine like a fresh coat of paint. If you are planning to resell your home, this is a step you should not skip. It is a simple project to DIY, and you do not have to even do it all at once. The best advice would be to stick to neutrals, since they are most appealing to the vast majority. If the exterior of your house looks a bit dull, a new paint job will brighten everything up and result in a bigger profit.
Think about changing up the floor plan
When we plan our renovations, most of us think about a range of potential improvements. From relatively simpler projects, such as changing up some fixtures here and there to the more complex ones, like painting the entire house or replacing the floorboards. There’s one project that takes the prize when it comes to complexity and costs–tearing down walls with the intention of altering your existing floor plan.
Surprisingly, it’s possible to knock down most walls by yourself if it’s done correctly and planned accordingly. Make sure you wear protective gear and equipment such as safety goggles, sturdy steel cap boots, gloves, earmuffs etc. It goes without saying that you have to know which walls are load bearing and which are not. Altering the floorplan is a good way to add a few extra square feet of usable space and thus potentially increase the resale value of your house.
Restore your hardwood floors and install new tiles
Older homes, in particular, are likely to have hardwood floors lurking beneath carpet, and most homebuyers today are looking for exposed hardwood flooring, instead of wall-to-wall carpeting. With the right tools, you can restore your floor and give it a lovely shine. Also consider changing your bathroom and kitchen tiles for more modern ones that will match with your newly-restored floors. The hardest part is the scale of the project, but with time and patience you can achieve an average of 340% ROI, so roll up your sleeves, put on your knee pads and begin.
Give your kitchen a makeover
A new kitchen is something that attracts homebuyers the most. A large-scale renovation may cost you more than you will get in return, so keep it small and effective. If your kitchen cabinets are still good for use, you can simply repaint them in a stylish colour like grey, white, dark green, or wood tones. Make sure you replace outdated faucets and cabinet hardware with more modern, brass or matte black ones.
It is all in the details
Pay attention to details. With a bit of decorating, you can add a bit of pizazz to your home. You can install crown moulding yourself, simply get the moulding form a home improvement store, cut to size and stick it with a nail gun. Also, update all the fixtures, outlet covers, change those boring curtain rods, and doorknobs. You should also repaint shutters and windows, especially if they are stained or flaking.
Wrapping up
DIY projects do not have to be expensive or difficult. A touch up here, a paint job there and you have yourself a new home. Make use of the space as much as possible, repaint your walls and spruce up your backyard. Of course, always use the proper tools and protective gear.
Written by Mike Johnston
