Whether you’re getting your house ready to be put on the market or looking to sell your home somewhere down the line, a few simple home improvement projects can help increase the value of your home to ensure you get the best return on investment.
This article highlights 8 do-it-yourself home improvement projects that can increase the value of your home without making any major renovations or expensive repairs.
New landscaping
Curb appeal is an important factor when selling a home and a prospective buyer’s first impression of your property is the front yard. Landscaping projects are a great way to improve the look of your home and you don’t need a green thumb to spruce up the yard. A little effort can yield lasting results. Here are some simple ways to update the landscape in your front yard:
- Refresh the front of your home with low-maintenance plants or mulch.
- Consider planting a few colorful perennials, which will return year after year.
- Maintain your yard’s appearance by watering plants, pulling weeds and raking leaves.
- Put a fresh pot of flowers on your front porch for an inviting touch.
Fresh coat of paint
One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to give your home’s interior a fresh and updated look is a new coat of paint. Maximize your home’s value by choosing a neutral color scheme, which not only makes the rooms look bigger, but also appeals to a wide variety of potential buyers.
Remove outdated features
Outdated features such as popcorn ceilings, bathroom carpet, wood paneling, vertical blinds and frosted light fixtures devalue your home and turn off potential buyers. Remove and update these features to make your home more attractive. Most of these features are relatively inexpensive to replace and don’t require an extensive amount of work. Remember to stick with that neutral color palette to appeal to a greater number of people.
Update the kitchen
Updated kitchens maximize the value of your home and are one of the top features potential buyers look for in a home. Though an entire upgrade would be expensive, there are some improvements you can do yourself to increase your home’s value. Update appliances including the sink, faucet, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator. Consider stainless steel appliances as it is very popular finish amongst a variety of buyers. Even small kitchen updates such as painting cabinets and adding modern hardware can add great value to your home.
Replace the carpet hardwood or laminate flooring
Wall-to-wall carpeting is less common as homebuyers now prefer homes with hardwood or laminate flooring.
While hardwood is more appealing because it’s easier to maintain than carpet, it is pricier and more difficult to install by yourself. When installing hardwood floors, you need to know what you are doing as it is not a project for a beginner. A great alternative to hardwood is laminate flooring, which is easier to do on your own and less expensive.
Change your lighting
Updating a room can be as easy as changing the lighting. Replacing light fixtures makes an immediate difference in any room in your home, and it’s easy to do. Energy efficient lighting is very important to buyers so keep in mind when adding light fixtures. Another way to brighten a space is to increase the amount of natural light in your home. Open windows, clean skylights and replace curtains that would otherwise block out natural light.
New bathroom appliances
Updating your bathroom is another easy task you can do yourself to upgrade and increase your home’s value. Bathrooms have strong impact on a buyer’s decision. Give your bathroom an updated, modern look by removing outdated, generic or cheap fixtures and replace with new accessories such as faucet, mirrors, vanities, shower head, toilet lever and sink.
Keep Up with regular maintenance and repairs
Go through your home and make a list of broken items or those in need of repair. While small repairs may not seem very important, these simple tasks can end up costing you. If you ignore these small repairs, you give potential buyers the impression your home is neglected. Staying on top of maintenance prevents any problems popping up when it comes time to put your home on the market.
Foundation repair is not simple; it requires years of experience and specialized tools. However, few minor repairs can be done by homeowners but not major repairs. Foundation settlement via underpinning or performing other maintenance to lift, level, and stabilize a foundation are not DIY projects.
Summary
Whether your home is getting ready to be put on the market or you plan on selling it in a couple of years, you should think about what you can do to increase your home’s value. Consider some of the DIY projects in this article to ensure the maximum return on investment.