Whether you want to make your home feel new again or get it ready for a sale, there are plenty of DIY projects you can do to add value to your property. Here are some of the best ones to consider.
Nothing updates a room like fresh paint, and a simple coat can boost your home’s resale value by up to 5 percent.
1. Paint
A fresh coat of paint can dramatically improve the look and feel of a home. This project is inexpensive, easy to do and can add instant curb appeal.
A growing number of household owners prefer to hire professional contractors for more extensive repair, replacement and maintenance projects. This shift has reduced the DIY share. Other projects include installing residential solar panels, which take a bite out of future energy bills and are attractive to buyers.
2. Install Touchless Faucets
Upgrading your home doesn’t have to involve a complete renovation or expensive contractors. Using a little sweat equity and DIY know-how, you can turn your house into your dream home for a fraction of the cost.
Touchless faucets without handles prevent hand infections by eliminating the transfer of germs. Plus, they conserve water by shutting off automatically when your hands are no longer in range of the sensor.
3. Refinish Hardwood Floors
Hardwood floors add warmth and beauty to any home. They are also eye-catching and can increase a home’s value. However, over time, they may suffer from dents, scratches, and discoloration.
Refinishing your hardwood floors is a great way to repair these issues and restore their natural beauty. If you have solid wood floors, refinishing is a cost-effective option.
4. Repair Plaster Walls
Interior plaster walls aren’t as easy to patch as drywall, but they can be repaired. Look for bubbling, wetness or discoloration and sagging sections of plaster.
Test the plaster by putting pressure on it near water stains or cracks. If it feels springy, or if it’s pulled away from laths, call in a plaster specialist. Otherwise, repair is relatively straightforward.
5. Replace Your Toilet Seat
Bathrooms are a bacteria rich environment and a dirty toilet seat can make your whole bathroom look drab. Replacing your toilet seat is an easy DIY project that takes less than 10 minutes.
Start by removing the bolt caps located at the base of the hinges on the top of your toilet bowl. Then unscrew the bolts using a screwdriver, and remove any washers that are present.
6. Replace Your Shower Head
Adding a new shower head is one of the most budget-friendly home improvement projects. You can choose from a wide variety of designs and features to meet your needs and preferences.
Before replacing your shower head, make sure the water is completely shut off. Wrap a rag around the shower arm to protect it from scratches as you use slip-joint pliers to grip and twist off your old shower head.
7. Add a Deck
While landscaping is a great way to boost your home’s value, it shouldn’t be the only thing you do. Mowing, weeding and adding a pop of color with perennial flowers are a few simple ways to show that your home is well-cared for and maintained.
Older owners disproportionally tend to hire professional contractors for renovation projects. They also tend to undertake a different mix of projects than younger owners.
8. Add a Fence
With the Covid-19 crisis and shaky job market, many people are reluctant to spend money on home improvements. Luckily, there are plenty of easy DIY home improvement projects that won’t break the bank or drain your savings account.
Start by determining where your property line ends by staking the ends or checking your survey. Then, build a fence to your liking.
9. Create a Home Office
A dedicated home office can make a huge difference in productivity. Oftentimes, homeowners don’t even have to clear out an entire room to convert a closet into an efficient workspace.
Just add a privacy divider to create a nook where you can get work done. This project is easy to tackle and can be completed in a weekend. It’s also relatively inexpensive.
10. Rearrange Your Furniture
You don’t have to knock down walls or spend a fortune on home improvements to boost your house’s value. These smaller projects will do the trick and can be completed without contractors.
Start by getting rid of extra stuff like rugs, indoor plants and decorative items. This will make rearranging furniture much easier.
Just be careful not to undertake any projects that may negatively affect resale value. These projects can turn off potential buyers.