Home Value DIY

One of the greatest things about owning a home is the equity it brings and the return of investment and value it can yield.

It’s your home.  Adding some personal touches today could increase value later.

However, not everyone is hands-on.  We get that.  That’s why we put together 10 ideas simple enough for anyone to tackle.

#1) Kitchen DIY

kitchen-cabinet-refinishing-before-after

Your kitchen is the most important area of your home.  It’ll either drain value or cook it up.  Let’s start here.

We understand installing, new cabinetry, floors and counter tops may not be in your budget.  But check out what is:

• Paint or stain your cabinets. This is a simple job you can tackle in a matter of hours and for under $50.  Darken them, brighten them, it’s your choice.
• Replace old handles and knobs with new ones. Depending on the amount of cabinets you have, you can probably get away with spending under $100 and an hour or so of labor to tackle this job.  Be as creative as you’d like but stay uniform.
• Paint your kitchen walls, or at least paint one wall to be your accent wall. This is self-explanatory.  Expect to spend about $25 or less on a gallon of paint.
• Lastly, clean your floors and dust your appliances and counter tops. Most of us have the cleaning supplies necessary to do this.  So, do it.

#2) Bathroom DIY

bathroom diy home value

Your bathroom is almost as important as your kitchen when it comes to your home’s value.  Most bathrooms in older homes become outdated, neglected and forgotten.  Why not breathe some life back into that space.

Even if your bathroom is small, we’ve got some simple tips for you try:

• Replace the fixtures on your vanity, tub and shower. Go with something a bit more custom, shiny and uniform.  You can probably replace the fixtures on your vanity, for instance, for under $65 with items purchased at your local home improvement store.
• Replace old, boring toilet paper holders and towel racks with something more modern. Bonus points if the style matches the vanity and tub fixtures.  You can probably find towel racks for under $20 depending on the style.
• Paint the walls and ceiling. Water moisture and condensation from your shower can over time fade the colors on your walls and ceilings.  Painting them with a durable, water resistant paint will breathe life back into a tired space.  Grab a gallon for around $25.
• Replace the knobs or handles on your vanity to something more custom and modern. Many folks match the style of their kitchen when they do this.  Feel free to do this or develop your own style.  Depending on the amount of drawers or cabinets, expect to spend $50 or less for this project.

#3) Entrance DIY

diy front door entry home value

First impressions are important when it comes to a person’s home.  Why now have a “wow factor” with yours?  For a bit of cash and a bit of elbow grease, you can do just that:

• Revive your front door. Re-Paint your door or re-stain it.  Check the weather stripping to make sure it’s intact.
• If you have a covered front porch, hang a couple flower baskets from the beam or ceiling. Just make sure you secure them to a stud, not the ceiling soffit itself.
• Purchase a new “welcome mat” for under $25 and place it in front of the door.

#4) Landscaping DIY

diy landscaping flower bed increase home value

Curb appeal is the buzz word in the real estate world, and rightfully so.  When pulling up to a home for the first time, appearance is everything.  The best thing about curb appeal is anyone with limited knowledge, experience and budget can tackle it.  Check this out:

• Mow the grass. This is obvious, but routinely mow the grass every week or two depending on your location.  In addition to mowing, spread grass seed in bare spots.  You can grab an average size bag of seed for about $25-$30 at your local home improvement store.
• Add some color with flowers. Build some simple flower beds around your house, near the entrance by adding some landscaping fabric (to block weeds and grass) then cover it with red or black mulch.  Next, dig some holes and plant your favorite annuals or perennials, and water as needed.
• If your home’s foundation is basic cinder-block, add a little life to it by painting it. You can paint it to match the shutters or exterior of your home.  A gallon of weather resistant exterior paint should cost you less than $30.

The above contains some simple ideas to inspire you to revive your home and increase value.  But by all means, don’t stop there.  This is just a starting point for you.  For more ideas, be sure to check out our Pinterest page.

Good luck,

By Chuck Boggs & the staff at Boggs & Associates, Inc.