Whole-house renovations can increase the value of your home, but there are ways to improve your residence without incurring debt or depleting your savings. Do-it-yourself home improvements such as painting, re-grouting tile, and power washing the exterior of your home won't cost much, but they can add significant value to your property.
Ready to sell? With some sweat equity, a do-it-yourself mentality, and a few dollars, you can list your home for a higher price. And if you're not quite ready to sell your home, you can still enjoy a more beautiful living space. Consider the following low-cost, high-return home improvement projects.
•According to the Houzz & Home renovation trends study for 2021 and 2022, the kitchen is typically the most expensive room in a home to renovate.
• According to the study, primary bathrooms are the second most expensive room to renovate.
• Experts recommend limiting do-it-yourself home improvements to cosmetic enhancements such as painting, landscaping, and fixture replacement.
Seven Easy Interior Alterations
1. Refresh the walls
If your walls have scratches and dirty paint, an out-of-date colour, or fading wallpaper, some elbow grease and a few cans of paint can make a significant difference. To maximise the resale value of your home, select a neutral colour scheme that unifies the entire house, makes space appear more prominent, and appeals to a broad range of potential buyers.
2. Install crown molding
Crown moulding is surprisingly simple to install and can add character to your rooms. Purchase the moulding from a home improvement store, have it cut to size (or have the store do it), and attach it to the top of the wall using a nail gun. These decorative strips could even be pre-painted. Crown moulding installation requires some woodworking expertise and the right tools, but it is very inexpensive to do yourself.
3. Update fixtures
Switch plates, outlet covers, curtain rods, light fixtures, and doorknobs are frequently overlooked or uninteresting, but you can add significant flair for a small investment. Inexpensive-looking metal switch plates and outlet covers can be purchased for as little as $5 each. Light fixtures and decorative curtain rods can be pricier, but a can of spray paint can often be used to make an inexpensive fixture appear elegant. Again, if you intend to sell, you should select colors and finishes that will appeal to a wide audience.
4. Mount ceiling fans
The ability to save money on electricity costs makes ceiling fans an attractive addition to any residence. By circulating warm air away from the ceiling, ceiling fans can reduce heating costs as well as air conditioning costs. A basic fan costs approximately $50, and you can find a nice one for no more than a few hundred dollars. If you do not already have wiring from overhead lighting, you may need to hire a professional, which will increase the cost of this project significantly.
5. Enhance window coverings
The inexpensive vertical plastic blinds, paper shades, or horizontal aluminium blinds that came with your home do not increase its value. Consider installing plantation shutters, wooden blinds, or curtains in their place. Again, if you are selling your home, choose neutral options that will help you fetch a higher price.
6. Reveal and restore hardwood floors
Older homes are especially likely to conceal hardwood floors beneath carpet. Wood flooring may be indicated by squeaky floors. If you are uncertain, pull up an inconspicuous corner of your carpet and check. If you have wood floors, there's a good chance you'll need to refinish them to restore them to their original beauty. However, refinishing will be much less expensive than installing new flooring.
7. Clean fireplace brick
If you have a brick fireplace and burn wood in it, the brick may be stained with soot and creosote. Because an attractive fireplace can be a major selling point for a home, ensure that yours is as attractive as possible. Use a damp rag to remove a portion of the soot, and then use a fireplace cleaner designed to eliminate creosote. It will require some scrubbing with a stiff brush and possibly multiple applications, but when you're done, the brick will be in pristine condition.
Some homeowners use a home equity line of credit (HELOC) to finance home improvements, but it is possible to make improvements without incurring debt.
Basic Bathroom Upgrades
1. Redo the bathroom floor
DIY installation can save a great deal of money. Find a class at your local home improvement store if you do not know how to install flooring. If you save money on labor, you will be able to afford a more beautiful flooring option. Choose a neutral-colored tile to maximize your investment.
2. Update fixtures
If your bathroom has fixtures that are generic, inexpensive, or dated, replacing them with newer, more customised versions can make it appear shinier and more upscale. You can replace a drab bathroom vanity or ceiling light fixture with an elegant one for $40 to $100. A similar amount of money will purchase a new sink faucet. A chrome shower head in the style of a spa adds a touch of luxury for about $80. Towel bars are a cheap and simple fix, costing between $20 and $30. Occasionally, an upgrade can be more energy-efficient, thereby "greening" your home in addition to enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
Quick Fixes to to Keep the Kitchen Modern
1. Paint or stain kitchen cabinets
You could save money on new cabinets by purchasing prefabricated (rather than custom) cabinets and installing them yourself, but doing so would be more labor intensive and costly than painting or staining your existing cabinets. White cabinets brighten a kitchen, rarely go out of style, and are simple to repaint if a future owner desires something different. It is necessary to remove all cabinet hardware, including the doors. In addition, you will need to clean the cabinets beforehand so that grime and greasy residues do not impede your work. Also consider updating your bathroom cabinets.
2. Upgrade cabinet knobs and drawer handles
It's surprising how a seemingly harmless element, such as a cabinet doorknob, can make a kitchen appear dated or cheap. Whether or not you redo your cabinetry, updating this hardware can give your kitchen a facelift.
Seven Methods to Save When Renovating the Exterior
It may be easy for you to overlook the exterior of your home if you spend the majority of your time inside, but it is the first and sometimes only impression that others have of your residence. Here are a few easy ways to improve its appearance.
1. Install a new front door
A basic steel front door costs approximately $100, but for an additional $100 to $200, you can get a door with a great deal more personality and enhance your home's curb appeal. If you cannot afford a new door, a fresh coat of paint in a pleasing hue may suffice.
2. Replace the front doormat
When you've had the same doormat for years, it's easy to overlook how dirty or worn it has become. As one of the first impressions people have of your home, $20 can make a significant difference here.
3. Cleaning the gutters
This is an essential task that has more to do with maintaining your home's value than increasing it. Without gutters, which are meant to carry water away from your home, rain may seep indoors or pool around the foundation, causing mould and mildew. Eventually, water damage can compromise the structural integrity of the home, resulting in expensive repairs.
4. Power-wash your home's exterior
A good pressure washing can make your home's exterior look nearly as good as a new coat of paint for less time and money.
5. Repaint the exterior
If power-washing the exterior of your home did not produce the desired results, consider repainting. With the ladders and heights involved, this may not be a DIY project for everyone, but even if you have to hire someone else to do it, it's still a relatively inexpensive home improvement that can make the exterior of your home look almost brand new.
6. Power wash the walkways, driveway, and patio
While you have the pressure washer, you may as well clean the driveway, patio, and any walkways. You might be surprised at how fresh they'll appear afterward.
7. Upgrade landscaping or clean up existing landscaping
Flowers and other plants are an excellent way to brighten the exterior of your home. Utilize vegetation in front of and along walkways to draw attention to your home. To maximize your investment, choose perennial plants, which return year after year, over annuals, which, as their name implies, live for one year or less. Patch any bald spots in the yard with new sod (or grass seed, if you have the time) and prune existing trees and bushes to complete the new look of the yard.
The Bottom Line
Home improvement does not have to be expensive or difficult, nor does it have to involve contractors. A variety of projects for all budgets, skill levels, and levels of enthusiasm can increase the value of your home, whether for potential buyers or, perhaps more importantly, for you. Implementing a few of these home improvement suggestions will help you maximize the value of one of your most valuable assets, whether you plan to stay or sell your home. And prior to even considering a DIY project, you must ensure that any new additions or changes will still complement the home's overall aesthetic, which the best home design software can assist with.
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