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Whether you’re making your house feel more like a home or you’re gearing up to list it on the market, there are many things you could do improve and upgrade your space. And if you’re willing to take on some do-it-yourself projects, you could tackle some value-adding home improvements that are relatively simple. Here’s a list of 16 things you can do yourself that could improve the value of your home.
1. Add a New Coat of Paint
A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for a space, but try to stick to neutral tones when choosing paint colors. According to Consumer Reports, neutral colors like off-whites and whites are the colors seen most often in sold units. And it’s not just about the walls; it’s often more cost-effective to paint kitchen cabinets instead of replacing them.
2. Install Crown Molding
Crown molding can add character to any room in your home, and it instantly makes a space look more finished. Here’s a fun tip: Find decorative strips of wood at your hardware store, have them cut to the size of your space, and install them at the top of the wall using a nail gun for a simple and inexpensive home upgrade.
3. Lighten Up Your Space
Lighting is an integral part of any livable space, since a bright and well-lit room can make a space feel larger, cleaner, and more comfortable. Installing dimmers and adding more lamps are simple additions that can help brighten up your home and make it feel warmer and more welcoming to potential buyers.
4. Plant a Tree
Planting a shade tree is one of our favorite low-maintenance home improvements that adds value, because this simple landscaping upgrade could make your home more attractive to buyers and also potentially cut down on your cooling costs over time. Reports show that a mature tree can increase property value by as much as $10,000 in some cases.
5. Makeover Your Kitchen
Your kitchen is likely one of the most important and lived-in rooms of your home. Plus, it’s a room that potential homebuyers usually take the time to explore. It could be a make-or-break aspect of selling your home, so it’s important to give it some TLC every once in a while with easy home improvements that add value. There are many little things that you can do to upgrade the overall look of your kitchen. Here are some quick ideas:
- Paint your kitchen cabinets
- Transform your refrigerator to stainless steel with peel-and-stick film
- Add a tile mosaic backsplash
- Create extra storage space with a sliding wall or kitchen island
6. Add Some Character to the Backyard
The backyard might be your family’s favorite hangout spot, and it can also be a big selling point for potential homebuyers, too. Try spicing up your outdoor space with colorful and comfortable furniture. To allow for more privacy, consider a fence around the yard. For some extra charm that you can bring inside to the kitchen, plant a small herb garden.
7. Inspect Early and Often
One of the most important things to remember about your home is that small problems might turn into bigger issues that could cost a lot more money the longer they go unnoticed. Be sure to properly inspect your home on a regular basis. Check your electrical systems to make sure that everything is working properly, make sure that your roof is in good shape, and always keep an eye out for termites.
8. Replace the Flooring
Potential buyers are likely to run for the hills if they see flooring that needs to be replaced. If your carpet is stained or worn, it may be time to rip it out and install hardwood or laminate floors or upgrade the carpeting to something that’s more modern and easier to clean. Installing resilient flooring could go a long way in adding home value, too. Pay extra attention to flooring in the kitchen in the bathroom, since flooring needing work in those areas could look like a money pit to potential buyers. Remember that opting for neutral colors is typically a safe bet.
9. Give Your Laundry Room Some Personality
Want to make your laundry room into a space that will actually motivate you to do the chore? Try adding more space by installing shelving or putting a pedestal under your washer and dryer. Decorative baskets can also help make the room look more organized.
10. Check Your Air Quality
The air quality in your home is something you may not think about as often as you should. Yet, a study revealed that 70 percent of people cited air quality as their top concern when it comes to a healthy home. If you have older rugs or furniture, they might be contributing contaminants and allergens to your air. Before replacing these expensive items, try giving them a deep clean.
11. Make a Great First Impression
An updated front door could be just the thing to improve the curb appeal of your home. Installing a new front door is something you can do on your own, and it shouldn’t cost you a lot of money. Sometimes all a front door needs is a fresh coat of paint! Adding a colorful and welcoming doormat is another easy way to spruce up your entrance.
12. Cut Energy Costs
There are a few inexpensive things you can do to potentially cut down on energy costs, like installing a ceiling fan to add a decorative touch to your space while also creating a natural breeze that could help you rely less on your air conditioning. Some local utility companies will provide a free energy audit to help you learn more about being more energy efficient in your home.
13. Refresh Your Window Fixtures
Window fixtures can really change the look and feel of a space, and putting up curtains can breathe new life into a room. For those who are crafty, making your own curtains could be a simple and cheaper way to play with different fabric colors and textures.
14. Clear out the Clutter
Getting rid of the clutter in your home can make any house feel new again. Your space will be cleaner and feel larger. One way to de-clutter is to donate the things you no longer want or need. To better organize your things, you could install tension rods and bookshelves to create instant closet spaces. Having an organized home could also attract homebuyers, because it allows them to see the potential in each room instead of focusing on all of your stuff that’s currently occupying the home.
15. Fix those Fixtures
Fixing up small fixtures in your house is something that you can easily do on your own. Putting in new light switch faceplates and outlet covers is an inexpensive project that can help upgrade the look in multiple areas of your home, and you could also install new doorknobs and curtain rods to help modernize a room. Sometimes even small renovations like installing a new showerhead in the bathroom can improve the overall look of a room without costing a lot of money.
16. Make Space for Storage
Creating more storage space in your home is essential, not only while you’re living there but particularly when you’re putting your place on the market. Having a lot of storage space could be a selling point for a home — especially if it’s a smaller house. You can add storage by turning a wall into a bookcase, adding a secret closet, or installing a sliding wall. Floating shelves are also a great idea, because they don’t take up a lot of space and can incorporate baskets to contain even more stuff. You could even hang hooks on the wall for coats and hats instead of using closet space.
