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Thirty-six percent of Americans have taken DIY projects at home to make their space more enjoyable, according to comfyliving.net. With this figure, it’s safe to say that DIY has become a culture in the United States.
Because of this, the sales of power tools and raw and manufactured materials have increased. This situation also prompts the invention and reinvention of DIY products and projects that boost home value.
Suppose you plan to design and do a DIY project to improve your property’s value. In that case, you may need some ideas about the top-notch projects you can work on. For that purpose, here’s an article to guide you. So, read on!
Top DIY Projects to Enhance Home Value
1. Add Storage
Adding storage areas in your house increases your home value and maximizes your property’s space. In your kitchen, you may install kitchen islands to increase counter space for your prep space, cutlery, and kitchen appliances. You may assemble a shed to keep your gardening tools, pots, and plants in your garden.
You may also repurpose your furniture and fixtures into multi-purpose types. For example, you may add storage spaces in your doors, windows, bed’s undersides, and cabinets.
While doing such enhancements, always consider keeping the areas easy to reach and accessible. A good source of panels for instant shelves and racks are wood pallets which you can buy from pallet brick-and-mortar and online stores, such as Challenger Pallet & Supply.
2. Spruce Up an Old Door
Since replacing your door is more expensive and can take a long time to install, many DIYers choose to redesign their old door. For this project, you may add a fresh coat of paint. You may choose black, green, and blue as your door’s new dominant colors since they’re the trending motifs this year.
Apart from changing or amplifying the door’s color, you can also change the door’s hardware. You may replace your old latches, exterior handles, and deadbolts with durable and sophisticated ones or stick with the conventional types. Doing so increases your home’s value and enhances your door’s security mechanism.
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3. Repaint the Home Exterior
Repainting your home exterior can significantly add resale value to your property when your chosen paint adds elegance. If your home exterior’s original paint has shown signs of peeling, flaking, and damage, you may consider repainting it.
In choosing paint, you can select the type with waterproofing qualities. This way, water won’t seep through your wooden home. You may also choose a color that can blend with other colors, hues, and textures.
Cover the windows and door frames with masking tape to ensure a clean and thorough painting job. You may add a second coat and a finishing coat to make it opaque and long-lasting.
4. Upgrade Landscaping
A Virginia Tech study says that a property with proper landscaping has a 12-15% price advantage over other properties. Because of this, you can consider adding landscaping to your property or upgrading it if you already have one.
Upgrading your landscaping may include planting trees and shrubs, installing sprinklers and fountains, or installing fake grass. Many homeowners consider the months of April and May as the best months for landscaping upgrades, as these are the ideal season for growing plants.
5. Clean the Gutters
Clean gutters are one of the signs that a house is well-maintained. Generally, drains with clogs, dirt, and grime may not only decrease a property’s value but will also be a red flag for prospective buyers. Without properly working gutters, much standing water may form and cause grass, mold, and mildew to grow.
To clean the gutters appropriately, you can use a power washer with various nozzle sizes to eliminate dirt and clogs. You may also strengthen the gutter’s integrity if it shows signs of chipping and cracking by repainting it with water-resistant paint. Lastly, you can caulk the damage to extend the gutters’ lifespan.
6. Install Hardwood Flooring
Hardwood is one of the elegant and durable floor options that can undoubtedly increase home value by 75-80%.
While this may require an above-average investment, it’s still a way to boost home value. If you’re looking for the most durable hardwood, you may choose among ebony, maple, oak, and cherry.
Considering this DIY project for the first time, you may try aligning the planks to the longest wall. If the walls are the same length, you may pick one side and lay the hardwood flooring uniformly. Avoid laying the planks with gaps to ensure that they perfectly fit side by side.
7. Redo the Bathroom
Depending on the type of renovation, bathroom improvements can increase the home value by 10-40%. For this purpose, you may update the existing bathroom with versatile fittings or bathroom fixtures. You can install a shower seat and a Jacuzzi tub for a more refreshing change.
Avoid installing the most recent bathroom updates, as their value depreciates faster than traditional yet timeless types. In addition, you may re-stylize the bathroom walls and floors with new tiles and designs. Lastly, you can set up easy-to-install wall sconces and livelier lighting fixtures.
8. Update Walls
Changing boring walls into aesthetically pleasing portions of the property boosts property value.
You can repaint your walls with plain colors or accentuate them with design patterns. Remember to apply at least two coats of your chosen paint if you’re opting for repainting all walls. On the other hand, consider having contrasting colors if you intend to create accent walls.
Repainting could cost less but also has lesser value than the accent walls. In contrast, designing accent walls offers more value since they enhance the visual quality of the walls by re-adjusting the focal points and improving the symmetry.
9. Reinvent Kitchen Fixtures and Furniture
Many permanent fixtures and furniture pieces have excellent payouts. These include the ones in the kitchen, such as the lighting and storage fixtures.
However, kitchen fixtures and furniture’s value dwindle over time. To prevent this, you must reinvent them through various methods, such as staining and remodeling.
Staining the kitchen fixtures and furniture refreshes the look of the woodwork. It also provides extra protection against natural wear-and-tear and other forms of damage.
On the other hand, remodeling may alter the original fixture and furniture layout and increase their value. Collectively, these changes improve the value of the kitchen and the entire property.
10. Install Crown Molding
Traditionally, carpenters install crown moldings to cover the chips and cracks in the ceiling. Today, modern woodworkers set up crown moldings to create a decorative design in any portion of the house. As a result, crown moldings are essential in increasing home value.
If you’re planning to install crown molding, consider the budget-friendly options, as they can provide a higher investment return. Depending on your purpose, you may choose among the following molding materials to elevate your home style and value:
Wood
You may consider the different wood types if you’re into various designs. Their prices range from USD$10-USD$50 per linear foot. Wood moldings are ideal for carved and milled designs.
Plaster
Plaster is the most expensive option since it needs to be paired with plaster walls. It’s ideal for elegant interiors and high ceilings. Its prices range from USD$10-USD$20 per linear foot.
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
If you want to address moisture issues in your ceiling, you may choose PVC moldings. Also, they’re waterproof and budget-friendly, costing USD$5-USD$10 per linear foot.
MDF Or Medium-Density Fiberboard
MDF is an excellent alternative to wood. It’s lightweight, versatile, and low-cost. Moreover, its price ranges from USD$5-USD$12 per linear foot.
Flex
Flex is a rubber crown molding material that’s ideal for intricate architectural styles. It’s flexible and can suit well to curvy walls and windows.
11. Update Light Fixtures
Updating lighting fixtures can significantly change the mood and look of your home. Consider redesigning your light fixtures by attaching DIY shades or replacing the old bulbs with new, stylistic ones. You may also repaint or stain them depending on the overall motif of your home.
For maximum enhancement of light fixtures, you may plan a lighting focal point inside and outside your house. You can choose the house portions where you’ll install the new light fixtures from this point. For this purpose, you must be familiar with layered and balanced lighting, dimmer use, and scaling before the new light fixture setup.
13. Replace Carpets and Rugs
Carpets and rugs that provide a positive and vibrant ambiance can improve home value. If your carpets and rugs still have excellent face weight, they may still be appropriate for display. On the other hand, if they show visible damage and release foul odor, you should replace them immediately.
If you’re choosing a replacement, consider the ones with warmer colors. Some good options are tan, warm gray, taupe, and beige. You may also think about having absorbent floor covers that suit the floor’s color.
13. Enhance Insulation
It’s believed that property with excellent insulation has a higher resale value than properties without it. Because of this, enhancing a property’s insulation system is necessary.
However, insulation covers a broad area and may require rigorous work, extended time, and materials. It is because insulation includes wall and floor cavities, attics, roofs, and kitchens.
For DIY insulating projects, homeowners can seal windows, caulk wall cracks, and hang large curtains. They can also improve the house’s insulation by updating the HVAC and water system. Furthermore, they can add thermal blackout curtains—a unique, layered set of curtains intended to insulate a building.
14. Re-pave the Driveway
According to Property Price Advice, driveways can increase home value by five to ten percent. Prospective buyers often opt for asphalt and concrete driveways since they’re the most durable and easy to maintain. In addition, they’re cost-effective at the price of USD4$-USD$6 per square foot.
If your driveway is cracked or chipped, you can repair them through caulking and sealing. If there are holes and huge missing chunks, consider doing a major repair. Either way, repaving the driveway is essential to add value to one’s property and avoid amplifying the damage.
15. Fix the Roof
In many cases, roof renovation and replacement boost a home’s value by 100%. This figure is enough to consider repairing or replacing the roof at the soonest possible time.
Since the most common causes of roof failure are poor drainage and excessive moisture, you must choose new roof shingles that are highly resistant and top-notch.
If you want better roof improvement, you may look for roofing materials with utmost durability, wind resistance, water repellence, and fire resistance.
In addition, you may upgrade the attic and install a heat recovery ventilator to enhance the roofing further. You may also choose the materials that match the aesthetic qualities of the home exterior.
Things to Consider Before Making a DIY Project
Before starting a DIY project to boost your property value, you may need to consider the following:
1. Quality
DIY projects must be durable and usable for an extended time. And so, they must consist of top-quality wood, steel, or concrete materials. They should also be practical and resistant to damage for a long time. Lastly, the projects should also be versatile and can be repurposed if necessary.
2. Budget
Budget is crucial when choosing a DIY project to boost home value. In most cases, a DIYer should pick the projects with a positive investment return. In other words, the projects should be affordable yet functional for many years to increase property value.
3. Maintenance
If you’re a DIYer, you must also create projects that are easy to maintain and clean. Low maintenance costs mean more savings and better ROI. Apart from this, low-maintenance projects have better chances of longevity, thus saving more money.
Wrapping Up
As the popularity of DIY culture has invaded the whole world, it’s a must to maximize its potential in adding value to one’s property.
Suppose you’re planning to boost your home value by doing some DIY projects at home. In that case, you can refer back to this article and follow its tips.
This article provided a bird’s eye view of what projects you can work on to perk up a property value, from the doors to the windows and the roof.
If you need more ideas about this, talk to a seasoned DIYer or contractor to know more about the DIY projects that could add value to your home.
