Regardless if you are looking to put your home on the market this spring or planning to sell further down the road, there are so many home improvements projects you can do right now on your own to add value to your home. A well-informed and responsible homeowner keeps track of all remodels and updates over the years, and will also be aware of the projects that can provide the best return on their investment.
The average return at resale for home improvement projects is 63.7% of a project’s cost if the home is sold within a year, according to the Remodeling Magazine’s 2020 annual Cost vs. Value Report. Even if you aren’t looking to sell your home anytime soon, according to the National Realtor Association’s 2019 Remodeling Impact Report, after remodeling, 74% of homeowners had a greater desire to be in their home, 65% had increased enjoyment in their home, and 77% felt a major sense of accomplishment when they think about their completed project. Continue reading to learn some easy DIY home improvement projects whether you are selling or staying put this spring.
Deep Clean and Declutter
A good deep clean and declutter of your space is a cheap and easy way to keep your home looking it’s best. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t know which DIY project to start with first, begin with a deep clean. Not only will this help you feel more at peace being in a clean and fresh space, but performing the deep clean will allow you to notice parts of your home you never noticed before; like the outdated popcorn ceilings in your bathroom or that your kitchen cabinets have a lot of chips and scratches in them. Clearing up clutter makes deep cleaning that much easier, so make sure any visible clutter is tucked away in its correct spot or in a closet before starting your deep clean. Start high; ceiling, high light fixtures, ceiling trim, and ceiling fan blades. Then go low; window and door casings, walls, baseboards, window and door glass, doorknobs, and whatever else you feel that you don’t normally clean on a routine basis.
Paint the Interior
A fresh coat of paint, even if it’s the same color as it previously was, brings vibrance to any room and will make it feel like new. Newly painted rooms add value by providing a clean and updated look for potential buyers. Painting your home’s interior is a very cost-effective home improvement project, and can be accomplished by any homeowner willing to take on the task. Make sure that you properly clean and prep surfaces before painting, such as taping edges and doorways down. Apply a couple coats to make the new paint look vibrant and consistent. If you are looking to sell your home, stick with neutral colors when choosing your paint so it will appeal to a larger number of people.
Refresh Your Bathroom
An outdated or boring bathroom can really take away from the room’s overall style and feel. Giving your bathroom a quick refresh doesn’t need to be expensive. Upgrade old or outdated light fixtures, outlets, knobs, and pulls. Usually, you will just need a screwdriver to be able to replace these types of items This simple project won’t require too much of your time but will yield a big difference. If you’re thinking about painting the bathroom or going with another color scheme for your bathroom accent pieces, don’t be so quick to sell or throw out your existing bathroom décor. Spray paint is fairly cheap, and comes in so many colors and textures, too. For example, if you’re looking to change the accent pieces in your bathroom from white to black, don’t waste your money buying a new black mirror frame, instead, take that white mirror frame and spray paint it black for a fraction of the price.
Refinish or Paint Cabinets
If painting your interior walls wasn’t enough of a challenge, consider taking on the project of refinishing or painting your cabinets. This project can be more time consuming, and requires a little bit more skill, but it is a great project to take on that will add value to your home. It’s a fantastic way to completely transform the look and feel of a kitchen. Before putting on a stain or new paint, you’ll need to start sanding the cabinets down to remove any existing finish or paint; this is best done by removing the cabinets from the wall first. It’s also not a bad idea to replace or polish up any worn-out knobs or pulls to your cabinets for that brand new look.
Replace Flooring
Especially if you’re trying to sell your home, it’s a good idea to replace or spruce up your floors if they are outdated or worn out. Homebuyers prefer hard flooring options compared to wall-to-wall carpeting. And while the idea of removing carpeting or refinishing wood floors on your own can seem like a daunting task, this DIY project can be accomplished with the correct tools, budget, and time. Be prepared to dedicate some time to removing the existing carpet or other flooring material, as well as preparing the space and installing the new flooring. New wood floors or even high-quality vinyl or tile floors can deliver a significant return on your investment and is definitely worth the time and money spent.