There are lots of benefits to DIY home renovations that many people don’t consider. Yes, you can save money versus hiring a pro, but DIY home improvement projects let you indulge your inner “interior designer”, give you total control over the entire project and they can instill a special sense of pride in your work and home.
DIY Projects We Love
What criteria must a DIY home reno meet to earn our love? First, they have to be relatively doable and not overly time-consuming because, after all, we need to maintain our relationships! So we’ll have no building new additions onto the house here.
Second, they have to really make a difference. The renos listed below should all add to the resale value of your home. So here we go:
- Pump Up the Curb Appeal – Anything you do to increase the curb appeal of your home is helpful. A good first impression sets the stage for better impressions later on. Pay particular attention to your front door. Consider refinishing or even replacing it. Also, a new lockset might be a good idea if the old one is worn or out of date.
- Update the Bathroom – Bathroom and kitchen (see below) updates and renovations offer some of the best pay-offs of any renos. In the bathroom, it’s surprisingly easy to update the cabinets, toilet and lighting fixtures. Together with a new coat of paint, and what looks like a complete bathroom renovation is done.
- Update the Kitchen – Unfortunately, the kitchen isn’t so quick and easy to update. But if you want a relatively fast, easy project that updates the look of the entire space, consider painting or refinishing the kitchen cabinets and adding new handles to the cabinet doors.
- A New Coat of Paint – We couldn’t do any list of fast, easy reno projects without mentioning the power of a coat of paint. Fresh paint in neutral colours is generally regarded as one of the best home improvements you can make to increase resale value, and it’s one of the least expensive. If you feel that simply painting the walls isn’t really a challenging “DIY project” wait until you have to paint the living room, dining room and bedrooms. The challenge lies in the logistics that minimizes your effort and maximizes the results.
If you enjoyed this post, check out our recent article about how to stage your home for selling.