Are you thinking about selling your house? If so, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and make some practical yet cost-effective moves to increase your home’s value.
Can You Do It Yourself?
Most people think that remodeling a house requires a considerable budget and professional help. That’s true to some extent. But, there are many things you can do on your own or with a little help from family and friends. Most people think that remodeling a house requires a considerable budget and professional help. That’s true to some extent, depending on just how extensive the changes will be. But, there are many things you can do on your own or with a little help from family and friends.
Likewise, before attempting any project, you should begin your research online to gauge what you can tackle yourself and what might be best left to skilled craftsmen and tradespeople. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of useful tutorials and guides on Youtube to consult, covering a plethora of home-improvement projects. You can not only use these to gain unique insights for the job at hand, but also to get inspired with new and fresh ideas.
To get you started, below we’ve compiled a list of seven home improvement ideas you can bring to reality without breaking the bank and your enthusiasm.
Add Space to Your Space: Declutter
Before doing anything else, free the space from all the unnecessary items cluttering it. However, most of us find it challenging to get rid of the material stuff we once found valuable.
Therefore, it is pretty helpful to adopt the practice of donating things, especially if they are still functional and can make someone else’s life easier (or make them happy).
Of course, it is also legit if you want to return some money you invested in those purchases, so organizing a yard sale is another great way for your beloved trinkets to find a new home.
Finally, you can always rent a storage place for the items you want to keep. Remember, decluttering the space is the first, probably the most affordable (although slightly time-consuming), and easiest way to prepare your house for selling.
Repaint the Walls
Freshly painted walls exude warmth, making your space look clean and welcoming. Therefore, consider engaging in this task because it doesn’t cost much (especially if you stick to simpler colors), but it gives much in return.
Start with cleaning the surfaces and taping the edges and doorways. Opt for a neutral color because it’s appealing to most people, and make sure to apply at least two coats to make it look consistent.
Give Your Bathroom a Proper Beauty Treatment
Minor details make a big difference. For example, replacing outdated faucets, repainting the cabinets, and adding greenery. These are all small but impactful changes.
Don’t overlook the bathroom’s role in the home selling process. People pay attention to it because the bathroom is often (after the kitchen) one of the most popular rooms in the home.
Imagine how many times you came home from a busy day at work and just wanted to take a bubble bath and relax. The new homeowners might want the same.
Of course, they can make the changes by themselves and decorate it according to their taste, but you need to ensure they like it when they first see it.
Focus on the Lighting
Bright spaces look more appealing and contribute to everyone’s well-being and increase productivity. This should be one of the main reasons to focus on the lighting before preparing to sell your home.
First, ensure the space receives enough natural light. Clean your skylights (if applicable) and other windows in the house and change the old curtains that were blocking natural light.
Next, consider purchasing an eye-catching pendant light you can install above the dinner table and a couple of table lamps you can strategically place in the living room and bedrooms.
Refresh the Floors
It all depends on an individual taste, but more and more people today prefer hardwood floors over wall-to-wall carpet solutions.
Although replacing the old flooring may be expensive, refreshing the existing one is an endeavor you should seriously consider.
All you need is time to remove the carpets, evaluate the floor’s condition, have the right tools and a pair (or two) of hands to help you. Your goal should be to refinish the floors and restore them (if possible) to their original splendor, saving a fortune in the process.
Revive Your Kitchen
As in the bathroom, you can also change the color of your kitchen cabinets. It may be time-consuming, but it is a task you’ll be rewarded for once the new potential owners fall in love with your refreshed kitchen.
The most effective way to refresh your kitchen cabinets involves:
- Removing the cabinets from the wall
- Sanding the old finish away
- Applying fresh paint
Additionally, if you want to take your kitchen remodeling to the next level (increase your home’s value) and have enough means, consider purchasing some new appliances such as a stove, dishwasher, and/or microwave.
7. Give Your Exterior a Fresh Look
You can do a couple of things here to make your exterior look nicer. First, wash the house exterior, patio, walkways, and driveway.
If you have more time and money, you can also repaint the exterior, change the front door, and purchase a welcoming doormat.
For the garden/yard, mow the lawn and plant some new flowers. Opt for perennial varieties rather than annuals and check if you can cover any bare spots with sod.
Every Change Matters
Whether you choose to dedicate your time and money to each room or focus on specific areas, the effort you put into improving your home will be visible, and it will pay off. So, start writing up those problem areas, evaluate the scale of the job and begin to apply the information and skills you’ve picked up along the way.
