Home improvement projects often add value to your home, whether you’re planning to sell it or not. Whole-home renovations are expensive, but some DIY upgrades won’t break the bank. With a little sweat equity and these affordable ideas, you can make your house look like new, even without bringing in contractors.
Painting is an easy upgrade that will transform any room. A fresh coat of paint helps hide dirt and scratches, and it makes a room feel more inviting. Choose neutral colors that appeal to a variety of buyers. Adding crown molding is another low-cost project that will give rooms a custom look. You can purchase pre-cut molding at most home improvement stores, or cut it to size yourself with a miter saw and a few hand tools.
A dirty fireplace will turn off potential buyers, so clean it up by scrubbing away soot and creosote. You can also remove smoky buildup from an existing brick fireplace by applying an oven cleaner that’s designed to eliminate smoke.
Sprucing up the entryway to your home will help it look more appealing and inviting, especially if you’re planning to sell. Planting flowers, shrubbery and trees around the front door will give it a welcoming, lush appearance. You can also give your curb appeal a boost by cleaning the exterior of your house, power washing the siding, and painting or staining the deck.
An organized laundry room is a great space-saver and makes the chore of doing household laundry less stressful. Installing a laundry chute is an affordable upgrade that’s easy to do. You can find inexpensive models with simple spring-loaded hardware at most home improvement centers.
Organizing your garage, basement or potting shed will help you work faster and more efficiently. Invest in storage solutions, such as pegboard and bins, to keep your supplies neatly organized. You can repurpose items, such as spice containers and mason jars, to store small accessories, such as screws and nails.
A well-maintained yard and landscape can be a major selling point when it comes time to sell your home. If you don’t have the budget for a full landscape design, re-stain your fence and retouch any areas of worn wood trim.