If you’re thinking about selling your home, you probably want to be sure prospective buyers will see it in the best possible light. Chances are, however, that if you’ve been living in your home for many years, there are repairs you need to make to increase its curb appeal. The problem, of course, is that those repairs can be expensive, and you might wonder if making them will pay off in the long run.
The Good News: Home Improvements Are Worth It—If You Do It Yourself
According to Remodeling Magazine, on average you’ll recoup about 65% of the costs of home improvement projects if you sell your home within 1 year. That of course assumes you’re paying someone else to make those improvements—but the cost drops dramatically if you do the repairs yourself.
That begs the question of which repairs you should prioritize to make your home more appealing to buyers—and which of those repairs are simple enough that you can do them yourself. With summer and warmer weather on the horizon, now’s a good time to begin making improvements. Here are 8 home improvement projects you can manage on your own, and which will make a real difference when you put your home on the market:
1. Brighten the interior with new lighting
If you’ve been stumbling around in rooms that don’t let in much natural light, chances are prospective buyers will be turned off. You can easily brighten the interior of your home by cleaning any skylights, or by removing heavy curtains that block sunlight. You could also some attractive lamps and increase the power of any lighting fixtures hanging from the ceiling.
2. Spend some time with your landscaping
Source: HGTV
The first thing buyers see is the exterior of your home. If you have gardens filled with weeds or old leaves, you’ll make a poor first impression. Some landscaping jobs require expert help, but if you’re willing to commit the time, you can dramatically improve the appearance of your home’s exterior. Adding mulch and removing unsightly weeds can make a big difference.
3. Add hardwood floors
Source: Hosking Hardwood
An increasing number of home buyers prefer hardwood flooring to wall-to-wall carpeting. Most home supply stores will help you do this on your own, and steer you to the tools you need to accomplish the job. If you listen carefully to their advice, you can remove aging carpet, strip and sand floors and install beautiful hardwood flooring on your own.
4. Get out the paintbrush
A fresh coat of paint on interior walls can add immeasurably to the beauty of your home. Again, work with representatives of your home supply store to find attractive (and modern) color combinations for each room, and at a relatively low cost to you.
5. Give your kitchen a makeover
You don’t need to redesign your aging kitchen to impress home buyers. A simpler and less expensive option if to replace old kitchen appliances with new ones. A good bet is to opt for a stainless-steel refrigerator, stove and dishwasher. This will ensure all appliances match and create the contemporary look prospective home buyers love.
6. Get your bathroom in shape
You could redesign your entire bathroom, or you could get powerful results by making inexpensive cosmetic changes. For example, you should make sure fixtures are new, faucets don’t leak and that your shower and tile floor are free of grout.
7. Beautify doors and windows with enclosed blinds
Enclosed blinds are protected between glass, which means they will keep their new appearance over time. It also means they’ll appear clean and be protected from damage. They’ll also add to your home’s energy efficiency. Perhaps most important, enclosed blinds are attractive, easy to install, easy to use, affordable.
8. Create an elegant feel with decorative door glass
Decorative door glass gives otherwise ordinary looking doors an artistic touch which will impress prospective buyers. With multiple designs from which to choose, you’ll find one that perfectly matches your home’s style. It’s the kind of special touch that will take your home’s look from everyday to extraordinary.
Selling your home can be complicated. Fortunately, getting it into shape to impress prospective buyers doesn’t need to be. To learn more about the many ways our products and services can add value to your home, contact us today.
Looking for more ways to improve the value of your home?
Shop thousands of home improvement products and get expert advice on how to increase the value of your home.
