If you’re looking to list your home for sale soon in this hot market, but not looking to invest in any major renovation costs, there’s good news! Tackle some of these simple DIY improvements around the house to add major value and catch the attention of potential home buyers. 

Take note: Experts recommend limiting DIY home renovations to cosmetic improvements, such as painting, landscaping, and changing out fixtures. Leave the rest of the heavy renos to the pros.

Simple Overall Interior Upgrades

1.) Paint the walls. There’s no better refresh in the home than repainting your walls – especially if, somewhere, you have a bold statement wall or accent wall. Potential buyers may be turned off, and instead will prefer a soft, neutral color to better picture their future space. This color will also make the home feel larger, which is always good. 

2.) Install crown molding. Yes, this can be a surprisingly easy DIY project to add more character to your rooms. Buy the molding from your favorite home improvement store, have the store cut it to size and attach it to the wall with a nail gun (it may be a two-person job). Some crown molding is even pre-painted to save you even more work.

3.) Replace/update fixtures. Take an inventory throughout the house of any fixture that may need to be replaced or updated, such as light switch plates, outlet covers, curtain rods, light fixtures, and doorknobs. These updates really don’t cost a lot at all, but look expensive.

4.) Fix window treatments. Consider replacing any of those cheap vertical or horizontal blinds, or paper shades, that may have come with the house when you bought it with plantation shutters, wooden blinds or drapes in neutral options to appeal to a broader audience.

5.) Restore/clean floors. If you own an older home, you may have to give your hardwood floors a little love by refinishing and restoring them. On the other hand, if you have carpet, make sure they’re all professionally cleaned. Both are cheaper than installing new flooring.

6.) Clean fireplace brick. If you have a wood-burning fireplace, the brick is probably stained with soot and creosote. Fireplaces can be a big home selling point, but not if it’s dirty. Clean fireplace brick as best as possible with a soot cleaner or damp rag. 

7.) Stage. You don’t necessarily have to hire a professional stager – especially if you want to save money. Using the furniture and décor you already have, stage with buyers in mind in addition to cleaning, decluttering, simplifying and maximizing natural light whenever possible.

Basic Bathroom Upgrades

8.) Replace flooring. Because a study reported that the master bathroom is the second most expensive room in a home to renovate, it’s important to keep costs down by replacing flooring by yourself. If you don’t know how, check out classes at your local home improvement store or how-to videos online. Make sure the flooring you choose is neutral in color and will add the most value.

9.) Update fixtures. Replacing outdated fixtures may seem like a minimal update, but it goes a long way to a high-end bathroom look – from towel racks and cabinetry hardware to a bathroom vanity, mirror, sink or light fixture.

Kitchen Fixes

10.) Paint or stain kitchen cabinets. Kitchens are the most expensive room in a house to renovate, so avoid buying and installing all new cabinets. Doing it yourself can cost up to 50% less than replacing them altogether. White and bright cabinets are appealing to today’s buyers; also consider updating cabinet hardware.

Exterior Clean-Up

11.) Replace your front door and doormat. A huge eye-catcher when it comes to curb appeal is your front door, so either replace your door with one that has more character or give your door a fresh coat of paint in an appealing color. And, while you’re at it, replace that dirty, worn doormat you’ve had for years.

12.) Clean your gutters. Although this isn’t a cosmetic upgrade, it’s an essential task in maintaining your home’s value, because clogged gutters may cause rainwater to pool around the foundation and cause water damage, which is not good for buyers.

13.) Power wash. For less time and money, instead of repainting your home’s exterior, give the home, the driveway, walkways and any patio a good power washing.

14.) Add landscaping or clean up existing landscaping. Plant some punches of color in the front of your home or along your front walkway; perennial flowers are more cost-effective. Make sure any brown or bald spots in the yard are patched with fresh sod, prune the bushes you have, and add pretty pots to your front porch. For any outdoor living space in the backyard more inviting with strings of lights, a weather-friendly rug and more greenery.

These DIY home improvements aren’t expensive or complicated, but can still add tremendous value to your home when you’re ready to sell. To sit down and discuss your plans to buy or sell a home, please call Sands Building Group, Inc. at 843.839.4878.