DIY Projects that Add Value to Your Home

by

It doesn’t take too much to add some extra value to your home.

Many expect to accrue an assortment of costs when remodeling their home. These costs may include consulting with designers, handymen, and contractors on top of spending on materials needed.

While this can be true, there are a few “do it yourself” projects that can really increase the value of a home without having to spend on additional labor. By minimizing your costs and spending less, you enjoy more of the financial benefits of this sometimes tumultuous process.

Here are a few tips you can use to remodel your home without breaking your bank.

Front Yard Makeover

Transforming your front yard is equivalent to giving your home a face-lift. Look into changing your walkway structure, or beautifying your yard with an intricate garden full of ornamental plants. This project is a great way to get your creative juices flowing, before delving into the more difficult interior projects.

Attic Insulation

A large percentage of your home’s heat may be escaping through your attic. Adding new insulation is not only a great way to retain heat, and increase energy-efficiency, it also directly adds value into your home. Daniel Goldstein of Marketwatch emphasizes that adding fiberglass insulation into an attic can add a value greater than the cost of its installation into your home’s total value. Not bad, right?

Steel Entry-Door Replacement

John Riha of Houselogic believes that adding a steel entry-door adds major curb appeal to your home. By replacing your front door, you can transform the look and feel of your home’s entryway for a relatively low cost. According to a remodeling report that Riha cites: “a new steel front entry door has a national median cost of $2,000 installed, and can recover 75% of that cost at resale.”

Carpet and Floor Replacements

Flooring replacement can become quite expensive. If replacing your floors is out of your budget range, look into replacing your carpeting first. Worn, torn, and old carpeting can be a real turn off for anyone evaluating the value of your home. Replace old carpeting with newer, fresher carpets that are stain and dust free. Although it is possible to do on your own, the process of replacing carpeting can get increasingly difficult. In this case, you may want to contract professional help if you’re not confident in your carpet-installation abilities.

Freshen your Ceilings

If your ceiling has wet marks, signs of moisture damage, or just unsightly popcorn textures, they may decrease the value of your home. Fix moisture problems by finding the root of the issue, patching up leaks, removing damaged drywall, and replacing with new ceiling drywall/panels, priming, and finally painting over. If you have an unattractive popcorn ceiling, DIY Network suggests buying texture softening solution to spread on the surface, and simply scrape the popcorn away. Once finished, paint over. Voila!

Improve Lighting

Adding an appropriate amount of lighting to a home is vital when the time comes for a home appraisal. Lighting adds a positive, bright vibe to your home that is psychologically influential to an appraiser’s decision. Not only that, it is a relatively cheap and easy way to remodel your home. Vertical blinds are also a great way of adding more natural lighting to your home. Natural light creates a sense of spaciousness that is otherwise not available in dark rooms and homes. Look into adding both artificial lighting as well as increasing natural lighting in your home wherever possible!
If you liked this post and would like to read more on DIY tips and projects, check out my twitter @TerryFebrey for more info. Thanks for reading !

Increase The Value Of Your Home While Remodeling With These 4 Tips

by

Once you’ve purchased the house you’ve been searching for, you will have to keep in mind (if you ever want to resell) that it will need some work before you leave. Don’t focus so much on trends as those can come and go. Here are 4 tips to think about when getting started:

1. Speak with your real estate agent
Agents are always in the know about what buyers are looking for. They know what finishes, amenities, or upgrades that your home will be expected to have. Consult with an agent to know what qualities are being looked for to make smart decisions on your remodeling work. They will be able to tell you exactly what you will receive on a return and what you will lose money on.

2. Research
Find out what remodeling projects you can do easily and inexpensively. Remodeling your kitchen is usually one of the more expensive operations, but it is always a good investment. Kitchens receive a great return. This is a good place to start in your renovations if you’re having a difficult time deciding.

Note: Also, think about how you can utilize the space you’re renovating in the most efficient way.
This well hope you create the best design for your project.

3. Consult with an interior designer
After you’ve completed your projects whether it’s a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen, it’s a good decision to consult with an interior designer about your new space if you’re not feeling confident on your color scheme or design eye. When selling your home, you can have all the right materials and furnishings in your home, but if their display is visually unappealing then you’re not doing yourself any favors. Most home improvement and furnishing stores have their own personal designer on hand. Generally, if you pop in and consult with them, these services are free.

4. Plan for the unexpected
Things come up, and things go wrong. Don’t allow yourself to get frustrated. Plan to have a problem occur. Hidden costs in your renovations come up, and you have to handle them. When creating a budget for your projects, add 10% to the price for problems that may materialize.

Info courtesy of Time Magazone