You might think you have to put in a ton of time, effort and money to increase your home’s value. But that’s not entirely true. Here, RISMedia offers some weekend projects you can tackle that can help you easily update your property when it comes time to sell.
- Repaint kitchen cabinets
Buyers expect kitchens to be updated with modern stone countertops, stainless appliances and sleek flooring. These changes require a lot of money and, sometimes, a lot of time. That’s why you can tackle it in bits and start first with your cabinets. Old wooden cabinets with equally dated hardware (think oak doors with shiny brass handles) don’t require a complete gut job. Instead, spend a weekend repainting them a more neutral hue. Finish the project with new metallic knobs and pulls.
- Add crown molding
Most homes have roughly the same ceiling heights, but crown molding can make yours look bigger. That white line at the top of your painted walls will draw eyes upward, making the room seem airier. The project also is easy to complete. You might not be able to install molding throughout your entire home during a single weekend, but you can certainly tackle the project on a room-by-room basis. Start with the kitchens, baths, living spaces and master bedrooms. These tend to be the make-or-break rooms when it comes to a big purchase.
- Pay attention to the outdoors
No one will enter your home unless the first impression is stunning. Another do-it-yourself project should be a landscape overhaul of your front yard. This can be as simple as adding a path of pavers to your front yard or sprucing up your flowerbeds with colorful blooms. Another easy fix is your garage door, especially if it’s facing the street. You don’t have to stop with the front of your home. If you live in a climate that allows lots of outdoor activity, you’ll want a backyard to match. Some fixes may require you rent or buy tools for landscaping and other applications, but imagine the payoff with, for example, the beauty of a functioning fire pit in your backyard.
- Beautify the baths
Overhauling your powder room is an easy weekend task that might require small swaps, such as a new modern light fixture over the vanity or a new vanity altogether. Your full baths will require a bit more attention if you want them to look more modern. Consider updating light fixtures, cabinets, hardware, countertops and tile. If you have the patience to demo and tile the space yourself, you also don’t have to spend a ton of money to have someone else re-tile a wall or backsplash.
- Out with the really old
Some accents once considered fresh and fashionable can now give your home a dated appearance. The list of outdated design elements is truly endless, but some of the biggest offenders are old-school wallpaper, the floor-to-ceiling wood paneling that may or not be actual wood, and, of course, popcorn ceilings. Removing these three offenders alone can bring your home right back into 2017.
