A little elbow grease on your part can mean big returns on your property when it comes time to sell – even the simplest DIY projects can earn back their cost, and much more, come auction time. The following five DIY projects can be undertaken by anyone with a little skill and determination. These are also the sort of update places like Templeton Property, a buyers’ agent in Brisbane, look for when it comes to the value of a house (you can click here for more information).
New Paint
Nothing says fresh in a house like a new coat of paint. Painting is the final layer of protection for building materials, guarding timber plaster against the ravages of weather and light. Just as important is the aesthetic value of new paint. Colour schemes change. Update your walls and ceilings to what’s in style now, and you’ll increase the value of your house – maybe break up that sea of beige in your living room with a bold feature wall, or experiment with textured finishes. And, while you’re at it, don’t forget to touch up door and window frames with a resilient high gloss.
New Gardens
This can be as simple or as in-depth as you like. Simply feeding and repairing the front lawn can work wonders, as can fresh flowers in the garden beds. Or maybe you might like to try completely remodelling the yards, raising beds, laying new pavers, or adding in a water feature. Herb and vegetable gardens add practical plants to your yards, and spaces for discrete compost heaps will appeal to any buyers with a bit of a green thumb. The scope for new landscaping suits all budgets and skill levels, and immediately lifts the value of the house it surrounds.
More Storage
Putting up shelves is nowhere near as hard as it seems. Nor is installing flat-pack cupboards, although that may take a little more time and care. But storage is a simple and easy way to boost the value of your home, and offers concrete, practical value that many buyers look for. Don’t just add storage to the obvious areas like bathrooms and kitchens; bigger cupboards and wardrobes in bedrooms are always welcome (especially with hanging space), as are shelves and benches in the garage. And laundries seem to always attract endless small items which need tucking away when not in use.
New outdoor areas
Check with your local regulations in regards to what you can do, and what you can’t, but backyards which are simply a sea of flat grass are boring – and thus not very valuable. Considering breaking up the space with stepping stones or pavers, or demarcating a new area dedicated to a sun lounge and a place for your barbecue. Place a water feature under a shady tree.
Add a rainwater tank
Image Credit: Sustainable Sanitation Alliance on Flickr
A very smart, eco-friendly, and highly-desirable option, rainwater tanks add massive green appeal to your home…and save on water rates. Rainwater is free to use on your gardens and lawns, as well as for washing down your house and car. Small tanks can easily be installed by one or two people, with minimal plumbing from the guttering required.
It’s not only the improvements themselves which increase the value of the home. It’s the fact that you took the time and effort to do these simply DIY projects – it shows you care about the house, and have looked after it. And that, simply, is value.
Image Credits: Pixabay.com and Flickr
Speak Your Mind