When it comes to adding value to your home and making it a more appealing proposition for potential buyers, you don’t have to break the bank or bring in a professional to do major renovations. There are a variety of DIY projects you can undertake that will help add value to your home, and here are some of our favourites.

Maintain Your Garden

Homeowners often overlook the value of a well maintained and appealing garden and exterior, and yet it’s one of the most cost effective and easiest ways they can add value to their own home without the need for professional work or time consuming efforts. In fact, it can be as simple as keeping your garden just that—well maintained.

Here’s a simple checklist for what to do to keep your garden and the exterior of your home in an appealing and presentable state for prospective buyers:

• Make sure your lawn is well kept, with the grass evenly mowed and any weeds that may have sprouted pulled out.
• Add a fresh coat of paint or refinish the front door.
• Clean any patios or stone sections thoroughly, a pressure washer can help immensely.
• Add lighting fixtures to help illuminate things and create a welcoming environment.
• Install a bench to make the garden into a social, relaxing space.

If you’re looking for a more thorough undertaking, adding a splash of colour through some well-placed flower beds can be a great way of transforming the space with a small change. If you don’t have the right space or garden type for this, or if you simply feel like the exterior of your home could do with some added appeal, then window boxes with flowers in them can be a small touch that makes a big impression on potential buyers.

Kitchen

People will often think of kitchen changes as less of a DIY project and more as a way of adding value through professional renovation, however there are small cosmetic changes you can make yourself that will add tremendous value to your home. Refinishing the cabinets can add a much needed update to the appearance and feel of your kitchen, just keep in mind it can be more time consuming than other tasks so make sure to plan in advance. Alternatively updating the lighting fixtures can transform a kitchen space with little effort.

Energy Efficiency

For many modern home buyers, energy efficiency is a hugely important component both from a cost saving and an environmental impact standpoint, and there are steps you can take to make DIY improvements that will make your home more energy efficient.

If you have an older home, simply resealing any windows and doors to prevent air leaks can make a significant difference on utility bills. This is done by caulking any gaps where air may be able to escape, improving the insulation throughout your home. A more expensive but also worthwhile investment can be to install smart home technology such as lighting and thermostats, as this will also add value to the home and make it better suited to compete alongside more modern new build properties. If you don’t want to go that far, then simply installing new energy saving lightbulbs can make a difference.

Interior Decoration

For some, this may be seen as more of a project for after you’ve bought a new home and want to make it your own, but many buyers want something they can move into and leave as it is, and for those prospective buyers, doing some DIY decorating before you sell can make all the difference.

Repainting isn’t just a one-day DIY activity and it’s not for everyone, but if you can paint yourself some key spaces, emphasizing neutral bright colours, it can add tremendous appeal, making spaces feel brighter and more welcoming.

If you want to do something a little more unconventional but in keeping with trends, especially if you’re looking to sell your home to first time buyers, removing drywall and leaving some exposed brick, especially in kitchen and dining spaces is a popular design trend.

Interior decoration isn’t just about style, you can also use it to transform the ways in which you utilize the space available, offering a more practical and comfortable option for potential buyers. One way of achieving this can be through making the closets bigger, or by adding additional shelving to walls or even vertical storage options to really maximize the space.

Transforming Unused Rooms

Whether it’s an attic, a basement, or even just a room that is going unused and simply taking up space or providing a temporary home for clutter and personal belongings, turning these underutilized rooms into practical or social spaces can be a great way to add significant value to your home. It can make your home more appealing to a wider range of buyers who are looking for more specific uses but don’t want to move things around themselves. Here are some potential uses for these additional rooms that you can create with some simple furniture choices and design ideas:

• A home office
• A TV/entertainment room
• Playroom
• Private library
• A games/recreational space
• Personal gym
• Storage room

When it comes to getting the best value for your property, the best decision to make is to put it in the hands of REALTORS® with a proven track record for delivering results, and that’s exactly what we have. At Madsen Langlois we use our knowledge and experience to ensure that your next step on the property ladder is the right one for you, so to find out more about how we can help, get in touch with us today.