DIY Weekend Projects
How to Add Value to Your Home with Do it Yourself Projects
There are a host of different things you can do, some of which will improve the general ambiance of your home, others that will enable you to enhance your lifestyle and standard of living, and still others that will be sure to add value to your home, which is particularly important if you are planning to sell sometime in the future.
While you don’t have to have any professional skills to undertake many of the most popular DIY weekend projects, it is an advantage to have basic handyman-type skills and some good tools. With a small investment in proper tools and maybe a few classes at a local building store, you could be well on your way to home improvement guru.
For instance if you can work with wood, there are some amazing do-it-yourself projects that will have friends and family gasping at what you have achieved. With a small investment in some important tools, like a jig saw, a router and an maybe a radial arm saw, you will be able to do some fun projects to add value to your home. Since many newer homes are "standard build" they can all look the same, so adding some unique character to your home will yield a return on investment. Just make sure to do a quality job and keep it simple and not too over the top or personalized.
Here are some Do-it-Yourself Woodwork Projects:
- Add shutters to the outside of your house and/or detail trim around windows.
- Change bathroom or kitchen cabinets fronts to update the look.
- Remove small builder standard baseboards and replace with taller baseboards.
- Add wainscoting or bead board to walls for a custom finished look.
- Build a pergola to define a patio or add shelter to your outdoor living area.
- Construct a trellis screen that can be used to add privacy to a special corner of your backyard or to hide unsightly garbage cans.
- Construct built in shelving in open spaces on walls or build other functional built-ins.
Being able to lay bricks and blocks is another great skill to master. Masonry projects are another place you can save some money and have fun. The tools are simple, but you do need to do some research on the best types of mortar to use for different purposes.
Here are some Do-it-Yourself Masonry Projects
- Build a nice solid BBQ unit that will add character as well as functionality to any patio. Those with more advanced bricklaying skills might even consider building an outdoor kitchen over a few weekends.
- Extend your concrete slab patio with brick pavers or flagstone. Or make a new walkway in a high traffic area that is lacking one.
- Line a driveway or walkway with brick or stone.
- Construct raised planters made from either bricks or larger blocks for a veggie garden or to define areas of the yard.
- Build a pond that can be used as a reservoir or for a fountain, or even stocked with fish.
- Add stone to the face of a fireplace to add character and warmth. Or add stone to an exterior wall.
Painting is probably the easiest and best value adding improvement. A fresh coat of paint in modern colors can really change the appearance of a home. Anyone can paint, so it's a perfect DIY project for beginners. The key to a successful paint job is preparation and patience. Blue painters tape is your friend.
Here are some Do-it-Yourself Painting Projects
- Paint the front door and shutters of your home to add curb appeal.
- Paint or stain the deck and fences. This will add value and help maintain this expensive asset to the home.
- Spend a weekend painting your living room and see what a difference it makes. Add some coordinating pillows on the sofa and a few new accessories and you will feel like you are in a new home.
- Stain the concrete on an outdoor patio for a fresh new look. Be sure to pressure wash first.
If you are considering selling your home down the road, feel free to give me a call and I can guide you as to what improvements will yield the greatest return on your investment.
