You don’t have to go big when it comes to kitchen projects. Install new kitchen cabinets or give current cabinets a refresh. Upgrade old kitchen countertops and add a kitchen backsplash for a new look. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to outdoor projects, begin with some easy plants. Build a wooden planter box to add some color to the front of your home, plant some colorful flowering shrubs and add some bee-friendly plants to your yard.
- For example, the search term “modern farmhouse” has had a steady increase in search traffic over the last five years, according to Google Trends.
- Before hiring a contractor, get tips from the Federal Trade Commission on avoiding home improvement scams.
- “In some circumstances the area itself is the kerb appeal – think Wisteria Lane – but with less premium properties, make sure your property is eye-catching and lush.
- With flagstone or cement pavers, you can easily make an outdoor patio in a weekend, no mortar required.
- However, you’ll have to spend a few hundred dollars for a company to do one in some places.
As long as you’re renting the power washer, you might as well clean your driveway, patio, and any walkways. Typically, kitchens are the most expensive room in a house to renovate, according to the Houzz & Home renovation trends study for 2021 and 2022. In addition to Investopedia, she has written for Forbes Advisor, The Motley Fool, Credible, and Insider and is the managing editor of an economics journal. Painting can also be one of the cheapest, but extremely important, investments on the list.
Some things will cost a pretty penny but won’t make a significant impact on what your home is worth to someone else. A new shower head, toilet seat and taps will spruce up your bathroom without breaking the bank. New grouting can also be relatively cheap depending on the size of your bathroom. You should also replace carpets with vinyl or tiles as they’re easier to clean.
House Value Jumping? Save Your Home Improvement Receipts
It also helps defend your home’s surfaces from wear and tear. Whether you do the work yourself or hire someone to do it, it’s a lot easier to paint an empty room. Plus, redoing your walls before moving day means you don’t have to live with the smell of drying paint in your home. If you don’t know how to install flooring, look for a class at your local home improvement store.
What else do I need to know before starting a home repair?
Updating this hardware can give your kitchen a facelift, whether you redo your cabinets or not. If you have generic, cheap, or outdated fixtures, replacing them with newer, more customized versions can make your bathroom sparkle and look more high-end. For about $40 to $100, you can substitute a shabby bathroom vanity or ceiling light fixture with something elegant. Amanda Jackson has expertise in personal finance, investing, and social services. She is a library professional, transcriptionist, editor, and fact-checker.
With flagstone or cement pavers, you can easily make an outdoor patio in a weekend, no mortar required. Add potted plants and outdoor seating, such as a bistro set or an eclectic mix of colorful chairs, to create a quaint backyard escape. With the right planning and pieces, even a small space can become an outdoor retreat.
Try a combination of open shelving and cabinets for a mix of storage and display space. Arrange wall-mount shelves above a desktop framed by cabinets or file drawers to fashion a home office or a kid’s homework station. Choose a low-flow showerhead and you’ll get virtually the same sensation of water flow while saving money on your water bill. If your showerhead flow is already low (and shouldn’t be), check to see if hard-water deposits are clogging the holes. Many new showerheads provide more options for control—multiple spray styles, pivoting angles, temperature settings—and they’re more efficient. Try replacing your showerhead with a newer model so you can achieve a spa-worthy bathing experience in the comfort of your home.
While you have the painting supplies out, brighten trim with a light-colored, high-gloss paint. Motion detector lights are a proven crime deterrent, and standard hard-wired models cost as little as $15. If running a power supply would be difficult, buy ones that run on solar power. Don’t stop at motion sensor lights; install a full home security system to match.
Installing crown molding does involve a bit of woodworking skill as well as the right tools, but it is very inexpensive to do yourself. If your walls have scratches and dirty paint, an outdated color, or fading wallpaper, a little elbow grease and a few cans of paint can make a dramatic difference. To maximize the value of your home for a sale, choose a neutral color scheme that unifies the entire house, makes space look more prominent, and appeals to a wide variety of potential buyers.
A special in-line fan for radon is placed in the attic or outside the house to suck air through the vent. Any openings in the slab or foundation are sealed to keep out radon. Even if your neighbor’s house has a high level of radon, that doesn’t mean yours does. Each house is different, and age doesn’t matter and can be found in new homes. Radon test kits are available at home centers and hardware stores for about $10. They usually involve setting a collector in your home for a week or so and then sending it to a lab for analysis.
