If you’re looking to sell your home, you may be considering taking on some DIY projects to boost its appeal to buyers and increase its value.
And the good news is there are plenty of things you can do yourself that won’t cost the earth but could help your property stand out from the crowd.
Here are 10 great DIY projects that could help you sell more quickly…
1. A kitchen makeover
Even if your budget doesn’t stretch to a full kitchen renovation, you can make the heart of your home turn heads on viewings with small amount of money and a bit of elbow grease.
It’s always worth placing some focus on the kitchen before selling as it’s arguably the most important room in the house for buyers.
Here are three cost and time-effective ways you can give your kitchen a new lease of life:
- Paint your kitchen cabinets and change the handles
- Add a new splashback
- Update your flooring
2. Paint your property’s walls
If your property hasn’t seen a tin of paint for a while and you’re planning to sell, now could be the perfect moment to update it.
While it can be tempting to go for colours you like, remember the reason you’re painting is to appeal to buyers rather than yourself.
With that in mind, use neutral colours like whites and greys and keep the bolder tones for feature walls if you want to create them.
Read up on the current trends, too, and use colours that are of the moment, so your property really appeals to design-savvy buyers.
3. Change your front door
First impressions definitely count with buyers and as the front of your property is the first thing they’ll see, a new front door can really create the wow factor.
As well as making a good impression as a design statement, a new front door can also appeal to buyers who are eco-conscious and want a home that is energy efficient.
Modern doors are extremely energy efficient, as well as looking great, but even if your budget can’t stretch to a new one, you could add a splash of colour to your existing door if it’s wooden.
4. Tidy up your bathrooms
Along with the kitchen, buyers will place a large amount of their focus on your bathrooms when looking at your property.
And while a new bathroom suite might be out of reach both financially and from a time point of view, there are still plenty of DIY tasks you can take on to present your bathrooms in the best possible way.
Consider:
- Replacing any cracked or broken tiles
- Refreshing the grouting that has become stained or discoloured
- Replacing taps and shower fittings
- Adding a storage unit if you have space
5. Look at lighting in your house
While buyers will usually focus on the amount of natural light flooding into your property during a viewing, they’ll also be looking at how your electric lighting is used and how it affects the ambiance of your home.
So, when it comes to lighting DIY jobs, take on the following before selling:
- Replace any blown bulbs with energy efficient ones
- Take down any out-of-date shades and replace with new ones, or new, modern fixed light fittings
- Add lamps or corner lights to rooms that lack natural light
6. Focus on flooring
While flooring can be a reasonably high expense and isn’t always something that can be done yourself, you should consider flooring upgrades before you sell if they’re needed.
Carpet fitting is often best left to the professionals, so if you’re looking to replace any old or outdated carpets, it’s usually best to use a fitter rather than tackle this task yourself.
Wood flooring can also be a great option for modern homes as it is long-lasting and resilient to children and pets, so if your property is considered a family home, laminate or real wood flooring is something you could look at.
Hard flooring is usually something that can be taken on yourself, too, saving you some money as well as adding style and functionality to your property.
7. Easy DIY patio projects
Laying a patio can be a great way to create a superb, low maintenance entertaining area for your property’s garden.
Even if you already have a patio, you could consider replacing it to really make a statement – and the work can often be done yourself, too.
High maintenance gardens can be appealing to some buyers and totally off-putting to others.
So, when it comes to your outside space, finding a middle ground is the best way to appeal to most buyers and secure a quick sale.
8. Update fixtures around the house
Often it can be the small touches that really appeal to buyers, so don’t forget to look at the fixtures around your house and replace any that have seen better days or are outdated.
You could look to replace:
- Light switches and plug sockets
- Curtain rails
- Door handles
9. Decorate your exterior
There are a host of DIY tasks you can take on to give your property’s exterior a lift.
If your house is rendered and is looking a little ‘green’ through weathering, consider painting the exterior.
Or, if you’re unable to paint it, have the façade cleaned with a jet washer to remove any dirt and grime and bring it back to life.
If your budget stretches and you want to take things further, you could even add a porch.
With any external work, however, check to see if you need planning permission before breaking ground.
10. Make what you have even better
If you have areas of your house that are real selling points, ensure you make the best of them.
That could include a period fireplace, original floorboards, or decorative mouldings if you’re selling an older property.
Original features and character are highly sought-after by many buyers, so make sure they’re looking the best they can:
- Repaint fireplaces
- Sand back and polish floorboards
- Paint and protect wooden or metal sash windows
- Bring timber beams to life
Is it better to sell a house as it is or fix it up?
This depends on the kind of buyer you attract and the price you want to achieve.
Some buyers prefer to have more of a blank canvas to add their own stamp to a property.
That means areas of your home that need work may appeal to them, rather than put them off.
Others will be put off by any work and will want a ‘move straight in’ house.
Generally, you should fix any big issues with your home before putting it on the market as major work is usually off-putting for most buyers.
What projects add the most value to a home?
Some home improvement projects can add considerable value to your property.
However, you should only spend your budget on areas of your property that will appeal to buyers – and any work you do should be completed with potential purchasers in mind if you’re planning to sell.
The projects likely to add the most value will be those that increase square footage, including:
- A kitchen / diner extension
- A double-storey extension that adds a bedroom and en-suite
- A loft conversion
- A garage conversion
- A garden office installation
How can I increase the value of my home cheaply?
While major changes like new kitchens, extensions and conversions add the most value, it’s possible to give your property a financial lift when on a tight budget, too.
A property that has been loved and looked after will generally appeal to more buyers than one that needs work to bring it up to standard and this should be reflected in any asking price.
Use the space you have well and keep things looking fresh and modern through regular decoration projects, which won’t cost the earth but will help your property stand out from the crowd.
You could consider:
- Painting kitchen cabinets
- Installing a new kitchen backsplash
- Adding bathroom storage
- Replacing taps and toilet seats
- Installing a new shower head
- Laying a new bathroom floor
- Fit new, modern light fittings
- Repaint your home in neutral colours
- Hang mirrors to create the feeling of space
- Filling and repainting cracks and dents in walls
- Tidy up and de-weed your gardens space
- Paint exterior window frames
- Clear and clean downpipes and guttering
