Quick DIY Home Improvements to Boost Your Home's Resale Value

By: Ted Guarnero
Submitted: 2008-08-28 16:09:37
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There are certain projects that you can attack yourself, that'll stand to improve the value of your home and won't cost you an arm and a leg. Start with a budget that you can afford and then take a look at these DIY home improvement projects- and decide your path toward improving the resale value of your home.

As you enter your home, what do you see? Dirty linoleum and bad carpeting just don't make the grade anymore. Take note that even the cheapest ceramic tile will be a vast improvement on grungy looking throw backs. The foyer is the first impression on the interior of your home and if people see a bad floor they'll wonder if the rest of the home is just as lousy.

This project could cost you as low as $265 for materials plus your time and effort. It'll all depend on what sort of tile you purchase. Ideally you'll want to aim for anything that resembles stone. Natural stone can be pricey but there are porcelain alternatives that look similar but are much less expensive.

In terms of materials you'll need tiles, spacers, adhesive, notched trowel, grout, sealer and plywood. The main work involved is pulling up the old floor, cutting the tile, and then gluing, grouting and sealing.

Another great DIY project to tackle is the painting of your old and worn out kitchen cabinets. Really doing this job yourself vs. hiring a pro can save you oodles. For this you'll need about $135 for tools and paint supplies and then roughly $5 per knob to replace the hardware. Neutral colors are best as they appeal to the widest audience and look quite modern and clean.

In terms of supplies, be equipped with a drill and bits, tarp, sandpaper, primer, paint or stain, high quality paintbrushes and new modern looking hardware. The grunt work will be to remove the cabinets to sand and prime them. Next you'll do your painting or staining and finally screw in the new hardware and voila: new kitchen!

Another simple approach that can help boost the appeal and value of your home is to replace the overhead fixture in your dining room. This simple change can do wonders to this important feature. Adding the right lighting to the room is a must, and your choice of fixture or chandelier can go from sleek and modern to high impact drama. In any case, your dining room fixture can be a great accent and one that'll help sell your home.

You'll want to shop for something that is striking but that still fits in with the overall look and feel of your home. In terms of cost you're looking at anywhere from $30-300 for the fixture itself and $40 for tools. Of course, you could easily pay more for a fixture, but you should be able to find something suitable within this range.

In terms of the work involved here, you'll need to first turn off your circuit breaker. Remove the previous fixture exposing the wires. Match up the wires of the new fixture and then screw in the base of your fixture. Turn the circuit breaker back on, flick a switch and presto! - A beautiful new addition to your home, and one that didn't take a whole lot of cash or time.

Article source: Expert Articles