To DIY or Not to DIY

To paraphrase a famous movie line, a do-it-yourselfer’s got to know his limitations. To DIY or Not to DIY, that is the question? Being honest with yourself about the home improvement projects you can and can’t take on is important for the appearance of your home and for controlling costs. Many people jump into a full-scale renovation or repair project. That shouldn’t dissuade you from making upgrades that can greatly enhance your home’s appearance. There are many ways homeowners can add value with relatively simple fixes. Just make sure you know where to draw the line between a DIY and a professional job.

Valuable Touch-ups

Of course, the time-tested formula for selling a home is to get as much as possible with the least expense. That’s the rationale behind going it alone and avoiding the high price tag that usually goes with hiring a contractor. Painting is one option that almost always pays off. It’s an excellent way to keep things looking fresh and new, which is an important objective of staging a home for sale. This is something that most amateurs can do with relative ease. However, it’s important to be prepared and take the time to do it right. A cheap, slapdash job is easy to see and certainly won’t reflect well on you. Repainting your bath and kitchen, two of the most important rooms when it comes to resale. Can add significant value, as can touching up the trim, shutters and other exterior features.

Curb Appeal

Studies have shown that a well-presented yard and home exterior helps impress and encourage potential buyers. Decks and patio space are popular items (more than 90 percent of home buyers want one) They’re easy to dress up with fresh paint and sealer, or with some new lawn furniture and a fire pit. If you don’t have the time. Consider hiring a landscaping company to keep your lawn nice and trim. On average, homeowners fork over about $127 on lawn care. Given the importance of making a good first impression, it’s well worth the expense.

Beautify the bathroom

Making a good impression here can go a long way toward convincing a prospective buyer that your house is worth every penny you’re asking. Simple things like hanging a new shower curtain, or adding a bright new rug is a good start. However, you may also consider replacing your vanity and installing new, stylized light fixtures. Bear in mind that DIY is always easier with good, basic tools, so do your research when shopping for staples like a cordless drill or tape measure.

Leave it to the Pros

A good rule of thumb is to leave any home improvement jobs involving electrical work to the professionals. Unless you’re very confident in what you’re doing, it’s just too dangerous to risk injury or worse. The same could be said for plumbing, which usually requires some degree of expertise. Another good rule is to call in the experts if you’ve invested lots of money in materials. Such as expensive tile or hardwood flooring that leaves little room for error. You’ll need sophisticated tools that are usually best left to someone with more experience.

As a homeowner, you’ve put a lot of thought into what your house is worth? What’s needed to make sure you recoup its value? You should put the same consideration into your home improvement projects and whether you’re capable of doing them. To DIY or Not to DIY? Perhaps the smartest thing you can do is admit when a job is over your head and hand it off to someone who knows what they’re doing.