Your house’s curb appeal says a lot about your home and can easily affect the value of your property. But you don’t have to spend big bucks in order to make your house look new. Keith Sacks, Vice President of RubberMulch, offers his best tips for easy DIY fixes for your home.
9 Easy DIY Fixes for Your Home
1. House Numbers
A super easy and affordable update is to replace house numbers. Today’s house numbers come in a wide variety of styles. Think chic, modern looking styles or utilize your DIY skills to make a rustic type that are attached to wood and hung on your home.
2. Front Door
Studies show that you can increase the value of your home by as much as $8,000 just by upgrading the front door! If your front door is in good condition but needs an update, skip purchasing a brand new door by applying a new coat of paint. With a good coat of primer and a couple coats of exterior paint, your door will look new and striking at first glance. You can opt for trendy door colors such as canary yellow, kelly green, and shiny black or classics such as red or deep blues.
3. Exterior House Cleaning
If you stand back and look at the front of your home do you see mold, mildew, dirt and grunge? Pick up an exterior home cleaner or make your own recipes along with a brush to scrub the dollars back into your home. According to realtors, washing a house’s facade can add $10,000 – $15,000 to the sale price!
4. Mailbox
Wobbly, dented and outdated mailboxes are an eyesore and unattractive to potential homebuyers. Replacing it will not only add more curb appeal to your home, but will also give it a little personality as well.
5. Gutters
Since plugged gutters shout “poor home maintenance,” clean out the leaves and weeds and make any necessary repairs. Plugged gutters can also lead to long term problems with the home and many buyers are warned to look for this problem and avoid a home that hasn’t had gutter upkeep.
6. Windows and Trim
Replace broken glass, scrape and paint the trim, and clean the inside and outside of the windows until they shine. Brackets and decorative moldings can also really make your exterior pop and are easy to install. Add a couple of window boxes to offer a cottage-like, homey appeal.
7. Roof and Chimney
One of the last things a home buyer wants to see is a roof and chimney that needs work. This is an investment and deters many buyers from a home. It may cost you a bit to repair now but if you don’t, it will come off the bottom line of your home value. So make the repairs now for a better sale.
8. Light Fixtures
Strategically placed exterior lighting goes a long way. Exterior lighting is an easy and cost-effective way to add beauty and security to your home. Not only does it highlight your beautiful landscaping and all the upgrades you’ve made to your home, but it also enhances the photos a realtor takes of your home when putting it on the market. Think about adding lighting to the landscaping and walkway, a hanging pendant light to the front doorway. and additional lighting near the garage.
9. Landscaping
This is the time to make an investment in some perennials, trees, and bushes for your home if you haven’t already. Most plants you find at your local big box store or local nursery are typically easy to care for and right for your state. Finish off your garden beds with a nice border and quality mulch or rock. A little landscaping work can go a long, long way.