There are quite a number of excellent home improvement projects that add value. Sometimes it is hard to decide where to begin. Hiring an engineer to perform a home inspection, inviting a home appraisal specialist to appraise the property, or partnering with a qualified real estate agent is a great way to help create a home improvement list. A home inspection will generally cost $300-$500. The national average price of a home appraisal is $339. Both are valuable tools, and often necessary when selling your home. You can use the information to assemble a list of projects (to be contracted to professionals and DIY). But there’s no time like the present. You can get started on a project today without an inspection or appraisal. Here are a handful of low cost DIY projects to increase your home’s value.
Painting: A fresh coat of paint always increases the value of your home. We suggest painting interior rooms in a light neutral color. A gallon of interior grade paint is about $40. You will average two gallons per room and sweat on your brow. It’s a great way to begin DIY projects in and around your home. Once you gain momentum and have the interior rooms painted you can move on to the exterior. You will need about twenty two gallons of exterior grade paint to paint the exterior of a 2,500 square foot home. Remember to properly clean and prepare exterior surfaces before painting. The best exterior house color choices vary from state to state and neighborhood to neighborhood. You want to be respectful of your area and make the choice accordingly. Your seller’s agent can help with the decision, or recommend a design professional for a consultation.
Unsightly Bathroom Cabinets: A cosmetic upgrade to your bathroom cabinets is easy with a fresh coat of paint and new satin or brushed nickel hardware. The cost is nominal, the work is easy and the cosmetic improvements made will inspire you to keep on working (after sending faux wood surfaces or gaudy colors back to where they belong). You will need to prepare surfaces, which vary depending on the cabinet material. Surfaces will need cleaning, real wood will need a light sanding. And remember, paint sticks to primer, and primer sticks to (almost) everything.
Unsightly Kitchen Cabinets: Minor kitchen renovations can have an ROI of 81% or more. After perfecting the craft of cabinet facelifts in the bathroom, move on to the kitchen. You can help create a modern look with fresh paint and new hardware. The cost is very nominal when compared to installing new cabinetry. New cabinet installation will vary depending on the system you choose, the contractor, and the total linear foot installed. The cost ranges from $3,200-$8,500 for stock and semi-custom styles.
A cabinet facelift might be the perfect solution, depending on the condition of your kitchen cabinets (and the skills you acquired upgrading the bathroom cabinets). You can add a considerable amount of value with a little money, a little skill, and a moderate amount of work.
Popcorn Ceiling Removal: Textured acoustic ceilings (popcorn ceilings) installed in Florida homes from the 1930s to the 1990s were very popular. They were effective in covering flaws in the ceiling and were said to absorb sound (hence the “acoustic” part of the name). Popcorn ceilings aren’t popular anymore. Removal will likely increase the value of your home. But you will need to be careful and check the ceiling material before removal.
Before attempting to remove popcorn ceilings you will need to determine if they contain asbestos, a known carcinogen. The EPA recommends hiring a professional to test the materials in your home. The material was widely used for many years, especially prior to 1973. The EPA banned hazardous pollutants from ceiling coverings in 1973, but materials containing asbestos were still used after 1973 as existing inventories were exempt from the ban. If asbestos is present in your ceiling material you will want to hire the job out. Otherwise, you can proceed and do it yourself (but dress for the occasion, this is messy work).
When done by a professional the process of popcorn ceiling removal can cost between $898-$2,847 depending on the number of rooms. The price of the job can increase another $2,800 when asbestos is present. You can save a lot of money doing the project yourself, but only if asbestos is not present. Your health is important. Be safe.
Landscape: It’s always important to keep up with the landscaping around your home. You can add value by introducing new, low maintenance trees and plants or a ground level patio with stone or concrete pavers. Outdoor living spaces are attractive to buyers, and a ground level patio can give one of the highest ROI for home improvement projects.
There are businesses that specialize in the installation of ground level patios in Florida. Some of the businesses offer step-by-step instructions for the budget minded DIY crowd (you’ll still need to purchase the pavers). SNS Pavers in West Palm Beach has shared a comprehensive concrete paver installation guide in 10 easy steps on their website. You could complete the project in a couple of days (but remember to take your time and do it right the first time).
When you partner with Phaidra McDermott you will be connecting to resources and relationships to move forward in the selling of your home quickly and effectively. Phaidra looks forward to helping you with all of your real estate needs in and around Sanibel Island and Captiva Island. Contact Phaidra McDermott today!