Maintaining your dwelling can be a costly venture as a homeowner. If you’re looking to cut expenses and boost the value of your home, you want to determine what areas you can do yourself, and the projects that you should hire out to a contractor.
Refresh Your Walls
While minimizing your home’s clutter can help keep it looking well-maintained, freshening up your walls with a coat of paint can brighten up your living space. Over the years, the walls throughout your home have probably seen better days. Whether they’ve experienced chips, cracks and scratches or you’re trying to mask an outdated wall color, repainting is a DIY project that anyone can tackle. If you’re looking to make your space appear bigger or you want to lighten up an already drab and dark room, you may want to select a neutral color scheme such as a warm beige. However, if the exterior of your two-story dwelling is ready to be painted, it may be a job for the professionals. If you’re looking to keep costs to a minimum, you can see if the contractor supplies coupons or other discounts for hiring on with their services.
Updated Plumbing Fixtures
Updating plumbing fixtures with eco-friendly items can be a great DIY project for those wishing to go “green.” From adding low flow showerheads and toilets to tankless water heaters, the possibilities are endless. Even novice home renovators can tackle easy projects such as faucet handles and showerheads. However, when it comes to installing the larger items such as a water heater, vanity, sump pump or electronic sensor faucets, it’s best to leave it to a knowledgeable and experienced plumber.
Crown Molding
If you’re looking to give your home some character, crown molding is a surprisingly easy task to handle. Your local home improvement store will have a variety of options that can mesh with the style of your living space. By taking measurements and determining the areas where you want to add the decorative strips, you’ll be able to attach them easily with a simple nail gun. If you’re looking to save time, you may also find the crown molding painted and ready to install.
Hardware
The kitchen area of a home is one of the most popular rooms for families. In addition to meal preparation, it’s where people congregate for meals and when you’re entertaining. If you’re not ready to tackle a total kitchen remodel, simple tasks such as changing the hardware on your kitchen cabinets can give the room a more updated appearance. You can also switch light fixtures, switch plates, door knobs and outlet covers for a fraction of the cost. However, if you plan on doing major electrical work such as adding outlets or overhead lighting fixtures, this should be conducted by a state licensed contractor.
Carpet, Tile and Wood Flooring
Older homes may have a treasure trove in flooring underneath the carpet. If you notice your floorboards squeaking or your home has some unique historical character, you may want to pull up a small section to see what lays beneath its surface. If you find wood floors underneath, restoring them to their original finish can be less expensive than installing them from scratch. If you have tile in some of the rooms of your dwelling, a fresh coat of grout can be easily applied by a novice. However, major projects such as laying down new carpet is best left to those in the trades.
Window Treatments
Paper shades, aluminum blinds and other inexpensive window coverings can make your home appear cheap. If you’re looking to boost the appearance of your dwelling and improve its value, simple upgrades such as wooden blinds, custom drapes or plantation shutters can boost the aesthetics in your home. It can also help keep energy costs to a minimum on an especially cool or hot day.