4 AFFORDABLE DIY’S THAT BOOST HOME VALUE

We’ve got practical and pretty blogger projects that pack a payoff.

These four projects can boost your home’s value and good looks for a lot less money that total room renovations.

And you can knock out each yourself over a weekend — or two.

Christina Katos, of the blog No. 29 Design, wanted to convert her dreary unfinished basement into a bright and cheerful family room that included 17 feet of built-in storage. Hiring someone to create her dream built-in would have cost up to $8,000. So she constructed one herself using furniture from Ikea’s Hemnes living room collection. 

Estimated costs:

Total: $1,825

Percentage recovered:  You’ll recover about 70% of your costs on a basement remodel, according to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Association of REALTORS®.

Gina, who writes The Shabby Creek Cottage blog, devised a concrete pillar light to illuminate her walkway without expensive hardwiring. In fact, her project is solar powered, so this DIY won’t run up the utility bill. 

Plus  outdoor lighting is a rock-solid way to enhance security and curb appeal.

Estimated costs:

Total: $13 each

Percentage recovered:  Outdoor lighting along with trees and native plants are an  essential part of a gorgeous and value-adding landscape. And good landscaping can amount to as much as 28% of a home’s overall value, according to landscape economist John Harris.

When Christine, of First Home Love Life blog, moved into her home, the entryway was less than inviting. It lacked light. The paint on the front door was chipped. The concrete walkway was cracked. 

And any REALTOR® will tell you, first impressions count. 

To revamp her entryway, she gave the front door a fresh coat of paint and installed a new pendant lamp. A year later she had a light-bulb-over-her-head moment while walking down the spray paint aisle at Home Depot. The result: Her faux stone walkway — created with a surprising technique. 

Estimated costs:

Total: $122

Percentage recovered:  A  new front door  offers a solid return on your investment. According to the “Remodeling Impact Report” from the National Assocation of REALTORS®, you’ll recover 75% of the cost of a new door if you should sell your house.

DIY can get messy. Ask Taryn of the blog Design, Dining, and Diapers, whose patio upgrade resulted in two shattered iPhones, left her with aching muscles, and took five times longer than the 8 to 10 hours she estimated from her online research. (Keep in mind, she and her husband were both patio-installing newbies. They’re also self-confessed perfectionists.)

Any regrets? Nope, she loves her new 230-square-foot  stone patio  and get her lessons-learned tips for saving time.

Estimated costs:

Total: $1,570

Percentage recovered:  A new patio professionally installed costs about $7,200 according the “Remodeling Impact Report” —  with a return of 69%. 

Questions? Contact us at andi@andidyer(dot)com or 360-734-6479.

HouseLogic helps consumers make smart, confident decisions about all aspects of home ownership. Made possible by REALTORS®, the site helps owners get the most value and enjoyment from their existing home and helps buyers and sellers make the best deal possible. 

DEIRDRE SULLIVAN

Deirdre Sullivanis an NYC-based writer who’s obsessed with maximizing every inch of her urban dwelling. She’s a former fashionista who has worked for Lucky Magazine and InStyle. She recently traded her high heels and Fashion Week pass for a drill and bandsaw. Follow Deirdre on  Google+ ,  Twitter , and  Pinterest.

This content is not the product of the National Association of REALTORS®, and may not reflect NAR’s viewpoint or position on these topics and NAR does not verify the accuracy of the content.

4 AFFORDABLE DIY’S THAT BOOST HOME VALUE

Andi Dyer Real Estate