Thinking about putting your house on the market? If you want to bump up its value and catch the eyes of more buyers, upgrading is the way to go. But should you roll up your sleeves and do it yourself, or hire someone to handle it?
Going the DIY route can keep some cash in your pocket and feels pretty rewarding, but it also has its downsides. If things go south, a messed-up project might end up costing you more than you saved.
So, is DIY the way to go for you? Let’s read on;
Why Consider DIY Smart Home Upgrades?
DIY projects can effectively improve your home’s appearance at a fraction of the cost of professionals. For enthusiasts, preparing to sell can be an exciting challenge.
Here are reasons to consider DIY:
- Cost Savings: Outsourcing is costly when it’s for hiring professionals, especially if the upgrades are to be undertaken by the hired professionals. This way you save on labour and can afford more material than you would spend if you hired contractors.
- Personal Touch: DIY has an advantage of allowing you to determine how the upgrades are gonna be accomplished. There also exist a lot of designs and choices of material that you can work with in a manner that may capture the potential buyer’s preferences.
- Learn New Skills: A do it yourself project can actually be beneficial. Also, working on a project independently can be satisfying at the end of the work is your own.
Some people prefer DIY to save money, but it can backfire if not done properly. A poorly executed upgrade can create more problems and even lower your home’s value.
DIY Upgrades That Can be a Good Idea
Not all installations should be professional. Several changes can be easily made using simple instruments and a considerable amount of time.
Here are a few DIY projects that can boost your home’s appeal without risking too much:
- Painting Walls: Painting your house is perhaps the simplest and yet a most effective way of making your home looks as new as ever. Select humble colors that are appreciated by as many potential customers as possible.
- Landscaping: Again, landscaping your home does not need professional landscapers to be done. Maintenance chores such as washing the lawn, pruning shrubs, and putting flowers can go along way in giving your yard an appealing outlook.
- Replacing Light Fixtures: New lighting can give your home a fresh, updated look. Hanging trendy lamps is quick and easy, and it can transform multiple rooms at once.
- Updating Hardware: Swapping out old cabinet pulls, door knobs, and faucets is a simple task that makes your home feel newer and cleaner.
- Caulking and Sealing: Sealing kitchen or bathroom joints with caulk is an affordable and easy way to maintain your home and give it a well-kept feel.
When DIY is Not a Good Idea
While most of the improvements can be done by anyone in-house, certain ones should only be done by the professionals. Any big revisions such as electrical or plumbing, or constructional enhancements mainly call for professionals and safety skills.
Here are some examples of projects that are better left to the pros:
- Electrical Work: People should avoid making alterations to wiring within homes in a bid to try and improve them or make them new because it may be very risky and it may cause several fatal mishaps to occur in the long run.
- Plumbing: Even replacing a pipe or fixing a leak could be easy but one mistake can ruin everything because of water damage.
- Structural Changes: Most people do not know the difference between load bearing walls and the walls you can easily demolish to make improvements on your house. These kinds of processes carried out on your own can cause various dangers, in addition to repairing work and even reduce home value.
Easy Tips for a Successful DIY Project
If you decide to take on some DIY upgrades, here are a few tips to help ensure your projects go smoothly and add value to your home:
- Start Small: A newbie should not attempt a big project because that might jeopardize their first DIY project experience. After that, you need to more careful and start with small things like painting or changing handles, which will give you some confidence.
- Plan and Research: When approaching a project, determine its requirements first, then arrange all the necessary equipment and materials. It’s important to note that when planning for the future, people should seriously consider investing their time.
- Set a Budget: In most cases, DIY projects tend to cheaper compared to professional service providers, but it is still costly. Every shopping trip should be done having set a certain amount of money that you are willing to spend and then be disciplined to spend only that amount.
- Use Quality Materials: The buyers can notice that you have used cheap material which will give your home an inferior look, thus cheap. Spend money on good quality goods especially on things like the floor, worktops or fittings.
Guidelines for DIY Home Upgrades
| Do’s | Don’ts |
| Do plan and research your project thoroughly. | Don’t start a project without knowing all the steps. |
| Do use quality materials to ensure lasting results. | Don’t cut corners with cheap materials or tools. |
| Do start with easy, low-risk projects like painting. | Don’t tackle complex work like electrical or plumbing yourself. |
| Do make sure the upgrades fit the style of your home. | Don’t choose trendy designs that may not appeal to all buyers. |
| Do keep safety in mind at all times. | Don’t ignore safety guidelines or skip necessary permits. |
The Risks of DIY Gone Wrong
Doing it yourself is cheaper but only if things go as planned, otherwise, it is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are some risks to keep in mind:
- Lower Home Value: If for instance the buyer looks at a room and ask the landlord to refer him a professional, and finds out that the work done is unprofessional he will lower his offer or demand the landlord to fix it.
- Increased Repair Costs: However, if you go wrong in the course of the project, it may be even more expensive to correct it than employing the professional in the initial instance.
- Time-Consuming: Do it yourself projects may last for long due to lack of steering but this is common for beginners. And if you are in a hurry to sell your home this can be a big issue.
When to Hire a Professional
If the project looks too complicated and possibly dangerous, it’s best to get a professional.
Here’s when it’s a good idea to call in the pros:
- Safety Concerns: Anything that involves electricity, plumbing or a change in the structure of the house, should be left to a team of technicians with all the right knowledge.
- Time Constraints: Desperate to sell, DIY projects are actually time consuming. It however can be done much more quickly and often to a better standard of work by professionals.
- Boosting Home Value: When it comes to large scale improvements such as kitchens or roof replacement more specialized work can prove to really add to the value of the house; therefore, it is a worthy investment.
Wrapping it up
Before you grab that hammer or paintbrush, take a sec to weigh the pros and cons. With the right game plan, DIY can be a clever way to level up your home!
Whether you’re preparing to list your home or simply seeking guidance to get started, Lesley Tucker is here to help.