DIY Day: 5 Projects to Tackle Around the House

April 2nd is National DIY Day, so it's time to get started on some projects around the house. Roll up your sleeves, get out your tools, and tackle five home improvement projects that will make your home shine. Our REALTORS® know that a little elbow grease goes a long way in boosting your home's resale value in today's market.

1. Shampoo Your Carpets and Rugs
   If you have carpets and area rugs, you may be living with hidden germs from food debris, dust mites, dead skin, and pet hair, even if you vacuum on a regular schedule. Experts recommend that you shampoo your carpets and rugs twice a year.
   
   Take the DIY route and rent a carpet cleaning machine from a local home improvement or hardware store. The machine will cost you about $30 per day, plus $20 per bottle for cleaning solutions. You can clean your carpets and rugs over a weekend for as little as $100. Shampooing your carpets is a simple DIY project with a 169% ROI.
   
   
2. Give the Walls a Fresh Coat of Paint
   A fresh coat of paint can make a big difference. New paint brightens up a room, makes spaces look larger, freshens up high-traffic areas, cleans up old scuffs, splatters, and stains, and even neutralizes bad odors. It's a DIY project that's well worth the effort.
   
   In Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale, neutral palettes in shades of cream and gray, with bold accent colors in deep shades of blue, green, and gold, are popular. Once you choose your color and purchase the paint, you'll need to buy a few DIY supplies, including paint rollers and pans, paintbrushes for trim, several rolls of painter's tape, and drop cloths. With focus and effort, you can freshen up your walls with new paint over a weekend.
   
   
3. Update Your Kitchen's Style
   Mid-toned or honey oak cabinets tend to be viewed as outdated in today's design market. They can make your kitchen look smaller and out of style. If you're up to this DIY task, consider repainting your cabinets with white or light colors that will boost style and brighten up the kitchen. More tips to add style and home value:

   • Update cabinet pulls and knobs

   • Replace old faucets

   • Install a shiny new sink

   • Invest in stainless steel appliances

   • Replace the countertops

   • Install wood laminate flooring

4. Hang New Light Fixtures
   Lighting in a home often gets overlooked, but it has a big impact on the design appeal of a room. Good lighting brightens up the room and makes colors pop, while bad lighting makes rooms look small, dingy, and uninviting. According to design experts, most homes don't have adequate lighting (100 watts for every 50 square feet).

   Ideal room lighting includes three types of fixtures: ambient lighting, which includes overhead fixtures; task lighting, which includes reading, under cabinet, and pendant fixtures; and accent lighting, including table or wall lights. If your home feels dark, it's time to tackle a DIY lighting project to brighten spaces and create an inviting atmosphere.

5. Install Smart Home Features
   If you have outdated thermostats that don't light up and old door locks with no security features, tackle some DIY upgrades. Modern smart home technology controlled from mobile phones and computers is a big selling feature, especially for millennial homebuyers. According to Consumer Reports, smart home features can increase your home's resale value by at least 3%.

If you're thinking about buying or selling a home in Ohio, contact us for more information on available properties.