The Top 10 Most Profitable DIY Home Improvement Projects

So you bought a new property and you got it below market value. But the reason for it being so low was due to it looking outdated. Stained Countertops, Worn Cabinets, Rusty Door Hardware, if these sound like things your property is suffering from then this list can help.

You may be thinking of stuff such as replacing kitchens, bathrooms, repainting the entire house, and such things. However, you will soon realize that these are not profitable changes for you at all. All of those are pricey with little return.

The best possible home improvements are the ones that have the greatest return value on your money. The lower cost higher return improvements are the best possible ones for you to do. These increase property value the most with the least out of pocket cost. Some home improvement ideas that you can do all by yourself are-

Cabinet Painting (5000$-15000$ profit)

Old cabinets? Faded paint? Looks too 1980? Well, you may have the thought of replacing the cabinets come across your mind. On average though replacing cabinets can cost anywhere from 5000$ to 8000$. And in reality, you will be barely breaking even on costs vs property value increase.

A solution to this is painting your cabinetry instead. Slab a fresh coat of high-quality primer and paint on and Voilà brand new looking cabinets with a 5000$ to 15000$ profit! This keeps costs down to under 500. Preparation is key when painting cabinets for maximizing profit. The more prepared you are the more profit you can make.

Formica Foil Countertops (2000$-3000$ profit)

If you have stained Formica/Butcherblock countertops from when someone set a hot pot on it and it left a mark, then vinyl wrapping the countertop is a great solution to making it look new and hiding any imperfection. These can also be used if you want to have the look of marble countertops without having to spend 1000’s of dollars on the real deal.

The contact paper is waterproof and can be peeled back off relatively easily if needed. This makes the vinyl top perfect for rental properties as they are cheap and non-damaging to the countertop in any way. Doing this to your countertops can profit you around 2000$ to 3000$ without much work.

Tile Glazing (3000$-5000$ profit)

If you happened to buy a house built in the 1940's-1980's you may have run into these odd colored bathrooms. Ranging from turquoise, green, aqua blue, and even pink. These may have looked good back then but now they are faded and not a sight for sore eyes. I bet you are wondering how in the heck am i gonna fix this outdated tiling. Well i have the solution! Tile Glazing.

Reglazing your old tile will fix the discoloration, leaving it looking brand-spankin-new and a modern color (i.e. white and grays). Doing this also removes the nasty caulk and gets rid of grout lines so you wont have to constantly clean them between tenants anymore. This update can leave you with a property value increase of around 3-5 thousand in profits.

Baseboard, Trim & Moldings (3500$-4500$ profit)

Small 1-1/2in to 2-1/2in baseboards are common in older homes. However nowadays 4-5in baseboards/moldings are what's "in". The bigger appearance of the baseboards make the walls feel more textured instead of just being flat and boring. This adds dimension to the home making it more pleasing to look at.

Textured baseboards/moldings/trims delve into this effect even more. Making the home feel fancier even though in reality it is just some carved wood nailed onto a wall. This can be easily done by yourself with just a nail gun and a weekend. The replacing of the baseboards house-wide can result in an increase of up to 4500$ in property value.

Scraping Ceilings (4000$-8000$ profit)

Oh the infamous "popcorn" ceilings, the cheapskate builders way of not having to finish dry wall. Popcorn ceilings are gross, they don't really stop reverb anyways and they should be deleted from the face of the planet. Anyways rant over, removing popcorn ceilings by yourself can actually net you around 4-8 thousand in property value alone. Its not even that physically taxing to remove either. Just be careful if your house is older (1940-1980-ish era) to get the ceiling checked for asbestos. Removing the nasty spray on ceiling texture will also make the house just look nicer in general. With some quality smooth finished drywall ceilings.

Hardware, Hinges, Locks (3000$-4000$ profit)

Tenants take value in what they can see or touch not the piping behind the walls. With this mindset even just changing out your hardware to be nice and new can have quite the effect on property value. Changing locks/hinges/knobs and such is also relatively stress free and easy and above all else, cost efficient. Just need a screwdriver and maybe a friend on a Saturday afternoon. This change can result in a 3000$ to maybe even 4000$ net change with your property's value. Just make sure to match everything for clarity sake(i.e. if you use bronze then use it everywhere).

Mulch/Basic Landscaping (1000$-1500$ profit)

Despite popular belief what's on the outside does matter! At least when referring to homes. Here today I reveal to you the power of mulch. Yep. That 3.50$ bag of earth can make you over a 1000$ in property equity. You just simply put it around some shrubbery to liven up the landscape of your front yard. If the outside looks nice people will be more willing to have a look on the inside.

Outlets/Light Switches (4000$-5000$)

Out with those old yellow light switches/outlets with fresh new white ones. Like said prior, what you can touch and see is what will give you more bang for your buck. Replacing these will brighten up the interior and look great! Additionally if you put a dimmer switch on, you could save additional money for the electrical bill and lifetime of the bulbs.

Add "Flat" Can Lights (4000$-5000$)

Recessed lighting is great as it doesn't distract from other focal points in your house. As such a lot of new homebuyers from this day and age are more interested in recessed lighting as opposed to the regular mounted lights. They are able to light up an entire room without taking up space from the room. The lights are somewhat easy to install by yourself. The lights install flat into the ceiling making them great for narrow hallways, closets and inside bathrooms. They can even be used in walls, floor and stairs where other lights couldn't. Using these recess lights can increase your property value up to 5000$.

Pressure Wash (1000$)

Simply pressure washing off the dust, dirt, grime, and cobwebs from the outside of your house and driveway can help improve your home's curb appeal value overnight. Pressure washing every year also protects your house and tenants from dust and mildew. All the dirt, grime and mildew that can accumulate on your house's exterior can be potentially dangerous to you and your tenants health. During Springtime when allergies run amuck is the best time to add power washing your home's exterior into your to do list of spring cleaning. Pressure washing will help remove some allergens from the air around your house keeping your family/tenants sneeze and cough free.

So in conclusion if you do all these DIY Home Improvements Projects You Could Increase Your Property Value by over 52000$!