ShopSmart magazine did a Top 10 list of things you could do to your home that have the greatest payoff in enhanced value.
These easy DIY projects will increase your property’s value
Years ago, a real estate agent told me the No. 1 thing you can do at the lowest cost is paint the front door. Well, ShopSmart agrees. This is an easy fix that will cost you $40 on average.
Of course, painting your front door can backfire. I was driving with my son through a very traditional neighborhood and saw one homeowner who painted their door neon yellow! But if you just stick with a conservative color, you should be just fine to do this yourself.
Next on the ShopSmart list was eliminating clutter with simple storage systems that can cost $50 and up.
Third on the list was painting high traffic areas. I’ve seen this one in my own home, where we’ve scuffed and dinged all the usual parts of a house. But when somebody comes to look at a home for sale, they are trying to buy their dream — not the reality where you scuffed up the house!
Fourth on the list is one that I would only recommend if you are going to stay in the home for a while: Change out the toilets in your house. My producer Joel changes his own toilets and got a rebate from the water company for the $99 value of his new toilet.
To see the full list, subscribe to ShopSmart magazine.