You’ve achieved the American dream of owning your own home. That being said, what are some cheap home improvement projects for increasing the value of your investment without having to take out a second loan?
Kitchens
Everyone wants a new kitchen, but if you cannot afford it, there are ways to give your kitchen a facelift without breaking the bank. Custom cabinets are quite expensive, but if you have solidly built cabinets, you can reface them for half or a third of the price. If that’s not an option, a good paint job on cabinets can do wonders to lighten and brighten the style. Change out the drawer pulls or spray paint the old pulls in brushed nickel or oiled bronze and you’ll be amazed at the difference. If new floors aren’t in the budget, check out peel-and-stick tile or lay an inexpensive laminate.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms can be improved drastically by replacing old flooring with tile, painting a vanity, installing a new toilet, updating or painting the lighting, reglazing a tub, and installing a new sink. If these are beyond the reach of your budget, a new shower curtain and coordinating towels can freshen up the space. Strip old wallpaper and paint the room. The advantage of a bathroom is that it’s generally a small space which limits the cost.
Doors
A new entry door can do wonders for the appearance of your home. If that’s not in the budget, paint your door a new color that’s a nice contrast to your home or picks up a color in the landscape. Splurge on a wreath or a new pot of flowers by the front door. Dark, interior doors can be instantly improved with a coat of light paint and will make your hallway seem bigger at the same time.
Landscape
he library has many books and magazines with landscape plans. Figure out what you like, buy perennials toward the end of the season, do the grunt work yourself or pay a young person to work under your supervision. Another option is to pay for a professional landscape plan, but then add plants as your budget allows.
Basements
Before you decide to add on to your home, consider the space that you already own. Too many people use their basements for disorganized storage when it could serve as a family room or additional bedroom. Perhaps an egress window needs to be added to meet building codes , but it’s a fraction of the cost of a room addition. A finished basement could provide a family or movie room, a man cave, extra bedrooms or a sewing and craft room.
Look for ideas that might not be what you originally had in mind, but that meet your needs. Do you have a serviceable item that could be painted? Do you have points through your bank or credit card that could be redeemed for a needed item such as a new light fixture or a home improvement store gift card? Check out garage and estate sales to buy furnishings for next to nothing. Try those projects you’ve never attempted before or think about bartering skills with a friend or neighbor. Creativity can accomplish a lot toward turning your house into your dream home.
Tulsa Property Managers is a Jenks property management company offering professional property and real estate management, consulting and sales services throughout the Jenks and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma area.