By John Obermeier

If you’re planning to sell your home, you may be looking for ways to increase its value. At closing time you don’t want to leave money on the table because you didn’t make simple repairs, resolve clutter issues, or update fixtures for a more modern look. So take a good look around your house and choose doable projects that stay within your budget. Every homeowner can benefit from simple, effective, and cost-effective DIY projects to boost a home’s value and selling price.

Start simple: One of the easiest and least expensive ways to rejuvenate a space is with paint. Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated. Choose neutral colors, as these shades appeal to the masses and make your home more move-in ready. Pick up some spackle for repairing holes, plenty of rollers, painter’s tape, drop cloths, and brushes and get going!

Look up: You’ve tackled the walls. Now don’t forget the ceilings. Homes built before the 1990s typically have textured ceilings, like the dreaded popcorn variety. Few things date a house more than popcorn ceilings. Removing it yourself is easier than you might think. All it takes is a pump sprayer with hot water, a ladder, a wide scraper, and a small bucket to catch the droppings. Or cover the floors with plastic sheeting and let the old popcorn fly! Then just roll it all up and throw it away. Pick up some patching compound to fix any irregularities, then sand, prime, and paint.

Let there be light: Your home’s square footage is a key selling point, but you could be making spaces feel smaller by not letting in light. A sunny room feels larger and more open, so replace heavy drapes with blinds or shades you can open completely. A strategically placed mirror directly across from a window reflects even more light into the room. If your house is short on windows, or your property is shaded by trees, have your light fixtures make up the difference with new higher lumens lightbulbs.

Small but significant: The two rooms that sell homes are the kitchen and the bathroom, and they’re the most costly to remodel. But there are plenty of small updates that can add value and are perfect for DIYers. Replacing old lighting fixtures or installing budget-friendly tiling instantly updates these areas, and they don’t take weeks to finish. If you’re handy and willing to spend a little more money, replacing an outdated vanity makes buyers take notice. Changing out a smaller item in the kitchen, like a sink or faucet, also adds value.

Curb appeal: Take your DIY skills outside and entice prospective buyers to come inside with simple projects that are easy on the wallet. Simply changing out a busted screen door or an outdated handle and lock set works wonders for the entryway. Flower boxes and planters are a fantastic way to spruce up the front of your home in the spring. Keep your lawn up to snuff with fertilizers, weed deterrents, and bare spot patching. And a fresh layer of mulch really ties the look together.

Visit your local Do it Best store or doitbest.com for thousands of the best home improvement products, including paint, light fixtures, hardware, and lawn products for all your value-adding DIY projects.

(This article is for informational purposes only. Electric Consumer and Do it Best assume no liability for the accuracy or completeness of its content, or for injuries, property damage, or the outcome of any project.)

JOHN OBERMEIER is the owner of Obermeier Hardware & Rental in Rockport and is a member-owner of Do it Best Corp., a Fort Wayne-based cooperative of thousands of hardware stores, home centers and lumberyards throughout the US and around the world