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Danny shares some easy ways to get the maximum dollar on the resale of your home when updating a family room.

  1. Replace Old Flooring: You don’t want a prospective buyer to see years’ worth of stains or smell odors from carpet. An update like this will increase your home’s value and make a striking difference in the overall look of a room. For this home it made sense to tear out the old stained carpet and replace it with the same flooring as was in the dining room; DuPont RealTouch Elite Walnut Block laminate flooring. Remember so to cover up and protect any existing flooring and fixtures to prevent damage while you work.
  2. Update Existing Fireplace: An old brick fireplace can be painted, stuccoed, or covered with drywall and tiled. Using the same leftover tile you have from another project will certainly save money with a project like this. Regardless, updating old brickwork or tiling around a fireplace can quickly refresh the look of a room. Simple fireplace mantle kits can be found for a couple hundred bucks to really finish it off.
  3. Add New Trim: Crown molding and window casings, especially if they don’t already exist, add the finishing touches to any room. Installing crown molding may seem intimidating if you’re thinking about mitered or coped cuts; but now that more and more manufacturers make corner blocks, it’s much easier. The pieces of molding just fit right on between the corner blocks and all you make are square cuts in the molding.
  4. Interior Painting: The key here is choosing a color that will appeal to the majority of people.
  5. New Fiberglass Entry Door and Hardware: A pre-hung door will require removing the door casing, but it’s more reasonably priced than buying the door alone, which will usually have to be special ordered.

And remember, doing the work yourself will save you on installation costs, which typically amounts to at least half of the cost of something like a flooring project.

We showed you some really cool and easy updates to increase the value of your home in this show, but the list goes on and on.

There are so many very minor things you can do to make it so easy to increase the asking price of your home, if you are selling. Even if you don’t plan on moving, these things will increase your home’s value by thousands of dollars.

Here are a few more ideas that will make dramatic differences on both the inside and outside of your home.

  • Power Wash: You can rent a professional power washer and really spruce up your home. The first impression is always the lasting impression, and a filthy exterior speaks volumes. This is actually something that should be done every year, so I would recommend purchasing a homeowner version. A power washer doesn’t have to be as powerful as a sandblaster. You can accomplish plenty with a unit that provides 1200-1400 psi.
  • Paint: You may like bright colors, but if you want to sell the house, keep them neutral. It also looks a lot cleaner.
  • Lawn Work: A well-manicured lawn is a must and barely costs you anything other than time, gasoline, and elbow grease. Keep the edges trimmed along sidewalks and driveways, clean the flowerbeds, and add some plants and flowers.
  • Green the Door: A simple addition of a couple of large plants flanking the front door really adds interest and curb appeal.
  • Live Outside: The trend toward outdoor entertainment is continuing to grow. You don’t have to spend thousands to add an outdoor kitchen, but exterior seating and an outdoor fireplace is a big selling point. You can purchase a free-standing chiminea to get the same effect.
  • Paint: A fresh coat of neutral paint on the walls and bright white on the trim is one of the cheapest ways to add some dollars to your home. Just like the outside, avoid bright flashy colors. Deep reds and greens can work out okay, but in moderation.
  • Kitchen Cabinets: You may have years of grime on your cabinets that will come off with a little Murphy’s Oil Soap and elbow grease. Clean them up and then install new hardware. You can also add some very simple in-cabinet organizers.
  • Countertops: The most dramatic effect to spruce up the kitchen without spending thousands of dollars is to replace the countertops. Laminates may be old hat, but check out some of the newer textured laminates; you can get a “near stone look” without the cost of stone.
  • Bathroom: Replace old, tarnished faucet fixtures. You don’t need a plumber for this and sparkling new chrome, brass, pewter, or whatever you want will do wonders. While there, replace the bathroom light fixture.
  • Storage: Install an organizing system in closets and the garage. These can be a little pricey, but there are several kits available for the do-it-yourselfer.
  • Windows: Clean windows thoroughly inside and out. Add a new window treatment, it can be a valance or a simple swag, to add a dash of color to the room.

Today’s Homeowner Tips

One final word of advice. Before you begin any huge remodeling project, carefully examine the options for simple cosmetic repairs. You can often increase the value of your home by a very decent percentage without spending tons of cash to do so.

Also, make sure you’re aware of what other houses in your neighborhood are selling for. If you pour too much money into your house, you may have trouble getting the price you think it should sell for because all the other houses in the neighborhood will have the potential of bringing your property value down.


Other Tips From This Episode

Simple Solutions with Joe Truini: Bend Strike Plate to Stop Door Rattle

If you’ve got a door that rattles after you close it and walk away, stop pulling your hair out. This is an easy fix. Remove the strike plate and bend the tab forward slightly with pliers or even a vise. Screw the strike plate back into place, check for rattle and try again. (Watch This Video)

Best New Products with Danny Lipford: Watts FloodSafe™ Auto-Shutoff Connectors

Over time water supply hoses can become brittle and burst, leaving you with a mess including home and property damage from water and mold. Watts FloodSafe™ Auto-Shutoff Connectors are designed to protect against water damage from burst, broken, or ruptured water supply hoses and fittings. The connector is a stainless steel flexible hose with a FloodSafe™ shutoff device on the inlet. Water flow through the device is limited to a factory preset flow rate. If water flows over that rate, the flow of water is shut off to the plumbing fixture or appliance that the hose connects to. This really makes a lot of sense for things like your washing machine and dishwasher that you use all the time. Watts FloodSafe™ Auto-Shutoff Connectors are available at The Home Depot.

Around the Yard with Tricia Craven Worley: Outdoor Lighting Safety

Lighting for safety is important. Some places to think about incorporating such lighting include in front of the garage and driveway, all entrances, steps and walkways, and any windows hidden by shrubbery. You can also adapt existing flood lights with automatic controllers to use them as safety lighting. Of course the types of fixtures available are almost endless a few to consider would be flood lights, carriage lights, low voltage lights and motion detecting lights.(Watch This Video)

Editorial Contributors
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Danny Lipford

Founder

Danny Lipford is a home improvement expert and television personality who started his remodeling business, Lipford Construction, at the age of 21 in Mobile, Alabama. He gained national recognition as the host of the nationally syndicated television show, Today's Homeowner with Danny Lipford, which started as a small cable show in Mobile. Danny's expertise in home improvement has also led him to be a contributor to popular magazines and websites and the go-to source for advice on everything related to the home. He has made over 200 national television appearances and served as the home improvement expert for CBS's The Early Show and The Weather Channel for over a decade. Danny is also the founder of 3 Echoes Content Studio, TodaysHomeowner.com, and Checking In With Chelsea, a décor and lifestyle blog.

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