Stay-at-Home Orders Present New DIY Opportunities (Raising home values)

Big-box hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s reported an increase in customer visits of 7.4% and 9.6%, respectively, in March compared to a year ago, according to Placer.ai data. Thirty-two percent of homeowners say they already have taken on both big and small house projects during the pandemic, while 15% say they plan to soon, according to a survey from realtor.com®. “If you are considering selling your house post-crisis, prepping for staging and giving your apartment a fresh coat of white paint can add light and airiness,” Samantha Rose Frith of Warburg Realty told Forbes.com. “Changing out old lighting for classic or modern chandeliers can also add a significant pop to a room.

Here are a few smaller DIY ideas real estate professionals offered up at Forbes.com:

• Clean the grout in the bathroom.
• Recaulk the tub.
• Paint the front door.
• Add a new doormat and potted plants to the home’s entrance.
• Add a pop of color to improve curb appeal, such as planting colorful flowers in the landscape.

Stay within your comfort zone and skill set when tackling DIY projects. “There’s nothing worse than attempting a project with the best intentions and making things worse or more stressful,” John Campbell of Page Taft-Christie’s International Real Estate told Forbes.com.