The trick is to stay within your own comfort level, which is something homeowners struggle with as they turn inspiration to execution. In fact, a study of 2,000 homeowners by home improvement resource ImproveNet showed that 63% of people had regrets<\/a> about at least one DIY home improvement project they attempted. Plus, as you get the house ready to sell, you\u2019ll need to focus on what\u2019s going to make the biggest impact on your home\u2019s marketability.<\/p>\n When in doubt, start with this list of beginner-level projects which also make a great impression with buyers.<\/p>\n More than 70% of top agents agree: paint that front door<\/a> before your house goes on the market. To make the job easier on the DIYer, Kontur suggests using spray paint. \u201cYou’ll get the most even coverage without brush strokes,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n However, spray paint can be a bit limited in the color department. To keep it simple, go with a classic black or dark gray. One analysis of property listings showed that homes with black front doors sell for $6,000 more on average<\/a>. (If you go with another color, be sure to pick a color scheme that\u2019s either monochromatic, analogous, contrasting, or complementary<\/a> using the color wheel.)<\/p>\n Also, make sure you don\u2019t go with the cheapest spray paint at the store. Rustoleum and Krylon are safe bets, but the \u201cColorPlace\u201d brand from Walmart gets bad reviews<\/a> for its spotty coverage.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve got your color locked in, hold off on tackling this project until you have a clear sunny day to work outside. (You definitely don\u2019t want to be inhaling those spray paint fumes indoors!) Start early, so you can apply two coats of paint and allow plenty of time to dry between each before hanging the door back up.<\/p>\n To remove the door hinges, wedge a flat-top screwdriver between the hinges and the top of the hinge pins<\/a>, then lightly tap the handle of the screwdriver with a hammer to push the hinge pins up and out. Remove the rest of the hardware, like the doorknob, with a screwdriver.<\/p>\n Lay the door on a sheet on the grass (or prop it up on a pair of sawhorses<\/a> if you have them handy) and prep the door. Doors in good condition \u2014 that is, those that don\u2019t have chipping or peeling paint \u2014 can be lightly sanded with a 180 or 220 grit sandpaper<\/a>, according to The Family Handyman.<\/p>\n This will rough up the surface enough to help the paint stick. For doors with peeling paint, start with 120 or 150 grit (a coarser type of sandpaper that strips the finish better) and work your way up to a higher grit to smooth the surface out.<\/p>\n Wipe down the door with a household degreaser before painting, and dry the door with a towel. Then, spray on a coat of primer formulated for your door\u2019s material \u2014 the can will indicate if it\u2019s a good choice for metal or wood. When the primer dries, spray on at least two coats of your final color.\u00a0Refer to the manufacturer for their recommended drying time in between coats.<\/p>\n Of the 435 agents surveyed for HomeLight\u2019s Top Agent Insights Q2 2019 Report<\/a>, more than 67% said that planting colorful flowers was a worthwhile curb appeal project that can add value to your home. In fact, 75% of agents agree that well-landscaped homes are worth anywhere from 1% to 10% more than homes without landscaping.<\/p>\n In other words, for a home worth the median U.S. value of $342,200, landscaping could add between $3,500 and $34,000 in value. So in addition to your typical lawn-care routine, you might find creating a brand-new flower bed worthwhile for just a day\u2019s work and a few supplies.<\/p>\n If your light fixtures are dating your home, give them a makeover with spray paint, says Debra Gould<\/a>, an internationally recognized home staging expert and creator of the Staging Diva Home Staging Business Training Program<\/a>.<\/p>\n She suggests a matte black<\/a> or nickel<\/a> color. Once you\u2019ve removed your fixture from the ceiling, tape off any glass, light bulb bases, or cords you don\u2019t want painted. Spray first with a coat of rust-prohibiting primer<\/a> ($5), then apply your final color. Let dry \u2014 check your manufacturer\u2019s directions for the minimum recommended drying time \u2014 and recoat if needed.<\/p>\n For rusted fixtures that need a facelift \u2014 like exterior lights \u2014 use sandpaper to lightly remove the rust with sandpaper, then clean off any dust (a pack of $3 tack cloths<\/a> makes easy work of this).<\/p>\n You already know to clean your bathroom before putting your home up for sale, but there\u2019s one often-overlooked detail that can make the space look like new. Over time, the caulk \u2014 the waterproof filler used to seal the gaps between the tub and tile or wall \u2014 becomes prone to mildew, mold, and cracking.<\/p>\n If yours is looking brittle or dingy, Gould suggests taking care of it before listing the house.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a simple process that requires just a $3 tube of mold and mildew-resistant latex caulk<\/a> and a $16 caulking gun<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your kitchen cabinets are dated and you don’t want to go to the expense of painting them, something that will really bring them back to life is just to replace the hardware,\u201d said Kontur. In fact, you can carry this into the bathrooms as well to create continuity. All you need is a screwdriver.<\/p>\n You can buy knobs and pulls individually, but you can often get a better deal buying a larger \u201ccontractor\u201d pack that can be found for as low as $20.<\/a><\/p>\n One tip for making sure you get the right fit: When replacing pulls, which require two screw holes, you want to measure the distance between the center of each hole to get the \u201ccenter-to-center\u201d measurement.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll use that measurement to select the proper size for your new cabinet pulls \u2014 so if your center-to-center measurement is 3\u201d, you\u2019ll want to see that designation on the package, which can differ from the total width of the pull.<\/p>\n Think about what happens to your light switches over time: they get dingy, yellowed, and dated. It\u2019s something that happens so slowly you might not notice, but a buyer will.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have really old switches, someone is likely to think the wiring is old,\u201d Gould said. Replace your switch plates (and electrical outlet covers,<\/a> while you\u2019re at it) with something a bit more upscale to make your home \u2014 wiring and all \u2014 look well-maintained.\u00a0Switch plates start at about $3 to $5 per plate, but may cost more depending on how many switches they cover.<\/p>\n To swap out your plates, simply unscrew the two screws for every one switch (there\u2019s typically one screw both above and below the switch). Make a statement with oil-rubbed bronze<\/a>, go for cottage-style with beadboard<\/a>, or just upgrade yours with a classic, refined white option<\/a>.<\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to replace the switches themselves, just give them a good cleaning. Good Housekeeping offers up some good advice<\/a> for how to do it safely: apply a bit of rubbing alcohol to a Q-tip (not the switch itself) to get into the grooves without making a mess.<\/p>\n![\"Paint](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DIY-home-improvement-ideas-1-666x381.png\")
<\/a>1. Spray paint your front door black<\/b><\/h2>\n
2. Plant a colorful flower bed in your front yard<\/b><\/h2>\n
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3. Refresh dated light fixtures \u2014 again, with spray paint!<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"Caulking,](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DIY-home-improvement-ideas-2-666x381.png\")
<\/a>4. Touch up your caulk around the tub<\/b><\/h2>\n
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5. Get some new hardware for the kitchen<\/b><\/h2>\n
6. Swap out your switch plates around the house<\/b><\/h2>\n
![\"Replacing](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/DIY-home-improvement-ideas-3-666x381.png\")
<\/a>Just a few small projects make a big impact<\/b><\/h3>\n