Every homeowner hopes that their house will gain value over time. Historically, purchasing a home is a good long-term investment with decent returns for well-kept properties. While simply keeping up with house cleaning and maintenance is a good way for your house to gain value over time, there are still more ways to increase your home value through home improvement projects.

Here are a few go-to, DIY home improvement projects that can add value to your home.

Landscaping

While most homeowners will probably spend the majority of their at-home time indoors, having unique or attractive outdoor features can improve the value of your home. Plus, this is a great way to enjoy getting creative with landscaping! Here are some simple, yet impactful, ways to add interest outside:

·      Add an attractive walkway leading to the front door

·      Replace your front porch steps

·      Planting a small tree or new bushes

·      Adding some outdoor lighting to your property’s electrical

·      Re-level your front yard and plant new grass

Kitchen Upgrades

The kitchen is often a go-to for renovation. Most upgrades here offer instant utility and can make a huge visual impact — aren’t stainless steel refrigerators beautiful? Home projects in the kitchen can be as simple as upgrading an appliance, but you also have opportunities to get really creative. Choosing an attractive backsplash, applying a fresh coat of paint, or installing a new floor can all add a personal touch to your kitchen while improving home values. Please note, you should use some restraint with colors. Even if your favorite color is lime-green, you may not want to paint your kitchen walls that color since it won’t necessarily add value in the long run.

Add a Special Space

While you may not be able to add an addition to your home as a DIY project, you can transform unused spaces to add some utility! Transforming an entryway into a mudroom with sturdier flooring or additional storage is one way to transform a space. Perhaps you have a back porch that could use some upgrades to make it a livable space? Extra rooms, outdoor space, and transitional spaces can all be transformed with utility in mind, which can improve your home’s value down the line.