DIY Projects That Add Home Value (A Real Estate Agent Rated Mine)

Do DIY projects actually add value to your home? There are some that really do, and the cost, expertise, and time commitment for the most valuable ones may be eye opening. Some however, are a wash, and a couple can quietly cost you money when it is time to sell.

I wanted to find out how my projects stacked up so I walked a real estate agent through every DIY project I did in my house and had them score each one the way they would for a potential buyer. Small detail: the agent is my brother. Still I asked him to be hard on my craft, honestly assessing if my DIY’s would actually move the needle when we plan to sell. This post is the written companion to the video, with his verdicts, the projects that add the most resale value, and the ones I would think twice about.

The short version

The most important nugget from this process: clean, neutral, well built projects add value. Kitchen and bathroom updates, fresh paint, better lighting, and curb appeal scored the highest. The projects that added the least were the ones tied to my specific taste, or anything that looked unfinished up close. Quality is paramount. Buyers are asking a lot of questions in their minds like, “Is this move in ready?”, “Do I like this aesthetic?”, and “Will I have to redo this?” If the answers are “Yes”, “Yes”, and, “No”, your work is making you money.

Do DIY projects add home value?

Yes, the right DIY projects can add real value, especially fresh paint, lighting, curb appeal, and functional storage. The catch is quality and taste. Neutral, clean, new-looking, well finished work, that reads as move in ready, adds value. Sloppy, unpermitted, quirky, or very personalized projects can lower your value by making a buyer budget for a redo.

All 25 of my DIY projects, rated by a realtor

Here is every project he walked through, in order, with the before and afters in the video. Where I have a full how to on the blog, I linked it so you can see exactly how I did it.

Project	Why it matters to buyers	Value	Realtor score
Entryway closet	Storage at the front door is difference between cluttered and clean, especially if it is functional.	Add 💰	7 / 10
Entryway shiplap wall	Classic cozy rustic look adds character, while being a classic design choice	Neutral ⚖️	5 / 10
Custom Built-in Fireplace	A finished focal wall can complete a living space. A custom, high end, fireplace creates a cozy atmosphere	Add 💰	7 / 10
Full house, fresh coat of paint	A fresh neutral coat of paint is the least expensive ROI when selling	Add 💰	6 / 10
Linen Closet Makeover	Usable storage always counts in your favor, esp if it replaces a dated look.	Add 💰	7 / 10
Guest bathroom Full Renovation	A brand new, clean second bath adds real resale value. Buyers know when it has been redone!	Add 💰💰💰	9 / 10
Brick Accent Wall, Hallway	Character, but taste specific, so it depends on the buyer. a bold design choice can cut both ways.	Neutral ⚖️	3 / 10
Under Stair Storage	Any extra storage in a house, especially a small one is gold.	Add 💰	6 / 10
Stairwell	A refreshed stairwell, with new treads, is noticeable and adds.	Add 💰	7 / 10
Kitchen cabinet repaint	Fresh cabinets make a kitchen feel new without a gut reno. Biggest value is it is fresh.	Neutral ⚖️	6 / 10
Kitchen tile paint	A cheap way to update floors, if it holds up. Coat/seal it correctly!	Neutral ⚖️	5 / 10
Laundry room remodel	A functional, pretty laundry is a quiet selling point, especially with storage and countertop space.	Add 💰	7 / 10
Patio paint job	Cheap appeal with a clean new surface. Ours was a bold choice. Most important it looks clean.	Neutral ⚖️	6 / 10
Custom built-in desk and shelves, guest room	Built ins feel custom, though they can lock in one use	Add 💰	7 / 10
Guest Bedroom Closet Remodel	Storage is a plus. We made a small room larger, by opening up a wall, with added design elements, but a closet needs a door for it.	Subtract 💸	5 / 10
New floor, Guest Bedroom	New flooring reads as move in ready.	Add 💰	7 / 10
Roman clay, Guest Bedroom	A high end wall finish, taste dependent	Add 💰	7 / 10
New floor, upstairs	Consistent flooring makes a home feel cohesive, esp if replacing old worn carpet or flooring.	Add 💰	8 / 10
Picture frame moulding, master bedroom	Adds a custom, finished luxury look for very little money. Made our space feel more high-end.	Neutral ⚖️	5 / 10
Custom Desk Nook	A work from home spot is a plus, an extra work space is value add	Add 💰	7 / 10
Secret Attic Storage	Fun factor plus real extra storage, a nice surprise for buyers	Add 💰Neutral ⚖️	5 / 10
Built-in Closet Master Bedroom	Closet space, especially functional, is one of the top buyer requests	Add 💰	7 / 10
Sliding barn door, Master Bathroom	Barn doors are polarizing, but as sliding door is great in tight spaces	Neutral ⚖️	5 / 10
Master Bath Full Renovation	Bathrooms are second only to kitchens for buyers	Add 💰	9 / 10
Epoxy sink top	An updated surface that is clean, new, and durable for a fraction of a replacement	Neutral ⚖️	5 / 10

DIY projects that add the most home value

Most people will be split between maximizing resale and making a space they love, here is where your weekend pays off the most. None of this is fancy. It is the boring, neutral stuff that makes a buyer feel like they can move in and not touch a thing.

• Paint. The least expensive change with the biggest return. Paint is your first most important project when selling a house. Stick with neutral wall colors, clean simple trim. We didn’t do this, but a fresh new front door can also go a long way.
• Lighting and fixtures. Swapping dated fixtures is another relatively easy DIY with a good return. Adding brighter, warmer light instantly updates a room. We did all new fixtures in our bathrooms and kitchen. We also swapped the lighting in the bathrooms, kitchen, entryway, hallway, master bedroom closet and guest bedroom closet.
• Kitchen refreshes. You do not need a gut reno. New hardware, refinished cabinets, and updated counters go a long way if you aren’t going to do a full renovation.
• Bathroom updates. We opted for full renovations in both of our bathrooms. New tile, fixtures, toilets, vanity tops and lighting. If you don’t want to go nuts like we did then, a clean new vanity (or just vanity top) a new mirror, and updated lighting can really make a space feel fresh and new.

• Curb appeal. Landscaping can get very intensive, but keep it simple. A tidy, manicured, yard will wow a buyer when they pull up. Simply, trimming the vegetation, clearing the clutter, and making it look sharp is important. We just picked up all organic matter and swept and organized our front yard. We also put in turf to cover a sad grass patch in our back yard. This is a great way to make it look fresh and green.

• Functional storage. Built-ins and smart closets make a house feel bigger, which buyers feel even when they cannot name it. If there is a place for everything to get out of sight, the built-ins are doing their jobs.

• Fix the Eyesore. Anything that is memorable in a negative way has to be replaced. For example we had a Sliding Patio door to our back patio that was original to the house and was a struggle to open. There is no way a buyer could ignore it. We had to replace this before we sold. Other examples are a janky window, a ceiling fan that is broken, a broken drawer.

DIY projects that can hurt your home value

Not everything helps, and I would rather tell you than let you find out at a showing. These are the ones that can work against you.

• Very personal or bold finishes. That mural or bright accent you love can read as one more project to a buyer. These are polarizing and will split potential buyers.
• Low quality or unfinished work. If it looks rough up close, it plants doubt about everything else in the house. To make your DIY’s look incredible just spend the extra time with finishes on the front end.
• Anything that looks unpermitted. Electrical and plumbing especially. Buyers and inspectors get nervous fast. Check with codes or use the internet to make sure you do it right the first time.
• Removing a closet or a bedroom. Losing a functional space almost always costs you at resale. We took a bold choice of blowing out a wall to open up a closet, but this was because it was a very small room.
• Trend chasing. Very of the moment choices can date the house by the time you sell. Before doing a DIY look into classic timeless finishes and home trends and try to keep your projects close to them.

What I would do differently if I were building to sell

I build for me, because I love the act of creation and designing. This house has been a blank canvas where I tried it all, but it was a home first and foremost and we actually live here. Most DIYers are in this same place. We like bold choices, because we know if we don’t like it after a couple years we can change it. But if I knew I was selling in a year, I would keep the big, permanent stuff neutral and save the bold, personal projects for things I can take with me or undo easily. I would make most of my bold choices easy things we could switch back easily. Paint it back a neutral color, swap the hardware back, keep the receipts on anything structural. Basically, have your fun in the removable layer.

DIY home value FAQs

Does DIY add value to a house?

It can, when the work is done well and looks professional. Quality, neutral projects like paint, updated fixtures, and a refreshed kitchen or bath add value. This is where you can splurge on the more expensive fixture, because the install will be done by you. Rushed, poor quality or highly personalized work can lower it by making buyers plan for a redo.

Do buyers care if the work is DIY?

Most buyers care about how it looks and how it holds up, not who did it. Clean, safe, well finished work passes the eye test. The red flags are anything that looks unfinished or unpermitted, especially electrical and plumbing. Do these things right and buyers will think it was done by a professional.

What is the cheapest DIY project that adds the most value?

Paint. A fresh, neutral coat on walls, trim, or the front door is the lowest cost project with the highest visual return. Better lighting is a close second. Both of these are great DIY projects. They are easy, technically and just take a bit of time, but not much. Anyone can do these to get more value when selling their house. Also anything that is an eyesore, is usually worth it. For example we had a Sliding Patio door to our back patio that was original to the house and was a struggle to open. Something like this would be memorable in a bad way.

Can DIY projects lower your home value?

Yes. Sloppy finishes, very personal design choices, unpermitted work, or removing a closet or bedroom can all reduce what a buyer will pay. When in doubt, keep permanent changes neutral. Also think about how easy it will be to change it back if you really want a bold or personal finish. I had to do exactly that with the tool room I built into a closet, and here is the full list of what to remove before selling.

Start with the projects that pay off

Every project in that scorecard started with me not knowing what I was doing and figuring it out anyway. If you are just getting going, here are the beginner DIY tools I reach for on every build. And if you want more builds like these, come subscribe on YouTube so you do not miss the next one.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on DIY projects vs resale value of your home. Were there any that surprised you? Did you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time,

Happy DIY-ing!

xoxo,

Selene Builds Things