
By Katie Silcox | Tuesday 22 January | 15:49
How do you make the most of your weekend? A lie in? A shopping trip? A night out? Well why not do something productive? A weekend of DIY awaits...
In the time between Friday and Sunday evening you can do a whole lot to your home, and if it means increasing the value of your property, then what better way to spend the weekend? Some claim that a simple paint job can add 10% to the asking price when selling – so waste no time and start today.
Before starting out, think about building regulations, what you’re doing and if you can do it. Not only will a botched DIY job detract from the value of your home, but it can also be dangerous, and could leave you with a hefty fine. For more information on the do’s and don’ts of DIY, contact your local council.
We document six simple(ish) DIY ideas and each is achievable in just one weekend. So fast forward a month and a half, and think what your home might look like – and the value you may have added.
Weekend no. 1: Painting
Renew the look of your home with a fresh paint job - the current state of your home will determine how much you can get done in a weekend. If your walls need stripping and the ceiling needs painting (both of which should be achieved before painting walls), then there’s little chance of getting a full paint job finished in a weekend. However, if you’re at this stage already then go for it! Alternatively, head for your doors with a loaded paintbrush, an easy way to achieve a brighter looking home.
Weekend no. 2: Exterior
By neatening up your front garden, your home will look instantly more attractive to potential buyers. The same applies to walls and windows. While we’re not suggesting you can conquer the entire face of your house alone, you can tidy up the small details; clean the gate, pot some plants, tidy up rubbish, paint the window frames and clean the windows. And if you’re feeling brave, why not give the back garden a go as well?
Weekend no. 3: New Floors
Dirty floors can leave a house looking tired and uncared for. A simple way to reverse this problem is by replacing untidy floors with brand new designs. Fitting lino or ‘clip together’ wooden floors can be, if instructions are followed well, a fairly easy task. You could hire someone to do this for you, but think how much you’ll save by giving DIY a try.
Weekend no 4: Storage
Add a few extra shelves to your home, or create a wardrobe from flat pack. This is a great DIY idea to increase your storage space, allowing you to get rid of clutter. The perfect way to create a tidier, more relaxing home for you, and a spacious-looking home if your hoping to sell.
Weekend no. 5: New handles
It may not seem like a new handle would make a difference, but change the handles on all of your doors, cupboards, and drawers - and we’re pretty sure you’ll notice the change.
Weekend no. 6: Tiling
A bigger DIY task than others, but one that will make a huge difference to the look of your home. Follow the instructions well and you should achieve a new-look bathroom without any hassle. Top tips when tiling are: make sure the walls are clean, dry, flat and sound; when working near water, use a waterproof tile adhesive for sealing and a waterproof grout; take extra care when fitting border tiles, and when fitting around appliances.