While some home renovation projects are best left to the pros, there are many fun side projects you can take on with basic tools, minimal work and no experience. Not only can you do them on your own, but they’ll cost less when you take labor costs out of the equation. Of course, not all projects will mean a higher rent rate, so contact the professionals at Real Property Management Alamo for more direct guidance on what projects would be best for the San Antonio area and for your specific property. RPM Alamo is here to let you know which projects are best left to the pros and which are ones you could take on yourself. With a little sweat equity put into your home, you can boost your rent rate and attract more renters. Here are five suggested DIY projects.
Interior Painting
Hiring professional painters can save you time and effort, but if you’re not doing a big job, why not do it yourself? A paint job can bring new life to your home and add a splash of color to an otherwise stark white home. But remember, neutral is best in a rental so don’t go too crazy when it comes to color!
You can save over $300 by doing your own paint job, according to Enemy of Debt. But, remember not to cut corners, even if you’re trying to save by going the DIY route. Invest in high-quality rollers and paint brushes, and choose a paint that has a primer; this will save you time and money on touch ups.
Peel-and-Stick Floor
You don’t have to be an experienced handyman to add a fun new look to your floors. Use peel-and-stick flooring—which saves time and money—to achieve a newly-remodeled look without the hefty price tag. Besides the self-stick tiles, here’s what you’ll need:
- Utility razor or knife
- Tape measure
- Metal ruler or straightedge
If you have less than three layers of flooring, you don’t need to remove your old floor. Once you have a smooth, clean surface to work with, measure your floor to determine the pattern and start laying down tile. Follow this tutorial from DIY Network and you’ll have a brand new floor in a matter of hours.
Install Epoxy Floors in Your Garage
Your garage can be much more than a place to park cars. You can turn it into a useful storage space, a home gym, an entertainment center or even a spare bedroom. Whether you want to renovate the garage or simply give it a new look, install epoxy floor coating. The versatility of this area to a prospective renter can help make their decision to rent your home over another without this option.
Epoxy looks great, giving your garage a sleek look, while providing a wide range of benefits: “Epoxy flooring is highly durable; your garage floor will last for decades,” according to EpoxyFlooringProfessional.com. “Epoxy floors are also highly resistant to gas, oil and other chemicals and tire marks.”
The best part: it’s easy to install yourself. All you need is the epoxy paint, paint brushes and a roller extension. You can finish the job in a day and your garage floor will look great despite wear and tear and vehicle traffic.
Install Overhead Storage
Adding some overhead storage in your garage can reduce clutter and maximize space by moving lesser-used items to the ceiling. Overhead storage is great for keeping items away from children and pets, and ideal for seasonal storage: Overhead ceiling storage is perfect for items that are rarely used and seasonal, like snow gear, inflatable pools, or Christmas/Halloween décor. Rental properties with additional storage are a huge plus when you are looking for renters.
You can complete this DIY home upgrade in a single afternoon. Besides the storage racks, you’ll need a sturdy ladder and standard tools like a hammer, drill, wrench and screwdriver. Check this tutorial to get some building inspiration and guidance.
Boost Your Curb Appeal
We’ve covered a number of interior projects, so take some time to give your lawn and garden some love too. There are many DIY projects you can tackle to make the outside of your house look more inviting, from planting new trees and flowers to laying flagstone or gravel to make a walkway from your lawn to your front door. A few other ideas include:
- Clean out overgrown flowerbeds, cut back overgrown bushes or shrubs
- Re-stain your front and back decks
- Repair any cracking or flaking cement from driveway and walkways
- Create a fire pit area in your back yard
- Plant additional bushes or shrubs to add character to a plainly landscaped yard
Obviously you can hire a landscaping company to do these projects for you, however, saving some money is always a plus if you are available to clear some time on your calendar, roll up your sleeves and get to work. Some of these projects would only make sense when the home is vacant, others can be done while a tenant is occupying the home, which can lead to a happy tenant who might be willing to stay when otherwise may have been thinking of moving out. If it is vacant, with a few basic tools and a little time doing some research to find out the ins and outs, you can complete these DIY home improvement projects and bring a new look and feel to your rental property which can then drive potential tenants to rent yours over others. If you simply don’t have time or energy to do the projects yourself, or live outside the San Antonio area and it is not convenient to make the trip to get to your property, then please contact our maintenance department. We have vendors that we use that can make sure you get the most out of the money you want to spend. Contact us at 210-787-3876 or amanda@rpmalamo.com.