As a homeowner, there are just some things that you have to take care of yourself if you want to avoid spending a ton of money hiring a handyman. The skills in this article are also all you need to make a major facelift on a house that doesn’t need major work but has dated features. One thing that is awesome about living in our current times is that we have YouTube videos to help with nearly everything. In this article, I’ll provide the five skills every homeowner needs with videos from experts to support you on the way.
1. Painting
One way my wife and I have gotten deals on the homes we’ve bought over the years is that we’ve always looked for houses with bad paint choices. We have had two homes where a room was painted a deep red. The great thing is that we enjoy painting and so we just turn on some music and get to work. The skill set is pretty simple, and it mostly takes practice to learn to cut in with a paint brush. Painting is also by far the best project to allow kids to get involved with since they can be super helpful if they learn to use a roller properly.
Here is a great YouTube video that gives you the full run down of what you need to buy and how to paint on the interior of your house:
How To Paint A Room | DIY For Beginners
2. Caulking
Caulking is an overlooked and underrated skill for adding value to a home. The effect is subtle, but it has a major impact on a home looking a little run down versus super clean. It’s pretty common to see door frames or windows that were installed without the joints being caulked. This is an easy thing to go through a fix and then add a clean coat of paint. The refresh is a big part of taking a home up a level in the overall feel. If you are thinking of selling soon, this is a great thing to look at. This skill also applies to redoing the silicone in a shower or tub. It’s something you need to do to hit the refresh button on the space.
Here’s a YouTube Video with a solid intro to this skill:
The Secret Caulking Tip That Will Transform Your Ability!
3. Installing a light fixture
The fastest way to give new life to a home is to replace insufficient light fixtures with new, bright LED lights. One additional tip is to look for LEDs that have 2700K since this is the warmest, most pleasant color temperature for LEDs. These lights are not very expensive and add a huge boost to a room. Dealing with electrical can be a little intimidating if you are new to it, but a light fixture is simple to install. The principals are the same regardless of whether it is a simple light or a large hanging fixture over a dinner table.
Here is a couple videos for the light fixtures. One is for an LED fixture and the other is for a larger fixture that you would have over a table.
Easy LED Light Fixture Install For Every Homeowner – YouTube
How To REPLACE A LIGHT FIXTURE In Under 10 Minutes
2700K light brightens up a bedroom after replacing a 40-year-old fixture.
4. Installing a vanity and sink
This one requires a bit more since it requires leveling the vanity and installing the sink hardware, but it also adds the most punch. Replacing an old rundown vanity with a stylish new one can add a modern touch to an existing bathroom or finish out a remodel. I personally have purchased several vanities on Wayfair and had a good experience. The process of installing the plumbing and the sink hardware is pretty straight-forward and well within the “Learn from YouTube” zone for even inexperienced people. This bathroom image is of our downstairs bathroom where we put in a fresh coat of paint and replaced an old vanity with something modern for a big improvement.
Here are a couple of links to videos that go over the basics of putting in a vanity and sink:
Replacing Bathroom Vanity | Easy DIY Job!
How To Install A Bathroom Sink (HOOKING UP BATHROOM SINK DRAIN)
5. Installing Laminate or Vinyl Plank Flooring
This is the one of the five that offers the biggest potential impact to a dated home. If you can install some laminate plank flooring in place of old laminate or tile then it can be a major refresh. On our first home in Austin, we replaced some drab tile with nice grey wood grain plank flooring, and it brought a whole new feel to the home. The major thing to remember with a project like this is that you don’t have to be the fastest floor installer. That is for the professionals. They have to be efficient, but if a normal homeowner takes their time, they can do a great job on plank flooring.
Here is a good video for installing plank flooring. Each variety is a little different, but the principle is the same:
How to Install Laminate Flooring for beginners
With These Skills Every Homeowner Needs You Can Make a Big Impact
You can bring new life to your whole house. Removing drab lights and putting a fresh coat of paint in a living room can bring it to life. Replacing a vanity can change a bathroom. New flooring can tie a house together and give it a new, clean feel. If you can take care of these items yourself, you can save a bunch of money on your way to a refreshed home that you love.
By: Chris Bemis