5 Best and Worst Home DIY Projects

By Matt Stevens –

When you own your home, improvements and updates are part of the package. Not only do they increase the property value, they also enhance the aesthetic of the home. But hiring a contractor or professional can be an expensive, time-consuming hassle. Insert DIY-ers here.

Do-it-yourself projects can save you a lot of money in some cases, but in others, you end up with more money and time wasted. It’s not surprising that the best and most rewarding home improvement projects are some of the simplest and easiest tasks. The following projects include some of the best and worst home DIY projects.

Best DIY Projects

    1. Clean up

We know, we know. This sounds ridiculous, but a deep clean can make a huge difference in the way you view your home. That kitchen that you want to remodel might actually look like the perfect space after you scrub the spaghetti sauce from the baseboards, and the living room might look better once your kids have removed their toys from the furniture and the floors have been scrubbed.

2. Simple Repairs and Updates

Broken outlets and chipped tile might not seem like a big deal, but fixing those small repairs can change the entire room and increase the value of your home. You can also make small updates, like replacing outdated hardware on cabinets.

3. Paint

A simple paint job can transform a room from dull, dreary and outdated to exciting and vivacious. Before you start tearing down the walls in an effort to update your space, try changing to a more modern color scheme that represents your personality. Don’t just consider the walls. You can also paint your cabinets or even your doors to add color and vibrancy to your home. 

4. Lawn Care

Curb appeal is a pretty big deal. It’s the first thing you see when you arrive at home and the last as you leave. Try planting some shrubs or flowers to add to the overall appeal of your home. Also, incorporating a paved or gravel walkway can drastically improve your yard.

5. Door Replacement

Your front door isn’t just the statement piece of your home; it can make a difference in the productivity, too. By replacing your older door with a new steel door, you will increase the value of your home, improve energy efficiency and enhance curb appeal.

Worst DIY Projects

1. Office Remodel

We have become a digital society, and in doing so, have adapted to working on the go. Having a designated space for a walnut desk and filing cabinets isn’t necessary anymore. With office remodels costing thousands of dollars and not adding to resale value, this is at the top of our worst DIY projects.

2. Paved Driveway

While paving stones may look simple to install, the measuring and positioning that go into making a beautiful driveway can be incredibly difficult and time-consuming. By hiring a paving company, you can cut installation from many days of hard work into one day, depending on the length of your driveway.

3. Flooring

Similar to a paved driveway, putting new flooring in your home seems like a great DIY upgrade, but it is one that should be left to the professionals. Grouting tile and positioning hardwood in just the right alignment is an intense process. Doing it incorrectly could mean ruining your materials and spending more money in the end. A professional team can install your new flooring, whether it be tile, hardwood or carpet, in a day or two depending on the size of your space.

4. Plumbing Repair

Unless you are unclogging a toilet or snaking a drain, it’s best to leave the plumbing repairs to the plumbers. Just imagine the nightmares that could happen if you have an accident. That burst pipe could cause thousands of dollars in water damage.

5. Gutter Cleaning

Not only does cleaning your gutters take a huge portion of your time, it, like all roof repair, is also very dangerous if you don’t have the proper protective equipment. Having professionals like those at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning take care of your gutters is your easiest and safest option. What’s really more important, a few dollars or a broken leg?

Matt Stevens is a true renaissance man over at Ned Stevens Gutter Cleaning. From gutter services to quality control to the occasional blog post, he does it all. That’s probably because he’s been with the company his whole life—literally. His grandfather is Ned Stevens.