With a little elbow grease and a quick workshop at your local home improvement center, you can save an average of $1,400 (and in some cases, much more) this summer with a wide variety of Do-It-Yourself home improvement projects.

Many home improvement projects require very little prior knowledge or skill to accomplish. Eliminating the need to pay costly carpenters or installers offers you the chance to save sizeable amounts of money, or complete multiple projects for the same amount you would pay a specialist to do a single job.

The majority of homeowners today find themselves within easy driving distance to home improvement centers such as Home Depot and Lowes. These retailers offer not only all the tools and equipment needed to complete most projects, but also provide many types of free weekend workshops designed to help the first time renovator add a little more sparkle to their home. Similar workshops are also available at most local and neighborhood hardware stores.

See below for a sampling of Do-It-Yourself home improvement projects to work on this summer:

•  Freshen Up The Walls: A new coat of paint can be a cheap and easy way to brighten up your home’s interior. Requiring little skill and only a few simple tools, such as brushes, buckets, painter’s tape, and drop cloths, fresh paint (particularly a neutral color) is also a great way to position a home for the real estate market. Also check for free workshops in your area to learn more advanced painting techniques for a truly unique look.
• Replace Fixtures: Switch plates, outlet covers, curtain rods, light fixtures and doorknobs are often overlooked when it comes to home improvement. But with little more than a screwdriver and a few hours of your time, replacing fixtures can completely change the look of your home’s interior; from modern, to country or antique, and anything in between.
• Reveal and Restore Hardwood Floors: In many older homes, beautiful hardwood floors are hidden beneath layers of old carpet or linoleum. If you suspect your home has hidden hardwood flooring, peel up an inconspicuous corner of the carpet or floor covering to check. Although many of these older hardwood floors require refinishing, the job is not as daunting as you would think. Most home improvement centers and local hardware stores offer tool rentals on large industrial floor sanders which speed up the process considerably. They can also offer professional pointers and advice for a high-quality finish.
• Fix Up The Bathroom: Installing tile floors, shower surrounds, updated vanities, light fixtures, and toilets is a surprisingly painless task. Although proper tiling requires some degree of skill and a few specialized tools, just about anyone can learn to do it quickly. Use the money you save by doing it yourself to purchase higher end products and give your new bathroom that true “spa” feel.
• Reface Your Kitchen Cabinets: At a fraction of the cost of new cabinets, cabinet refacing involves using pre-cut vinyl or wood veneers in conjunction with new doors and hardware to alter the look of your existing cabinets. This quick and easy process can drastically change the look of any kitchen in as little as two hours.

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