10 SIMPLE DIY PROJECTS FOR 2025

Thinking about giving your home a little love this year? These 10 DIY projects are easy to tackle, budget-friendly, and can boost your home’s resale value and curb appeal if you’re planning to sell down the line.  

# 1. Organize Your Pantry

 An organized pantry isn’t just for Instagram—it’s a practical feature that simplifies your life (and your future buyers love). January is the perfect time to tackle this project because many stores have sales on storage and organization items, making it more affordable to upgrade your pantry with clear containers, labels, and baskets.  A tidy pantry can make your kitchen feel more spacious and functional.

 # 2. Declutter!!!

 There’s nothing like a clutter-free home to make it feel larger, brighter, and more appealing. Decluttering has also been shown to reduce stress levels and make people feel better, creating a more peaceful and enjoyable living environment. Donate, recycle, or toss items you no longer need.  

Pro tip: Utilize the cold winter days to tackle this project.  If you have a lot of rooms/closets to declutter, try tackling one room at a time so you don’t become overwhelmed AND you’ll quickly see your progress.  Yes, it may take some time, but decluttering will make you feel better about your space AND it will be much easier to prepare your home when it’s time to sell. 

# 3. Retrofit Can Lights with LED Inserts 

If you’re like me, it’s so frustrating to have a can light bulb stop working, search through a million bulbs at the store to find the right one AND then pay an outrageous amount for the bulb!  Instead, consider changing the can lights with the new LED retrofit lights.  The lighting is energy-efficient, long-lasting and has adjustable brightness.  Best of all, you never have to change the bulb.  Retrofitting can lights is a simple upgrade that doesn’t require any special skills.  You can buy them in bulk on Amazon and follow YouTube videos if you need more instructions. 

 Pro tip: LED lights make your home feel updated and environmentally friendly – items buyers prioritize.

 # 4. Replace or Add New Hardware in Kitchens and Bathrooms

Whether you’ve never had hardware on your kitchen cabinets or it’s time for a refresh, swapping out cabinet knobs and drawer pulls is a quick way to modernize your space. Matte black and brushed gold are trending finishes for 2025 and can give your kitchen or bathroom an instant facelift.  

Pro tip: Buy a hardware template if your cabinets have never had hardware to make installation a breeze and ensure all the handles are at the same height/position.  You can find the template online or any big box store.

If your cabinets have existing hardware, it’s much easier to use the existing holes so be sure to measure the distance between the CENTER of each hole (center to center).  This will help ensure you’ve ordered hardware that will fit your existing holes.

 # 5. Caulk Everywhere!

This may seem like a silly item to have on the list but there are SOOOO many reasons you want to do this.  Everything from windows, bathtubs, toilets—you name it --needs fresh caulk (unless you’ve just moved in a new build).  Fresh caulk not only prevents water damage, mold in bathrooms, and drafts, but also gives your home a polished, well-maintained look.  When the weather warms up, be sure to walk around the outside of your home and caulk as needed.

Pro tip: Buyers will notice! Little signs of upkeep like this signal a home that’s been cared for, which is always a plus. Bonus:  You’ve removed a common repair item on an inspector’s report.

 # 6. Clean Out the Garage

A tidy garage will save you $$ because you’ll know where everything is located and what you have on hand. The bonus is a welcoming sight every time you pull into the garage. Sweep out debris, organize tools, and consider installing shelves or hooks to make the space more functional. 

Pro Tip: If you need ideas, check out YouTube and Instagram Reels showing garage storage ideas using the yellow and black storage bins from the big box stores.

An organized garage also signals to buyers that your home has ample storage (a definite must with Texas garages that are often small).

 # 7. Paint or Restain Your Front Door

Your front door is one of the first things YOU and your guests notice about your home. A fresh coat of paint or a sleek new stain can instantly elevate curb appeal. Consider bold colors like deep navy or classic black—they’re on trend for 2025.  If you do sell your home, know that buyers love a home that makes a statement from the curb. 

Pro tip: Check with your HOA on permitted colors. 

 # 8. Large Planters at Your Entry

Your front door deserves some beautiful planters. Consider large planters (as large as you have space) so the scale is proportional to your door.  Then fill the planters so they are overflowing with seasonal flowers make your entryway feel inviting. Choose bold, colorful blooms in spring and summer, or go for ferns and evergreens and twinkle lights in winter.   

Pro tip: You have seconds to make a first impression with buyers and this small touch provides a welcoming and attractive entry.

 # 9. Black Mulch in the Spring (and Add Glue!)

Fresh mulch ties your landscaping together, and black mulch offers a clean, sophisticated look. Using mulch glue ensures it stays in place, even on windy days, keeping your yard looking pristine.

Pro tip: Black mulch makes landscaping photographs really “pop.”

 # 10. Trim Bushes and Trees

Overgrown landscaping can make a home look neglected. Trim your bushes and trees to create a clean, open feel.  You can even rent tools at Home Depot to help with this project.  Tree limbs too large or too high? Then call the professionals.  Reach out to your trusted Realtor for recommendations.

Pro tip: Be sure to trim so nothing is touching the roof or the home.  Most insurance companies will “flag” your home if limbs are in contact (yes, this has happened to me!). 

If you’re considering selling your home, this is another item an inspector will check.  Taking care of these items up front will eliminate this item from the inspector’s report.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re ready to refresh your space or contemplating selling your home, these DIY projects can make a big impact. Plus, many are simple enough to tackle many in as little as a day.  Ready to roll up your sleeves and get started? You’ll love the finished result (and potential buyers) will thank you!

Any questions? As always, feel free to reach out.

Paint - It Does Make a First Impression

All too often I hear sellers say, “Hey, can’t we just skip painting because the buyers will think it’s OK or we’ll just give them a credit?” And my short answer is, “Well, homes that are clean and bright will sell faster and for top dollar.”

Whether we like to admit it or not, home buyers make first impressions about a home in a matter of seconds. From stepping out of the car to stepping into your foyer, the buyer is “sizing up” your home - for better or worse or somewhere in between. And if you can help a buyer fall in love with your home at first sight or at least want to see the entire home instead of running away, why wouldn’t you??

In reality, today’s buyers are dealing with a whole host of issues during COVD and the majority do NOT want to spend time or money repainting or fixing up a home. They want to move in and start their new lives. If you don’t appeal to this need, then many buyers simply won’t look at your home. Or, they might consider your home, but they will want such a drastic discount (i.e. credit) because they will pay someone else to come paint and that simply costs more than you and I taking up the paint brush.

To illustrate my point, consider the before and after photos of my clients’ home. A former model home it was a stand out in it’s heyday with dark heavy custom curtains, dark paint colors and heavy glazing. But during my listing appointment, we discussed the pros and cons of painting as I’ve outlined above. Taking down the heavy curtains was the easy part. Hiring painters to tackle a 2 story foyer was necessary, but ultimately, more buyers will fall in love with the new, light, bright, and clean look.

Case in point, when I posted this before and after on my Facebook page and asked for comments and photos, everyone loved the “AFTER” and shared similar photos. No one posted a picture of a dark, bold color when they “updated” their homes.

But which house is "better"?

When working with my buyer clients, we are often comparing the “top 3” list of homes. And here’s my insight for you —- it’s not necessarily about the square footage and price! It’s what’s most important to you - the buyer. So let me tell you a story.

Recently, I was helping my client find her new home and we were looking at several new builds. One build was complete and 2 others only had framing and drywall. In the process, she kept gravitating toward one of the new builds that had a very large covered patio and what appeared to be a “larger” backyard.

So, ultimately, I created this info graphic to help my client compare the things that were really important to her - the patio and greenspace! As we worked through the space comparisons, we were surprised to see that House B, with larger square footage on a smaller lot, actually has a GREATER outdoor space because the home’s footprint was smaller. Yes, the patio for House A is larger, but the net effect of a pretty good sized patio and yard space for House B made it the best choice for my client (plus a better floorplan and finish out).

So, just like we say you can’t judge a book by it’s cover, you can’t just a house simply by it’s square footage. The analysis must focus on what’s important to you!

"Do I really need to take down all my family pictures" before showing my house?

Whenever I’m talking with a client about getting their home ready for listing and showings, I often hear the question “Do I really need to take down all my family pictures?” Or a similar question related to their favorite collection of things. The answer is YES and here’s why.

When you’re selling your house, you have to remember who you are catering to: THE BUYER. And we (seller/home) are trying to make a very good first impression with THE BUYER. It’s just like when you go to buy a car. The dealership will clean every nook and cranny of the car, make it smell good, touch up the paint, and then put it in a clean and shiny showroom with bright, crisp lights. The end result is a car that looks amazing to the BUYER. Or you go shopping at your favorite store, and everything inside is beautifully displayed. The visual cues in that store appeal to all your senses (and of course you buy something). LOL!

The same principles apply to selling your home. Just like you wouldn’t want to test drive a car with someone else’s stuff in the cup holder or stuff in the passenger seat, home BUYERS also don’t want to see your “things” (especially personal items like photographs and collections) when they tour a home. They want the “showroom” wow factor.

Is it hard to live like your home is a model home? Yes, but is it worth it!! We can’t change a buyer’s psychological response to personal items and extra “stuff” in our homes, but we can control how buyers will view our homes by temporarily removing our personal items and de-cluttering. So grab some boxes and start packing. You’re moving anyway, so why not start now and make buyers fall in love with your home.

So You Want to Buy Some Land in the "Country"?

Dreaming of your future home on acreage in the country?

With the density and population growth continuing to skyrocket in the Dallas Ft. Worth Metroplex, I often hear my friends talk of buying land in the “country.” When pressed further, what they are really saying is they want acreage where they can build a house AND they want it located outside of the existing metropolitan suburbs (lower density, lower taxes, etc). Can these dreams become a reality? Of course! BUT, it is a completely different process. So, I’ve outlined a few key things every “land” buyer should know.

Financing

Unless you’re fortunate enough to purchase land with cash, you will need to get pre-aproved for financing the land/build purchase. Yes, the pre-approval process is also used when buying a home, but that’s where the similarity ends. What’s the difference? Well, you may be surprised that most mortgage companies/banks DO NOT finance land purchases. So, when you’re beginning this process, I strongly recommend that you work with a Realtor who not only can help you find your dream acreage, but who can also direct you to a reputable land lender.

Buying Land with some structures?

Sometimes you’ll find a property that will have acreage and some existing structures like a barn, fencing, utility building and maybe an old residence. In analyzing the deal, you and your Realtor will need to determine if the value is primarily in the acreage or what, if any, value is attributable to the structures. This analysis will determine if the purchase is a “land” purchase vs a single family residential purchase that includes land. For example, I recently showed my clients a 15+ acre property that had a double wide trailer, a barndiminium, and a barn. The double wide trailer had been moved twice and it was in terrible condition. The barndiminium was currently being used as a residence, but it was “rough” inside — essentially a renovation in progress. Based on comparables in the area and the condition of the structures, the primary value was in the land. This purchase would require a land mortgage. By comparison, I showed these same clients a 2+ acre property with a single family brick home and a large utility/workshop building. Here, even though the house was not to my client’s liking, there was significant value in both structures, so this would be a “normal” single family home mortgage that happens to have acreage as part of the property.

Land and Future Home

So let’s say you find the perfect piece of property where you want to build your future dream home. How your financing will be set up will be determined by how FAST you’re going to build. For example, I work with a lender who will provide the land financing and home construction loan as long as you start construction IMMEDIATELY!! That means you have to have all your architectural plans, building permits, etc ready to go. Honestly, most people won’t have everything ready beforehand. In the latter case, the land loan will come first and then the land lender will provide the construction loan.

Land Loans Have Different Rates and Requirements

The other thing to keep in mind is that land loans do NOT have the same rates and terms as your typical single family residence (SFR) purchase. Why? Well, if for some reason you default on your land loan, the bank only has a lien on the raw land - which typically takes longer to resell.

• Down payment typically 20%

• Interest rate is higher than SFR (as of Jan 2020 rates are in the 5+% range)

There are more things to know that what I’ve listed above, but when you’re ready to take that step into buying land, feel free to reach out and we can discuss further and I can recommend a preferred lender who does land loans.