Whether you want to better your home for resale

Not only can you save yourself a small fortune by cutting out certain tradesmen, but you'll also have the satisfaction of knowing you did it yourself. Better still, once you gain the confidence to tackle your own home improvement projects, you'll find that DIY can be a lot of fun.

So where do you start?

First of all you need to identify which home improvement ideas are suitable for DIY. While there are some structural renovations that are best left to the experts, you may be surprised how many home improvements you can do yourself. All you need to master are a few basic skills, and follow proven tips and techniques.

What you can hope to achieve in Your Home

One of the best ways to transform any home is with paint. With the right tools and techniques, you'll find that a do it yourself paint job will give you instant gratification.

Another excellent way to quickly change the look and style of any interior is with wallpaper. You may find it easier working with a helper, but once you know what to do, you'll be amazed at how quickly and easily you can do it yourself.

A little more complicated than painting or wallpapering, laying hardwood or laminate floors, and tiling walls and floors, are tasks that really are not that difficult. Yet by replacing old, worn floors and by tiling or retiling, you will add more value to your home than you ever thought possible

Shelving is another element that fits the Home Improvements profile. Yes, you do need to know how to ensure shelves are level, and how to make certain that they won't collapse when items are placed on them. But rest assured that the techniques required to hang or install shelves are not difficult to grasp. Furthermore, the only tools you'll need are a drill, a screwdriver to fasten screws, and a spirit level - all of which are invaluable for do it yourself jobs around the house.

Installing or replacing crown molding or cornices between the ceiling and walls, and fitting baseboards or skirting boards at floor level, are other possibilities that will elevate your rooms from boring to beautiful. You'll need a ladder to get to the moldings, and assuming you're working with wood, an electric drill, a suitable saw and a screwdriver, possibly also a hammer.

There are also a few plumbing upgrades you can do yourself. These range from replacing the washer in a leaking faucet or tap, and replacing the tap fitting itself, to installing new sanitary ware (a basin for instance). Pipe work must be done by a registered plumber, wherever in the world you live.

The same concept applies to light fittings. Sure you're working with things electrical, but you aren't working with wiring, which means you don't need an electrician. So why not change the fixtures and fittings and improve the look and quality of illumination in ALL your rooms?

Some Tips for Success

Probably the most important aspect of successful DIY Home Improvements is to know when to elicit the help of others. This 'help' may be in the form of advice, or it may be physical assistance.

Before you get started implementing your home repair and home improvement ideas:

- draw up a sensible and achievable plan of action for all the ideas you have

- plan thoroughly for each individual project; this will ultimately save time and ensure success

- differentiate between miracle makeovers you can do yourself and structural changes that require an expert to help you

- if you're selling, identify the best options in terms of both budget and effort to be spent in relation to return on investment, as well as time and endeavor

- assess whether you need to get someone to help you with specific projects

In addition, if you take full advantage of all the DIY tips and techniques offered to you, you WILL be successful when you do it yourself.