Once our REALTORS® have helped you find the right home for your needs, you may have a few projects in mind to make the house feel more like your own. Some simple tasks can be done yourself with a few tools and a free weekend. Others you might not be as comfortable with unless you're more experienced. And a few will require a professional's expertise.

The problem is that some tasks that look simple are more difficult than they seem, and while some jobs seem daunting, you could probably handle them on your own. How do you know the difference? Here are five common home projects and the skill level you need to undertake them.

1. Beginner - Painting
   Whether you're doing your walls, cabinets, outdoor furniture, or some other project, painting is one of the most basic DIY tasks you can undertake. First, choose a color that fits your decor and decide what finish you want (Pro Tip: Eggshell finish is modern and easy to clean.). Get rollers for the larger areas and brushes for baseboards and detail work. Put down a tarp to avoid getting paint on the floor, and put painter's tape over edges to keep them neat.
   
   
2. Beginner - Re-grouting
   The lines between your kitchen or bathroom floor tiles can get dirty easily. Redoing your grout is a relatively simple job, but it's time-consuming. You need to remove the old grout, then mix and lay down new grout, which can take the better part of a day. However, simply cleaning your grout is much easier and faster. A grout tile pen will remove grime from grout and leave it looking like new.
   
   
3. Intermediate - Laying Down Flooring
   Laying new flooring seems like the sort of job you would hire a professional for, but depending on the type of flooring you use, it's actually fairly simple. For one thing, it can be laid directly over the existing flooring in most cases, saving you the hassle of removing it. Just make sure the floor underneath is clean and level. Peel and stick tiles are self-adhesive and easy to put in place. Or you can use click-lock flooring, with tiles that fit together and lock into place like puzzle pieces, without any glue, nails, or anything other than the tiles themselves. Laying down vinyl or laminate tile requires a little prep work and a few basic tools, but there's no reason why you can't do the job yourself. On the other hand, if you're using real wood, stone, or ceramic, call a professional to ensure you get quality work.
   
   
4. Intermediate - Lawn Maintenance
   Mowing and weeding are fairly basic tasks, and planting flowers and trees or a vegetable garden can be done easily with a little gardening experience. Likewise, you can do light trimming and pruning of branches on your own. However, any major tree trimming can be dangerous and difficult and should be left to professionals.
   
   
5. Professional - Kitchen Remodel
   Most major changes to your kitchen, aside from flooring and painting (which we've already covered), will involve either your stove/oven (i.e., gas or electrical) or your sink (i.e., plumbing). Trained and licensed professionals should only do any task in either of these areas.

Whether you're looking at Nassau County homes for sale or Suffolk County homes for sale, there are plenty of home projects of all skill levels that can help you make it your own. Contact us if you're ready to find your dream home.