Will DIY Kitchen Cabinets Hurt Your Resale Value? Our Real Estate Expert Weighs In

Regarding home improvements, such as kitchen cabinets, many homeowners face the dilemma of whether to buy or DIY. Although DIY kitchen cabinets can be a tempting option that seems like it will save you money, can choosing to handle it yourself instead of going to a professional affect your home's desirability when it's time to sell? House Digest exclusively spoke to Lindsey Schmidt, a licensed realtor in Virginia, to better understand the connection between DIY projects and resale value. "Yes, any DIY project could hurt resale value. Even though people DIY things at their own home and have no problem whatsoever with it not being done professionally, the second that person turns into a homebuyer, their expectations dramatically change," Schmidt answered.

She noted that some potential buyers who view your home may perceive DIY cabinets as "red flags." DIY cabinets may not always drive the offer price lower, but they can lead to other consequences: "If the projects aren't egregious, it generally affects how aggressive they are willing to go with the home inspection contingency. If the projects are clearly the work of a novice, they often pass on that home," Schmidt explained. So, before you impulsively DIY your kitchen cabinets, be aware that doing so could push away potential future buyers.

When trying to decide whether or not to build your own cabinets for your kitchen, think about how handy you are, and be honest with yourself. "I've seen cabinets that you would never know weren't professionally installed. As long as they're level and sturdy, buyers are happy," realtor Lindsey Schmidt exclusively told House Digest. But while it can be okay for talented non-professional builders to create the cabinets, she advises against trying to paint them yourself, even if you made them.

"It's usually pretty clear when paint isn't professionally done and that one is not worth the savings — too many opportunities for obvious flaws," Schmidt shared. You're typically better off splurging on a professional paint job. "Seeing flaws in cabinet paint is just another very large dollar sign on [potential buyers'] mental list of project expenses," Schmidt added, as buyers will likely be annoyed if they feel like they'll need to hire a professional painter to fix a sloppy paint job that could have been avoided.

Ultimately, DIY kitchen cabinets typically lead to more disadvantages than advantages for your home's resale value. Poorly done DIY cabinets can also reduce a potential buyer's trust in the current homeowner and cause doubts and second thoughts regarding the home. "Homebuyers can be extremely tedious with unrealistic expectations. If [items obviously aren't done well], it leaves them wondering what items that they can't see are going to be a problem," Lindsey Schmidt noted in her exclusive interview with House Digest. You don't want to make a potential buyer lose trust in you and your home over kitchen cabinets, do you?

So, while DIYing can seem like an affordable alternative to investing in professional work in the short term, a not-so-great DIY project can come back to bite the homeowner in the long term. "Cutting corners now may end up costing you more later — either in paying professionals to correct your work, or your home sitting on the market longer," the realtor said. Thus, before grabbing some wood and a paintbrush, consider picking up the phone to hire a professional instead to benefit your home's resale value.