Do-it-yourself: $200 for tiles (four feet by four feet); $65 for tools
What you'd pay a pro: $1,000
Skill level: 2/4
Time: 1 day
"The foyer is the buyer's first impression of your house," says Sid Davis, author of Home Makeovers That Sell. "If people walk in and see a bad floor, they're going to wonder, 'What else is wrong with this dump?'" DO THIS IF... Your neighbors all have tile entries and you don't. And definitely if you have carpeting or linoleum, says carpenter Rick Crowe of Albany, N.Y. "The cheapest ceramic tile has more curb appeal than the most expensive linoleum."
PAYOFF A buyer's first impression will be a good one. "Tile makes a house look worth something," says Adam Berlin, a contractor in Littleton, Colo. and host of DIY network's Sweat Equity.
WHAT SELLS A HOUSE BEST Anything that looks like stone, says Berlin. "Natural stone is timeless - everybody wanted it 2,000 years ago in Rome, everybody wants it now."
It's also pricey ($4 and up per square foot);porcelain is a durable, cheaper alternative ($2.50 and up) that can look similar.
YOU NEED Tiles, spacers, adhesive, notched trowel, grout, sealer and plywood
THE BASIC JOB You must pull up the old flooring and install a layer of plywood. Then glue, grout and seal. The hardest part is cutting the tile, which you'll likely have to do around borders. Ask the tile store if it provides this service for free.
WHERE TO FIND DIRECTIONS Go to doityourself.com/miscellaneousfloor.
TIP Go for six-inch tiles or bigger. The less grouting there is, the easier cleanup will be.
