Upgrading your home doesn’t have to come with a heavy price tag or general contractors. An entire home renovation can add value to your home, but there are ways to upgrade without pillaging your savings. In addition, some home buyers are particular, and might not appreciate an expensive granite countertop. Short-term projects can increase long-term equity, and most can be done over the span of a weekend.
1. Paint
Paint livens up a room, freshens up a high-traffic area like a kitchen or living room, and cleans up old scuffs, splatters, stains, and even neutralizes bad smells. It’s probably the most common and transformative home improvement project there is.
Choosing a neutral color scheme and repainting will stay on the pulse of home trends and updates, unify the entire house, and will appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers.
Also, consider painting or staining kitchen cabinets and possibly matching them to the other cabinets in the house. Maintaining cohesive color and style is a great way to update the outdated, and leave room for interior design to expand on the space.
2. Under-Cabinet Lighting
Lighting under the kitchen, pantry, or laundry cabinets can provide an up-scale look, and it only takes about 30 minutes to install.
These will light up countertops and backsplashes – focal points that should be highlighted. LED strip lights are an easy, and solid energy-efficient option.
3. Curb Appeal
Painting a front door is a great way to add character to a home and doesn’t take a lot of time. Window trim or shutters that need a touch-up are also fair game.
For less time and money, pressure washing can make an exterior look almost as good as a fresh coat of paint. If that doesn’t do the trick, repainting the exterior is pricier, but also a fair option.
Flowers and other plants are a great way to brighten a home and provide a welcoming exterior. Greenery along walkways is a great way to draw attention towards the home. Succulents or perennial plants come back year after year and require little maintenance. Yard maintenance is an easy way to show that a house has been taken care of.
4. Deep Clean
Bad smells can kill a potential sale, which is why real estate agents often recommend baking chocolate chip cookies before an open house. Replacing or shampooing carpets has a massive increase in value.
Wood floors and walls also absorb odors, so it’s important to wash them down. Deep cleaning can make a huge difference in neutralizing odors.
5. Update Fixtures
Every fixture in a home (light fixtures, sink faucets, doorknobs, switch plates) should show a cohesive style. It’s an inexpensive way to make it look move-in ready and up to date. Even fresh outlet covers can make a difference. Eyes are usually drawn to what stands out.
Replacing generic, cheap, or outdated fixtures with newer, more customized versions can make a home feel more high-end.
Updating bathroom or kitchen sink fixtures is a pretty easy DIY project. Kitchen and bathroom fixtures run from $60 for basic designs to over $300 for touchless faucets. While that’s on the heavier range for DIY upgrades, it is a huge up-sell as avoiding germs is currently on the forefront of everyone’s minds.
6. Improve Window Treatments
The vertical plastic blinds that hang to the floor, paper shades, or horizontal aluminum blinds do not add value. Consider replacing them with plantation shutters, wooden blinds, or drapes. Choosing neutral options that add to the fresh, up-scale, cohesive tone is vital.
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