As you prepare to sell your home, what is the most important thing to consider? You don’t have to drop thousands in renovations and remodeling to make your home appealing to potential buyers. There are actually plenty of easy home improvements that can drastically increase your home’s value giving you extra money for your next home or paying for your paying for your moving company.
These seven projects can be done in the course of a weekend and will have your home looking and feeling like new.
Upgrade Your Kitchen Sink
A double sink demonstrates possibility, utility and convenience. They’re relatively affordable, usually between $100 to $500. Deeper sinks have less splash, which will delight any potential buyer. Your goal should be to add functionality and modernity to your cooking space.
If you know your way around a toolbox, you could install the kitchen sink yourself. If not, a local plumber could get the job done for around $150.
Repaint the Cabinets
A fresh coat of paint on old, chipped cabinets can be transformative. One of the most common complaints from homebuyers is that older kitchens feel outdated, dark and unwelcoming. You want people to be able to envision themselves in your space, and if your cabinets look like they’re straight out of the 70s, it’s time to grab a paint brush and bring them into the 21st-century.
White or light gray cabinets can instantly make a kitchen feel brighter and bigger. Paint costs about $30 a gallon, and you can probably tackle this paint job in a day or two depending on the size of your kitchen.
Renovate Your Bathroom
Recaulk your tub, upgrade your showerhead to a more modern and water-saving model, and swap out your faucets if they appear old and outdated. Minor bathroom upgrades can pay off bigtime, especially when they make your bathroom look pristine and unused.
If you have some extra money to spare, consider replacing your toilet. Modern toilets can be a cash-grab, especially if its an energy-efficient model that translates to bigger savings for buyers.
Look to spend around $300 to $500 on bathroom upgrades if you go all-out, including installation costs.
Add Energy-Efficient Windows
Going green is important to modern home buyers; energy efficiency also translates to savings on utility bills. Window treatments cost about $150 to $350 each but can save your home buyers hundreds of dollars on heating and cooling costs annually.
You can also consider replacing some of your domestic appliances with Energy Star models. These can range anywhere from $300 to over $1000, but you only have to buy one or two to make them a key selling point.
Paint Loud Rooms in Neutral Tones
If you have bright yellow walls in your living room or your kid’s room is neon green, make sure that you cover up with a neutral tone. Bright white can feel cold and sterile to you, but it looks like a blank canvas to people touring your house.
Even though painting a room isn’t an expensive fix, most home buyers are put off by the idea of having to make any changes to their new house. Something as easy as a $50 gallon of paint could help you sell your home for more money.
Replace Old Light Fixtures
Swap out your old incandescent bulbs for LEDs, which cost $8 or less per bulb. These energy-saving lights last longer and cost less than older models, and they don’t contain any mercury, which is harmful to people’s health.
New light fixtures in the living room, kitchen and bathroom can run around $100 to $250 each; they can instantly make a space feel warmer, more inviting and comfortable to potential buyers.
Hire a Landscaper to Treat the Lawn and Shrubs
If the outside of your home appears unkempt, people will immediately be put off. A landscaping company can mow your lawn and trim your shrubs for around $100 to $200. This simple investment can have an immediate impact on anyone who comes to look at your house, and it will make your property feel larger.
Focus on Potential
The number one thing to remember when making home upgrades before a sale is to maximize potential. You don’t want people to see how good the house looks for you; it’s all about how good it could be for them. Neutral colors, new fixtures and appliances all help people feel like a house is ready for them to move in and make it their own.
Consider areas where your house could use some TLC and start there; anything that’s immediately noticeable to you will be even more evident to potential buyers, so starting with the most obvious will give you a good starting point. Don’t forget to ask your realtor for advice, too. They’re professionals, so they’ll know exactly what buyers want to see as well as what other homes in your market have to offer.
[…] you are renovating your home to make it look more beautiful or to increase its value, you have to make sure that you don’t spend more money than you have to. Doing it yourself is […]