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Inexpensive Improvements = Big Returns

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Paint the front door. You would be surprised at how much a bold,
complimentary new door color will liven up the curb appeal. A freshly
painted door will add instanpt impact to the front of your house.

Maintain your yard. A poorly maintained yard leaves the impression
of a home in disrepair. Keep your lawn in good condition, haul
away any trash and mow, prune and weed whack your yard often.

Add exterior details. A nice new mailbox, stylish address numbers
and colorful potted plants are great, inexpensive ways to give your
home a welcoming new feel.

Pressure-wash your home. You may not need to spend a lot of
money repainting your home’s exterior. A good power wash will
often have your paint job looking as good as new.

Install new cabinet handles. If you don’t want to go through the
expense of installing new cabinets, swap out old, broken or
unsightly handles with handsome new replacements. It’s easy
and affordable.

Install new light switches and outlets. New switches and outlets
can usually be replaced using the same wiring. Having new
faceplates gives the impression that new electrical wiring has
been installed.

Wash walls and windows. Just like the exterior paint job, you
can often return the luster of an old coat of paint with a little elbow
grease. Crystal clear windows will also improve the look of a
home’s exterior.

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Paint the walls. If you decide you want to update a room’s color
palette, the right shade can dramatically change the feel of a
room. Sometimes just painting one wall or section is all that’s
needed.

Replace your molding. An older room can be updated with
some new molding, perhaps painted in an accent color, crisp
white or natural wood tone.

Hire a professional cleaning person. This will not only save
you time and aggravation, but you’ll be amazed at what “clean” really looks like.
Clean the inside of your refrigerator, stove, and microwave. Although this may
seem unnecessary, many buyers look at these items when assessing the level of
“work” they’ll need to put into the home right away.

Eliminate pet odor. Along with a buyer potentially being allergic to your pet,
these odors can worry buyers that the smells may take a long time to go away.

Repair doorbell or buzzer. Along with curb appeal, this is the first impression of
your home. If the doorbell or buzzer doesn’t work, the buyer may be thinking,
“What else is wrong with this home?”

Clean porch, foyer, and common hallway. Another part of the first impression:
A clean entrance starts the showing off on a great foot.

Repair seals/caulk around tub and basins. This is a very common issue that
buyers look for. Mold is unsightly and can definitely leave lasting negative memories for a buyer.

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Repair cracked plaster and/or drywall. Although a small crack may just be a home
settling, a buyer is most likely assuming that the house is falling apart.

Repair leaking taps or run-on toilets.

De-clutter. This one speaks for itself. And when in doubt, just remember: Less is More.
Remove non-seasonal clothes from closets. This is a common overlooked improvement
for a seller to do, however; closet space is a very important factor for a lot of couples. So,
be sure to make the buyer feel like there is plenty of room for their needs.

Turn your “office” back into a bedroom. More bedrooms equal more money. Buyers
can visualize turning a bedroom into an office, but seem to struggle with the opposite. Don’t
leave this one to chance.

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Remove personal photos as much as possible. Buyers want to envision themselves
living in your home. Therefore, removing personal photos helps buyers from getting caught
up on picturing you living there.

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