10 Simple and Cheap Projects to Boost the Value of Your Home
You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to improve your home value! There are some simple and inexpensive projects you can do that will give you a great return on your investment. You also don’t have to be a true handyman to do all of these projects. With a little effort and money, you can make a huge difference!
1. Make sure your kitchen is cooking
In terms of sale value, one thing that can really make or break a home is the kitchen! The kitchen is thought of as the heart of the home, so if it isn’t up to snuff, it can really devalue your home. One thing you can work on is giving outdated cabinets a new appeal with a crisp white semi-gloss paint. For a little elbow grease and a bucket of paint, you can totally transform your kitchen. If your cabinets are just way too old to save with paint but are in god enough shape to keep, consider ordering new cabinet doors. Another value-adding update, although a bit more expensive, is upgrading countertops. But you don’t have to totally break the bank! Check stone supply stores for remnants from other kitchen counter projects. If you don’t need huge slabs of granite for your smaller kitchen, they may have remnants that can get the job done at a fraction of the cost.
2. Spruce up dated bathrooms
Bathroom renovations can cost a pretty penny if you aren’t careful. But there are some easy fixes you can do on a budget! First off, take a look at your grout and around the tub for any dingy looking areas or molded caulk. A new line of caulk is a fairly simple task that can make your bathroom look much closer to new. Bleach any dirty tile or grout and consider replacing any broken tile. For a huge transformation without a big budget, replace old vanities with a pedestal sink to offer more space and consider changing out your faucets for a newer, shinier option. These upgrades aren’t going to cost you a ton, but can really make a great difference in the overall look at feel of your home.
3. Fix the floors
This is a big one! If you have it in your budget to replace old carpet, that investment will offer a big return. Buyers these days are looking for hardwoods, but there are also amazing new tile and manufactured wood options that can give you the overall look you want at less of the cost. If that’s not in the cards at all, then definitely invest in a professional carpet cleaning. Your average vacuum isn’t going to cut it. The carpet cleaner can take old carpet and make it look refreshed and new, something a buyer will absolutely want in a home. You can also use well-placed area rugs to minimize the attention to older carpeting.
4. Let there be light
One of the less obvious upgrades to a home is making is seem lighter and brighter! Consider adding under-cabinet lighting in the kitchen, which is an inexpensive way to make that space look much more inviting. If you have outdated light fixtures, replacing those is a great idea. There are a lot of options at local hardware stores that are current, but won’t break the bank.
5. Amp up curb appeal
Like we always say, first impressions matter. If the first thing a buyer sees when they drive up is toys strewn all over the yard, overgrown foliage and paint peeling on the front door, they may just drive on past. Updating landscaping, in particular, is a great way to add value and selling power to your home. Consider hiring a landscaper to lay mulch, plant a few evergreen shrubs and some bright colored flowers, and give your front yard a good cleanup. Sand and repaint your front door to really complete the look.
6. Remove wallpaper/popcorn ceilings and put on a coat of paint
One of the worst things about the house hunt is finding a home that checks a lot of boxes on paper, but then when you walk in, you see it—wallpaper in every room. Old wallpaper and popcorn ceilings, although fixable, are sometimes hard for a buyer to look past. They may not want the hassle of having to remove all of that themselves. Go ahead and take care of that on the front end! Once you’ve applied a fresh coat of paint, your home will look immediately newer and brighter.
7. Revamp old appliances and hardware
Buying new appliances can be expensive, but buyers these days are really looking for stainless steel in the kitchen. If your appliances don’t match or are outdated, consider replacing them with new ones or looking into buying new fronts. There are options out there to mimic the look of stainless steel, like magnetic panels, or you can opt to buy a new stainless steel door to replace the old one. Also be sure and give all of your appliances a good scrub. No buyer wants to open a fridge door to find crumbs, stains or mold—yuck.
8. Don't forget the extra touches
The things that take a home from builder basic to fabulous are always in the little touches. And it’s those things that can really make all the difference! Adding crown molding is something that you can do to make your home stand out while also not breaking the bank. This project will cost you a couple hundred dollars and some effort, but is totally worth it.
9. Add a bedroom
What do you mean add a bedroom? Well, if you have a den space with a window in your home, you’re only about $1,000 - $1,500 dollars away from a new bedroom by just adding in a closet. If you go from a two bedroom home to a three bedroom home, you’re looking at more resale value in the future, even though you’re not adding on any square footage.
10. Check out your home with fresh eyes
Although not direct renovation advice, this is probably the best tip we could possibly give you. When you live in a place, you get used to certain things and get attached to others. In order to figure out what improvements your home needs, try to cut out all of your personal feelings and look at it from a fresh perspective. Do a walk-through of your home and pretend you are a potential buyer. What do you notice that needs work? You can even ask a trusted friend to kindly help you with this process to get you on your way to a more sellable home!
