When you are preparing your home for sale, there are many inexpensive improvements you can do to your home that will bring you greater value and help sell your home faster. We have all heard that you should de-clutter, de-personalize and have chocolate chip cookies baking in the oven when it is shown. We also know that if you have unlimited funds, granite, hardwood and stainless steel appliances are all the rage (but expensive). There are also the basic improvements, such as new carpet, but this can still cost thousands of dollars. The following are some inexpensive ways to improve your home with very little cash that we suggest you consider before selling.
- Replace Front Door
The National Association of Realtors does a study every year of “Remodeling Cost Vs. Value Report”* where they rate home projects with the highest and lowers return on investment. Last year, the highest return on investment went to replacing your front door (85.6% ROI). The first impression is a lasting impression so make it count. A dated front door makes a house look cheap, and a worn front door makes a house uncared for or old. If you cannot afford to replace your front door, consider painting it a bold color, maybe using high-gloss paint. If your front door is in disrepair, consider replacing it with a new, stylish door. For a few hundred dollars you can buy a nice door. It is also a nice touch to put a flower pot on each side of the front door with flowers in bloom.
- Interior Doors
This is also true for interior doors. If you have old dated brown flat panel wood doors, consider replacing them with nice raised panel white doors or paint the existing door to make them look clean and fresh. The basic raised panel hollow-core doors are about $20 to $30 and they come pre-primed. If you want to make an extra good impression, replace the trim with an updated style.
- New Electrical Switch Plates
This is such an easy improvement, but can really stand out. We have seen freshly painted rooms with old yellowed ugly switch plates. Even worse, some even paint over them. New switch plates cost about 50 cents each. You can replace the entire house with new switch plates for about $20. For the entry, living room and other obvious areas, spring for nice bronze or brass plates. They run about $5 each – but make a difference.
- New Door Handles
In addition to changing doors, consider changing the handles. An old door handle, especially worn gold ones, look bad. For about $20, you can replace them with new bronze finished handles. For an added touch you can also replace bathrooms and bedroom door handles with the fancy lever handles (about $20 each).
- Paint/Replace Trim
If the entire interior of the house does not need a paint job, consider painting the trim. Newer, modern custom homes typically come with beige or light brown walls and bright-white trim. Use a semi-gloss bright white on all the trim in your houses. If the floor trim is worn, cracked or just plain ugly, replace it! Lowes and Home Depot carry a new foam trim that is pre-painted in several finishes and costs less than 50 cents per linear foot. If you really want to create a great first impression, add crown molding in the entryway and living room.
- The Entry
After the front door, your next first impression is the foyer area; make sure it is inviting. Find a plant, decorative piece of furniture or art that sets the tone for the home. Many older homes have linoleum entry floors. Consider 12? ceramic tiles, which for a 8ft x 8ft area should cost about $100 in materials, or use travertine.
- In the Bath
It is amazing how many older homes that have an ugly old shower curtain. An old used shower curtain can be a turnoff and make the home feel dirty. If your shower/tub is nice, buy a curtain that ties back, so you can show off your tub and display decorative soaps and candles. If you have shower doors and they are worn and beyond reviving, consider removing and hanging a curtain. If you need to replace a shower door, consider clear glass to make the bath look larger (unless the shower is unsightly, then use obscure glass). A new shower door costs about $500. Shower Doors and More will measure and install for about the same price as the door alone. If you need a new vanity, they are a couple hundred dollars. Make sure the bathroom is clean, put up decorative towels and soap. Make a trip to Ross, Tuesday Mornings, Fred Meyer or Target and buy some fresh towels, decorative soaps, a nice new rod, curtain hooks, and a fancy curtain.
- In the Kitchen
Replacing kitchen cabinets is expensive, but painting them can save you money. If you have old 1970?s style wooden cabinets in a lovely dark brown shade, paint them. Use a semi-gloss white and finish them with colorful knobs. There is no need to paint the inside, just organize them well so if they are opened, it is not scary in there! For considerably more you can replace the cabinet doors and paint them to match the cabinets. Americans spend a major amount of their time in the kitchen, so a nice bronze modern faucet looks great as well. They cost around $150 from Lowes or Home Depot, but you can shop sales or go to Amazon or eBay for better deals.
- Window Shutters and Trim
If the front of your home is plain or you have old looking windows, consider adding shutters. You can purchase them in a few colors at Lowes and are easy to install. For a custom color you can purchase them pre-primed. Paint them a color that sets off your house. They do not necessarily need to be the trim color (If the house is dark, paint the shutters white. If the house is light, paint them dark.). You can enhance your curb appeal by just painting the trim of your house. We actually replaced our outside trim and added crown and dentil molding, and now our standard 80’s home looks more like a craftsman home and the trim really pops.
- Add a Nice Mailbox and House Numbers
Everyone on the block has the same black mailbox. Be different. For about $35, you can buy a nice mailbox. For about $60 more, you can buy a nice wooden post for it. People notice these little details and buyers love them! Also, buy new house numbers or paint the existing ones to make them stand out. Be creative.
All indicators point to another year of increasing home prices, but go beyond what the market is doing and ensure you get more for your home by increasing its appeal!
*You can read more about last year’s study on our blog
Expert Properties
620 N 5th St.
Jacksonville, OR 97530
(541) 899-2030
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