How Do I Increase The Value of My House Cheaply?
Are you looking for cheap home improvements to increase your market value and saleability?
If so, you’ve come to the right place, as we will explore some home improvements when you’re on a budget.
Most homeowners know that renovations can potentially increase the selling price of their homes. Many people have a limited budget and want to focus on the most cost-effective projects that will yield the greatest return on their investment.
Many home improvements add value, while others don’t. The key is focusing on the ones that do.
Over the years, many sellers have asked me what cheap improvements can be made before putting their home on the market that won’t cost much money.
Whether it makes the house sell faster or for a higher price, they want advice that works.
This is why real estate agents often get asked, “How do I increase the value of my home inexpensively”?
Low-cost improvements are usually well worth the time and effort when you are selling real estate.
You may be selling a starter home or something more luxurious, but you can expect the renovations that improve sales to be similar across the board.
Whether you are selling a home in Framingham, Massachusetts, or Salem, Washington, you need to do what is necessary to draw buyers in and help them fall in love with your home.
This means paying attention to the details and putting your best foot forward – neither of which, fortunately, requires spending a lot of money.
Cheap renovation projects can do big things for selling your home.
Cheap Home Improvements with Good ROI
Do you want to know some of the most affordable home improvements when selling a home? The upgrades below will give you the biggest bang for your buck without breaking your wallet!
There are many innovative things you can do before putting your home for sale, many of which do not cost a lot of money. Many but not all of these things require your time and a little sweat equity. These will do the trick if you want cheap improvements to increase a home’s value!
Landscaping
It would help if you pulled in buyers from the first moment they see your home – in pictures and in person. Your yard and landscape deliver the first impression, hopefully one of cleanliness, order, and beauty. Luckily, you can do most basic landscaping work for little money.
A few things that will spruce up your landscape include:
- Flowers and Plants – Installing flowers and other plants is easy and adds color, texture, and appeal to your landscape.
- Mulching – Mulching is probably one of the cheapest ways to improve your landscape’s look dramatically. Covering your flower beds in mulch afterward can give a finished look you want and will do wonders for the health of your plants.
- Boarders – If the boarders of your flower beds are old and worn out, consider replacing them with wood or rock options.
- Sod – If your lawn has serious dead spots, hire a yard specialist to install sod to fill in the gaps.
There are several options when renovating your yard. You can make all the decisions and do all of the work yourself, or you can hire a landscape designer to help you with the design part.
You can also hire a landscaping company to do everything for you. Which you choose will depend on your budget and your experience.
Painting is a Cheap Home Improvement That Can Do Wonders
Paint is an inexpensive way to make an old house look new again, both inside and out. The bigger the project you take on, the more expensive it will be.
But you do not have to do a whole house painting unless necessary. Using paint to add accents and improve the feel of your home can make it much more inviting to buyers.
Painting is the number one way to improve your home without spending significant money.
Painting These Areas Are Home Improvements Done Cheap
Here is where to put your focus when selling a home:
- The Front Door – Something about a rich, vibrant front door seems to draw people to your home. Choose a color that works with the rest of your design, and make your front door appealing with a new coat of paint.
- Interior Rooms – If you have interior design skills, you already know the power of a well-painted room. Most people are lacking in this area, so it usually pays to hire an interior designer as a consultant in choosing your colors. Buy the colors they recommend, do the painting yourself, and see the difference. Some Realtors are also excellent at letting you know what is hot and what isn’t. For example, gray is the most desirable neutral color buyers prefer right now.
- Exterior Painting – Painting the exterior of your home does not necessarily fall into the category of inexpensive renovations. However, if your home’s paint is peeling, cracking, and disrepair, dishing out the money for a new coat may be worth the cost. It comes down to how bad it looks.
- Paint Your Old Kitchen Cabinets – if you have old, dark wood cabinetry, painting them white can transform the room. Purchase some brushed nickel handles, and the appearance of your kitchen will look night and day different. It’s not a new kitchen but a cheap home improvement that offers serious bang for the buck.
- Stain a Warn-Out Deck – a fresh coat of stain can do wonders for the appearance of an uncared-for deck. It will add to many buyers’ exterior space at the top of their wish lists.
Cheap Home Improvement Replacements
Some things in your home are easy to replace and can modernize the look and feel of your home. These items below can offer some serious bang for your buck.
Fixtures
Things like old light fixtures can make a home look dated. Although they may still work, your old brass fixtures are small and inexpensive details that make the home less appealing.
Replace old fixtures with more modern ones.
Countertops
Faded yellow countertops do not draw in home buyers. Unless they are looking for a fixer-upper, features like this will surely knock the home’s sale price.
Replace countertops with modern versions. Remember that it does not necessarily pay to outdo your neighbors. If everyone in your area has granite features, then upgrading is a good idea.
If not, though, it may just be a waste of money. Adding granite can be well worth it for most moderately priced homes as it is a big “hot button” in home sales.
Windows
Whether you should replace your old windows or not is debatable. Some Realtors insist that your price is not worth what you will get back. However, it is worth considering that energy efficiency is a popular selling point now.
If you have old single-pane windows, upgrading may be worth the cost. You should also be able to take advantage of tax credits for energy-efficient installs.
Only make window replacements if you aren’t selling immediately, as you will not get back what you spend. You’ll need a few years for this to happen. It also doesn’t make sense to replace them if you have an older double-pane window.
Only make the upgrade when you have single-pane windows. Otherwise, the ROI won’t be worth doing.
Appliances
Replacing your appliances can be expensive, but it is a choice that buyers are sure to notice. No one likes the idea of using someone’s old stove or dishwasher.
Newer versions demonstrate your investment in the home and might be the tipping point to entice buyers to make an offer.
Carpets
If your carpets are original to the home and aren’t in the best shape, replacing them will offer excellent ROI. While carpets are not necessarily a cheap home improvement, they can make a significant difference when selling.
You don’t need to purchase top-of-the-line carpeting. Since you’re leaving, spending on the best doesn’t make sense. Something above the lowest grade with a good pad should work fine.
It is going to look much better than what you have now.
Cleaning is one of The Cheapest Home Improvements
Most Realtors you talk to will recommend hiring a professional house cleaning service before you put your home on the market.
Decluttering a home is very important to get top dollar for your property.
Decluttering is the start of the process of staging a home.
For very little money, cleaning and decluttering can change the appearance of your house. Remember, in real estate sales, first impressions are significant!
Clean homes sell, and professional service will make your home look spotless. However, if you would instead do the work yourself, make sure you clean all areas of your home thoroughly, including:
Windows
Dirty windows make a house look uninviting. Clean inside and out, and experiment with removing the screens to achieve a more open look. You can always put them back on, but clear glass makes a home look more inviting.
Carpets
Cleaning carpets is a cheap home improvement that is worth every penny.
Shampoo your carpet before you start showing the house. Even if you think it looks clean right now, you can bet that shampooing will pull up dirt and help minimize odors you may not notice.
Garage
If your garage is filled with boxes, consider renting a storage unit until your home sells. A clean, open garage demonstrates the space of your home to full effect. If it is filled up, buyers will have more difficulty seeing the potential for their things.
Declutter Inside and Out
Now is the time to remove all clutter from your home. Put things away, and eliminate any clutter in your yard. You want to present your home in its ideal state, and clutter can ruin that impression.
If you need to, hire a junk hauler like 1-800-Got-Junk. You will be stunned by what a difference getting rid of the things you no longer want from your property.
Consider donating to a charity for items you no longer need but have value. Some will come right to your home.
Seek Good, Targeted Advice
If you want to sell your home for the most money quickly, consult an experienced real estate agent in your area. These tips will prove helpful in selling your home, but advice targeted to your specific property will be even more valuable.
Some sellers I have seen in the past have made home improvements that do not add value. The so-called “improvement” often decreases the home’s value.
If you are concerned with how you invest in your home, you should always consult with a pro who can tell you what adds value and what doesn’t.
A good Realtor will know what you can do now, with your available budget, to make your home sell. When there is lots of competition, exercise the best home-selling tips. This advice will become priceless and lead you down the right path to home sale success.
Adding value to your home does not have to come at high costs as long as you know what you are doing!
Other Cheap Home Improvement Resources
- Lower cost improvements you can make around the home via Better Homes and Gardens.
- One hundred do-it-yourself upgrades around the home for less than 100 dollars by This Old House.
Use the above home improvement resources to get the most value out of your home when it comes to selling. Remember that little things can go a long way to increasing the value of your home and helping it sell more quickly.
About the author: Bill Gassett, a nationally recognized leader in his field, provided the above Real Estate information on cheap home improvements to increase a home’s value. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-435-5356. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest towns for the last 37+ Years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about Real Estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.
