If you're a Chantilly homeowners actively preparing to list your home for sale Chantilly, resist the temptation to make major home improvements.  Nationwide, home improvement projects recoup just 58 cents on the dollar, says Remodeling Magazine.

Rather, for a better return on your time and money, focus on the minor projects instead.  It's the smaller projects in Chantilly that tend to have a bigger, long-term payoff.

So, how do you determine which projects are the "smaller ones"?  It's obvious when you think like a buyer.

Consider: Home buyers don't always notice when your home is in working order. In fact, they expect it to be that way.  What they do notice, however, is when things are "broken."  When a buyer sees torn screens in your windows or burnt out light bulbs, it makes him wonder what else in the home has not been cared for.

This is one reason why - especially during warmer months - it's sensible to hire an exterminator prior to selling your home.  If a prospective buyer uncovers bugs in your bathroom, it can leave a lasting, negative impression - one that won't likely lead to a purchase contrast.

So, with "small repairs" in mind, here are 5 simple projects that you can tackle in a weekend, and that will help your home show better.  Each is low-cost and high-impact:

1. Repair or remove torn screen doors
2. Fix all leaky faucets and toilets
3. Touch up holes and cracks in paint, interior and exterior
4. Apply a lubricant to squeaky doors and cabinets
5. Get "clutter" into storage and physically out of the way

In addition, you'll want to pull weeds from your yard, seed any bare spots you find, and lay down fresh mulch, where appropriate.

You won't need to spend big bucks to get your home ready for sale but the time spent on repairs will have a pay-off in the end.  Homes that show better often sell much faster, and at higher prices.

If you are in the Chantilly or Northern Virginia area and would like a quick opinion on any aspect of getting your home ready for sale please don't hesitate to contact us anytime!  We have a section devoted to seller strategies on our website that may prove helpful!

[The Kathy O'Neal Team serves home buyers and sellers in Northern Virginia, with special focus on Chantilly, Centreville, and the communities of the Western Fairfax region.]