The fastest way to sell your home can be by upgrading it. This is especially true if you haven't done a thing to your house in years except sweep and vacuum. A fresh, updated home is one that is more appealing to buyers, and even if you're strapped for cash in a tough market, you can make small improvements that will help buyers find more to love about your property.
Start Painting
A careful paint job can do wonders to cover up dated wall coverings and the wear and tear of the years. If you are willing to spend the time, you can paint over scarred and dingy cabinets to brighten them up. You can paint over outdated wall paneling or wall paper – but be sure you learn the best techniques ahead of time! You can paint over your walls and your front door. It's amazing what a few cans of paint and rollers can do. If you buy three cans at once you can even qualify for a contractor's discount in many big box stores if you ask for it.
Stick to neutrals when you paint and take your time to plan out your paints and color schemes ahead of time. If you're nervous about painting over cabinets or doors, stick to painting your walls and trim. Fresh walls and trim in bright neutrals are appealing and make your house appear cleaner – especially if you've steam cleaned your carpet ahead of time.
Replace Faucets
It's amazing how much a new faucet can do to dress up a bathroom. Faucets get old and bit corroded with time, and they aren't very hard to replace if you're handy following instructions. Buy a new faucet from a discount store or online. If you're ordering the faucets online, look for discounts through store promotions or use coupons to help cut down the cost of the faucets in the store.
Then just follow the instructions to replace the old, dated faucet you have on your sink now. It's far easier than you think so long as you have a wrench and the courage to climb under your sink and unscrew a pipe. A word of advice – be sure to have a bucket on hand. This can get a bit gross, but the improvement and cleanliness of your newly improved sink is amazing. With new paint and a new faucet, your clean bathroom will look great compared to your neighbor's home that still sports the crusty faucet and unusual wallpaper.
Replace Doorknobs
You don't think of it, but your doorknobs show every bit of wear and tear in your home. If your home is old enough to have solid brass, iron or glass doorknobs, leave them be – they are classics and doorknobs like yours are actually selling points for those looking for authentic details. If you have a tract home built in the fifties or later, start be taking a good look at your door knobs. Are they loose on the door? Is the shiny brass flaking off? Can you even tell what material they are supposed to be? Remember, these door knobs were cheap decades ago. Replace them!
Again, online sellers and big box or discount stores can deliver great bargains on door knobs in new, updated finishes. For consistency you might try and match the hinges of your door, but if the hinges are painted, you have a lot more options when it comes to knobs. Find some that compliment your new bathroom fixtures and that blend with your light fixtures if possible so that your home looks cohesive. Then just grab a screwdriver and get started.
Removing the old knob is usually as simple as removing the screws and putting on the new one isn't more complicated than putting in two new screws. Amazingly, it's often small details like this that make potential home buyers appreciate how updated your home appears, even if you haven't been able to touch your countertops or major appliances.
Rebecca Garland is a freelance writer who enjoys sharing her experience with renovations and home staging in evernthing from older Houston houses to temporary housing in Denver with readers. Thanks to a large fixer-upper, Rebecca has entirely too much experience making a home look great on a thrifty budget. You can learn more about Rebecca on her website, www.internetauthor.net.
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