Get a facelift for under $100

It's generally accepted these days that spending huge amounts of money on upgrades for your home are not going to result in a good return on your hard earned cash when you are ready to sell. At the same time, doing nothing isn't the way to go either.

Here are a few things that will earn you some appreciation (of both the gratitude & monetary kind) when you go to sell your house. Unless you are a clutz of the highest order, you should be able to do these yourself with a budget of less than $100 per item. In fact, you could almost do all of these things for a total of a hundred bucks.

Do you have a nice pink or green bathtub? I'm having 80's flash backs just thinking about it. Did you know that steel and cast iron fixtures can be refinished? And it's really not that hard? I've done it, and believe me, if I can do it, you can too. Just make sure you clean all surfaces thoroughly - NO CHEATING! - before you get started. Follow the directions on the packaging religiously. Total cost? Maybe $30-40.

If you've lived in your house for more than a few years, chances are the caulk around your tub has taken on science experiment qualities. Take out that old caulk and replace it. Total cost? About 10 bucks.

Got some cheapo, depressing or really ugly cabinets? A coat of paint will do wonders. This is a slightly more complicated project, given the fact that you'll have to take out all those dishes. Expect your kitchen to be out of commission for at least a few days for this one. Word to the wise: Sand, sand, sand. OK so that's three words, but trust me, you'll just be looking at chipped paint if you scrimp on the time needed for this step. Make sure you use a high quality primer and paint. Total cost? $30-75

If you are feeling ambitious while you're tackling those cabinets, replace the hardware while you are at it. If yours are of the two hole variety, take a sample of what you already have (both the knob AND the screws) when you go to the hardware store. Making sure the holes line up and the screws are the right length will make for a four-letter-word-free project. Total cost? $1-5 per piece

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Julia Odom enjoys long walks on the beach, debating the renovation vs. restoration question and hanging out with home inspectors.

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