Small Home Renovations with Big Payoffs

If you're planning on selling your home soon, you want to be able to set your asking price as high as you can. You may need to make a down payment on a new property or make enough from the sale to pay off debts or cover other expenses. Either way, you want to make certain that you get the most out of your home. One way of increasing the property's overall value is to make renovations and remodel certain rooms, but that also means investing more into the house than you may want. Fortunately, there are some small, affordable renovations you can do that add a good amount of value to a property.

Give the Kitchen a Facelift

When people think about remodeling their kitchens, they often imagine ripping out all the cabinets, redoing the floor, and putting in brand new appliances, but you don't have to spend that much money to make your kitchen feel new. Instead, a fresh coat of paint on the cabinets, some new handles and knobs, and new countertops can completely transform your kitchen without spending a lot of money.

Repainting your cabinets is much cheaper than replacing them, and it's a project you can do yourself to save even more money. Changing out the countertops can range in cost depending on what material the new counters are made out of, but it's also a place where spending a little more can pay off. Granite or marble counters are often a luxury item that wows potential buyers.

Put in New Lights

One very easy way to make a room look more inviting is to improve its lighting. This is especially important in the kitchen and the bathroom. Switching out an older light fixture for a more modern one that provides more light is a quick and affordable change. In some cases, you may want to install a fixture that holds more bulbs. In other areas, you may want to replace a shaded fixture with one that doesn't dilute the light as much. Sometimes changing the fixture isn't even necessary-simply installing brighter bulbs can be enough to make a room look better.

Update the Front Door

Many people make a decision about a property before they even get out of the car. Those who make it to the front door often have their minds made up seconds after stepping into the house. That means you've got to make a great impression right away. If your front door has peeling paint, a dirty window, or is covered by an obviously dated and worn out screen door, it's not going to help sell your home.

Make sure your front door is as inviting as possible by giving it a fresh coat of paint, cleaning the window, and replacing any parts that look worn or are damaged. If you can afford it, you may even want to replace the door with one that offers more security or install a keyless entry system.

There are a few other upgrades you can make around the door, too. If the doorbell doesn't work, repair or replace it. Also make sure the overhang or awning above the door doesn't leak and isn't damaged.

Fix the Floor

You don't have to install new flooring throughout the property, but making a few small repairs can help. If you know there's a squeaky floorboard somewhere, hunt it down and fix it with a few nails. Replace stained carpet (or at least give it a good, deep clean), repair broken tiles, and make any other small repairs that need to be done to make your floors look great. While new carpet, hardwood floors, or tiling can make an impression and may return double what you invest in it, it's not a requirement.

Do Some Small Bathroom Upgrades

If you've always wished for more counter space in the bathroom, it's very likely that potential buyers will have that same desire. Replace pedestal sinks with cabinets that feature built-ins, since they provide more space plus some extra storage. Put on a new toilet seat, make sure there's good lighting, and make sure the shower and tub are spotless. In the bathroom, it's often better to spend more time and energy on cleaning it than on updating it.

Find the Right Real Estate Professional to Help You

A great real estate agent does more than just put your home up for sale and talk to potential buyers. They should also help you prepare your house to go on the market, and that includes pointing out things you can improve or change. For those in the LGBTQ community, a great real estate agent is often a gay or lesbian professional who understands your point of view. Finding one of these agents is simple thanks to www.GayRealEstate.com. This website has been helping the LGBTQ community with home buying and selling since 1991.