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You
might want to take a look around your house and make sure it’s
up-to-date. Nothing turns off potential buyers more than knowing they’ll
have to sink a lot of money into their new home just to modernize it. But
let’s say you don’t have a lot of cash—and who does? -You need to
know what to remodel in your home that will add the most value to your
home.
Outside
Create a good first impression. Mow the lawn, rake leaves, trim trees and
shrubs that keep light out of the house, and remove dead plants. After
all, you can't sell a house if a buyer can't see it. Store tools, garbage
cans, hoses, toys, and building materials neatly in a storage area.
Replace broken or missing roof shingles, and straighten and clean the
gutters and down spouts. Clean all windows and mend torn screens. Paint
your house if necessary. This can probably do more for sales appeal than
any other factor. If you decide against painting the entire house, at
least consider painting the front door, window frames, and shutters. Seal
or resurface driveway and repair broken steps and walkways. Paint or
replace your mailbox and post. Dress up the front yard by placing quartz
stones or pine barks around shrubs, lamp post, and mailbox post.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Look at your home as though you are seeing it for the first time. Is every
room neat, spotlessly clean, dusted and uncluttered? Steam clean carpets
and wax floors. Wash walls, windows and light fixtures. Liquid Gold all
trim and wood surfaces. Tighten loose stair railings.
Foyer
Use bright light bulbs in the foyer and throughout the house. Fill the
house with the pleasant aroma of cinnamon, or other fresh scent.
Living Room
Clean woodwork, shampoo carpet, and wash all the windows. Replace the
carpet if it's worn or old. I know it costs money, but you will get it
back PLUS more. Patch cracks, nail holes, and repaint walls in neutral
colors such as "Antique White." Nail down creaking boards and
stair treads. Lubricate any sticking or squeaking doors. Discard worn
furniture and move the extras to a storage unit. Remember, too much
furniture makes rooms look cluttered and small. Visit model homes to get
decorating ideas. Open all curtains. Replace if they're old. Add lamps and
lighting if dark. Set out some fresh flowers.
Furniture
Rearrange or remove furniture to make your rooms look more spacious. Pack
away knick-knacks from end and coffee tables-- one or two items per
surface is plenty.
Kitchen and Baths
These rooms should gleam! Clear off counters. Clean all appliances and
fixtures. Replace chrome burner plates on the range. Scrub floors and
walls-- repaint if necessary. Caulk tubs and showers. Clean thoroughly and
be sure these rooms smell fresh.
Your next step should be to refinish the existing cabinetry. If you want
to replace what you’ve already got, you’re looking at several thousand
dollars, so consider painting the cabinets you already have. Use
high-gloss enamel for durability easier cleaning. White is a good choice,
especially if the walls are a color. Or if you have nice wood cabinets,
consider refinishing then yourself. Take them outside, sand, and varnish,
and you’ve got nice, new-looking cabinets. And don’t forget the
hardware. You can get new handle and drawer pulls ranging anywhere from a
few cents to several dollars; the choice depends upon how much you want to
spend and the look you are after.
A new countertop is also a good idea, and you can get an inexpensive
laminate one that will look much better than that ‘70s avocado green or
baby blue one you have now. Technology has come along way, and the newest
laminate countertops look almost as nice as granite or Corian. They’re
even relatively easy to install yourself. The average do-it-yourselfer can
put a new laminate cover on an existing countertop. The avid
do-it-yourselfer can construct a completely new laminate countertop. Any
good home improvement book can tell you how.
Another way to inexpensively update your kitchen or bath is new flooring.
If you have wood under whatever your floor covering is now, consider
refinishing it yourself. Most homebuyers love wood floors. The least
expensive flooring is vinyl sheet flooring and vinyl tiles. Sheet flooring
is usually the least expensive and it is fairly easy to install yourself,
but vinyl tiles are only a bit more expensive (about $0.50-$2.00 per
square foot) and they are a snap for anyone to install. In a Saturday, you
can have a whole new kitchen floor.
Closets
Remove out-of-season clothing. Take those things to Goodwill that you'll
have to discard anyway when you move. Organize shelves, straighten shoes.
Be sure sliding doors operate smoothly in their tracks and knobs on
drawers are secure.
Utility Room
Dust and wash off lint from washer and dryer. Dust and wash off hot water
heater.
Light and Bright
Do everything you can to brighten the interior. Replace dim bulbs with
bright ones, replace wallpaper with off-white paint, repaint shabby or
dark walls. Open the blinds, replace broken windows and window seals.
During winter, maintain a comfortable temperature even if you are away for
extended time. There is no music that soothes all beasts, so play it safe
by turning your stereo off.
Don’t forget your window treatments. Clean or get rid of dusty old
blinds and invest in some sharp new mini-blinds. If you can sew, you
already know that there are an almost limitless number of ideas out there
for curtains and valances. You probably don’t want long curtains in your
kitchen; they can be a fire hazard. So some short curtains or valances
will only need a couple of yards of material each. Get it on sale and you
save even more money. Spend a weekend whipping up some new valances and
you’ve got a great new look without spending a lot of money.
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