Does anyone have any cheap ideas for raising the resale value of my home?

Question

I am going to be putting my house on the market soon to relocate. Its an older 2 bedroom home. I can't afford to do any expensive remodeling (ie`new kitchen counters, gutting the bathroom). So I was wondering if anyone had any tips for what I should do to attract buyers. What are the big turn on's and turn off's when you look at a home. This is the only home I've ever bought so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. We have done some updating while we lived here, but its all been plumbing, wireing, the type of thing you can't see. I'm looking for more cosmetic type advice. Thank you!

Wow, thanks so much to everyone who answered already. You all have really given me some great starting points! Now I can't wait to get started!!

Answer 1

We just put ours up, and we are on a tight budget.
We started by going to Lowe's or Home Depot and buying some of the lights fixtures that are on clearance and put them up in all the rooms. This is especially important if you have old outdated ones. Then we painted all the bedrooms and bath antique white (some people are picky if you have bold colors, it distracts them from the homes features). I shampoo my carpets every other month (4 kids, lol), and spottlessly clean every week. I also, put up window treatments in all the rooms, most from Family Dollar, which is also super cheap! And if you have alot of clutter, de-clutter! I don't mean empty out your rooms, but put everything where it goes, and keep your decorations to a minimum. Alot of people over crowd their homes. Good luck! :)

Answer 2

People will be attracted to places that can visualize themselves in. Homey and comfortable. Get rid of any clutter, and make sure the outside looks welcoming, it is the first thing they see, so any toys or yard waste clean up , even plant a few flowers, and make sure windows and faucets etc are shiny clean. fresh flowers in cheap vases, throw pillows for sofa, chairs and beds, New fluffy towels in the bathroom . Plug in oil air fresheners to lightly scent the home through out, nothing heavy or overpowering just subtle. Clean carpets and if any bad spots on floors try nice yet inexpensive throw rugs. Kitchens are a huge make or beak point for most buyers, so try and not clutter up counters and organize the cabinets. a bowl of fresh fruit and a nice cutting board , potted herbs in a window etc, and clean oven and Fridge especially if appliances are part of the purchase. Go to websites like better homes and gardens where they have designer room photos and look for things you can copy for a very little money. The 5000.00 painting they use as example you can get a 30.00 print that's looks almost exactly the same and that way you can have the same feel for little to no cost. Look around yard sales and discount stores for items that would help copy the pictures of designer rooms. you can do a lot for $ 200.00 or even less. just a few ideas i hope they help. and Good luck.

Answer 3

First impressions are everything! Absolutely no clutter or bad smells. Instead of the toaster and coffee pot and what ever have some thing decorative but simple like a bowl of fruit it will give the impression of more counter space. In the bathroom don't show personal items. Have everything fresh and bright including caulk and fixtures. Give it a spa look if possible. Have no family pics showing in your house it leaves more room for them to imagine their family there instead of reflecting on your family. Fresh paint and flooring if possible in subtle tones. Of course everything should be very clean including doors and windows. Minimize furniture it makes the whole house look roomier. Basically make it look as new and a big and impersonal as possible. When my sister was showing her house she had a list of items she would back into boxes and take with them while it was showing. She also had item she would place out in various rooms to set the look. They had a dollar amount in their mind before they took these measures but decided to up the price because it looked so good and they got it in no time just by staging their house. They do have web sites to help you but i don't know what they are but sure you can find them. Good luck!

Answer 4

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Answer 5

I sold my place last year, and here's what I did:

-Fresh paint in all rooms. Something neutral. My realtor picked the color. Cost about $1k for a 800 sq foot condo.

-Fix anything that's broken or obviously damaged. I replaced the garbage disposal, fixed the fireplace, put new linoleum in kitchen, and got some new vertical blinds. All for <$1k.

-De-clutter. I'd say move at least half the stuff in your house into a storage unit / parent's garage. It makes your place look much bigger.

-Clean, clean, clean. Clean your place top to bottom, and keep it as pristine as you can while it's on the market.

-New carpets. This is kinda pricy, but for me it was worth it. The place looked brand new after this, and I got a nice offer 2 days after they were put in. If you don't replace them, have them cleaned professionally.

Answer 6

kitchens and bathrooms are what buyers tend to look at... if you can't remodel, try a fresh coat of paint..or faux texture..and some "staging" with new towels, candles..etc . grab some home magazines..or check out the many books available, say from Home Depot...pictures and ideas to get you started for very little...good luck.. this market is tough right now!

Answer 7

Paint the walls.

Mulch the trees, trim the grass, spruce up the outdoors greenery.

Clean absolutely everything to obsessive standards.

Replace the face plates on outlets or switches if they've gotten dingy and can't be properly cleaned up.

Replace the rubber gaskets on the fridge door (if you're selling it with the home).

Get new liners for the stove burners.

Answer 8

Spend your money in the kitchen: it has the biggest impact. New light fixtures, new faucets, and you would be amazed at what new kitchen cupboard knobs can do. And if you can swing it, reface cupboards if necessary or new countertops.