When it comes to home renovations, most people assume that it will cost a pretty penny. While fixing up your house can be quite pricey, the good news is that there are small, cheap things you can do to your house that will automatically increase its appeal.
Whether you’re looking to add value to your house for resale or simply want your home to look more attractive for you (and why not?), it only takes a few small tweaks to update your living space. We’ve done some research for you and found seven fixes that will add value to your home without draining your bank account.
Revamp Your Kitchen
It doesn’t take a full renovation to change your kitchen into a clean, classy space. A nice, updated kitchen is one of the first things buyers look for when home hunting. Fortunately, it takes just a few hundred dollars to turn your kitchen into an attractive selling point.
Replace an old faucet with a sleek, contemporary piece and you automatically make your sink more appealing. Buying new cabinet handles is another way to spruce up an outdated look without replacing your cabinetry. Switching out old, yellowed light fixtures with more modern ones helps brighten your cooking space. Even adding a backsplash can be an easy selling point for your kitchen.
Beautify Your Entryway
Your entryway is one of the first things people will notice about your home. Seeing a neat, inviting entrance is a comforting thing to come home to.
Painting the front door is one of the quickest and cheapest ways to update your entryway. Choose a fun, bright color that looks inviting to the eye, but one that you won’t tire of too quickly. Repainting exterior trim is another quick fix, as is purchasing new outdoor lighting that makes your home pop at night.
Update Your Bathroom
Next to the kitchen, your bathroom is the most important place to fix up when thinking of sellability. And who doesn’t enjoy a pristine, up-to-date bathroom that speaks to cleanliness and style?
Often, the first thing to go downhill in a bathroom is the floor, mostly due to the constant wetness absorbed from bath and shower water. Putting down attractive vinyl flooring is a quick, cheap fix to this problem, one that will make your bathroom look newer and cleaner instantly. You can fix-up your tub by re-grouting or fixing chipped tile, or make a small bathroom look more spacious with the right paint or wallpaper.
Make a DIY Headboard
Is your bedroom sad and uninviting? We often neglect this space because others rarely see it. But having a pleasant bedroom doesn’t have to require new furniture or even a paint job. In fact, it can be as simple as some old planks of wood and a handful of nails.
By building a headboard, you create an appealing space to lay your head. Fortunately, headboards can be made of anything, from pallets to wine corks. You can even use family photos or old skis that have been sitting in your garage since the 90s. Using salvaged materials is a fun, cheap way to update your living space, and you will feel accomplished and satisfied once you see what you have created.
Add Energy-Efficient Windows
According to the National Association of Home Builders, one of the first things homebuyers look for in a home is energy efficiency. Unfortunately, most houses are not eco-friendly, so adjustments to improve on that score can be an important update for your home.
Adding energy-efficient windows is one of the best ways to cater to an eco-conscious home buyers. It will also save you hundreds (even thousands) of dollars a year on your energy bill. It can be a costly undertaking, with full window replacement estimated at an average of $8,000. However, HGTV suggests that you can make back between 60 percent and 90 percent of your costs in energy savings.
Modernize with Molding
One of the quickest ways to make your home look classy and modern is by adding molding or remolding the trim around doorways, floorboards and ceilings. In fact, molding has been around since the Ancient Greeks, who used the decorative tool as a way to add splendor to buildings.
According to the National Association of Home Builders, crown molding is the third most popular decorative feature desired by home buyers. Even more appealing is the fact that that adding this classic look is pretty cheap. If you choose to do it yourself, molding will set your back only $1.50 per square foot, or $8 per foot if you hire someone to do it for you.
Plant Trees
Yes, that’s right. You can help the planet and add value to your home. A study conducted by the Pacific Northwest Research Station of Portland, Ore. found that having trees in front of a home increased it’s value by $8,870, making it an extremely cost-effective addition.
Of course trees are expensive and take a while to mature into a desirable size, but the investment is well worth the trouble. Not only will you add value to your home, but you will save money on cooling bills in the summer by shading your home. Trees also protect your home from sun, rain and wind damage and prevent dangerous erosion from rooftop runoff. So do yourself (and the planet) a favor and get planting!
Fixing up your home might sound like an overwhelming task, but making simple changes to key points in your house can increase its value and add comfort and style to your living space. So don’t be defeated by lack of funds or creativity, Just start small and reap big benefits!
Would you try any of these home improvement tricks? What have you done to modernize your home without breaking the bank?
-Stephanie Catudal
Stephanie Catudal is a mother, writer, hiker and outdoor enthusiast. She can often be found exploring the Ponderosa pine forests of Northern Arizona, or splashing in the cool waters of Sedona’s red rock canyons with her husband and two daughters. Steph is a holistic health enthusiast and finds strength in her personal pursuit of fitness and wellness. She has degrees in Media, Peace and Conflict studies and is passionate about building peace both abroad and within her community.
Sources:
http://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/home-improvement/budget-home-improvement-ideas
http://www.bankrate.com/finance/money-guides/10-cheap-fixes-to-boost-the-value-of-your-home-2.aspx
http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/make-and-decorate/decorating/10-budget-updates-and-easy-cosmetic-fixes-pictures
http://www.moneycrashers.com/7-home-improvements-to-increase-its-value
http://www.waterpointerealty.com/home-buyers/homebuyers-looking-for-energy-efficient-homes