Kitchen
Have a Small Budget: Install updated cabinet knobs and drawer pulls for an instant makeover.
A Medium Budget: Brighten the kitchen with a variety of lighting, such as under- and above-cabinet fixtures, pendants above an island, or recessed lights. You could also install a sleek new sink and faucet.
A Large Budget: If your appliances are outdated, you may want to invest in a new cooktop, range, and/or dishwasher. Be sure to look for styles with universal appeal.
Bath
A Small Budget: Opt for a simple makeover by replacing accessories such as towel rods, toilet-paper holder, and a trashcan. Top it off with luxurious soaps in a pretty dish, fluffy hand towels, and fresh flowers.
A Medium Budget: Swap out minor features that pack a major punch, including the faucet, cabinet knobs and pulls, and switch plates. Depending on your needs, you can apply the rest of your budget to wallpaper, window treatments, and/or a new lighting fixture.
A Large Budget: Depending on your choices and DIY skills, you can add a new bathtub, toilet, and vanity.
Bedroom
Bedroom
A Small Budget: Hang a large mirror in a small bedroom to make it look larger. If you’ve considered purchasing a new bedspread, now’s the time.
A Medium Budget: Refresh the room with a coat of paint in a soothing, neutral shade. If needed, enhance the closet with new doors or shelves. For privacy, add attractive window treatments.
A Medium Budget: Refresh the room with a coat of paint in a soothing, neutral shade. If needed, enhance the closet with new doors or shelves. For privacy, add attractive window treatments.
A Large Budget: Take a look at the room's flooring or save your money for another area with bigger needs.
A Small Budget: For an instant makeover, opt for a fresh coat of paint. By repainting in a more neutral, appealing color, you’ll remove an eyesore that may drive potential buyers away.
A Large Budget: Save your money for another area with bigger needs.
Laundry Room
Curb Appeal
Lawn and Garden
Medium Budget: If your lawn is barren or unkempt, consider more extensive landscaping. You can lay sod, plant hedges and trees for privacy and shade, and arrange pavers to create an attractive path.
General Repairs
Flooring
A Small Budget: Apply a fresh coat of paint, or brighten the laundry area with new light fixtures.
A Medium Budget: Replace worn flooring with affordable, easy-to-clean tile or laminate.
A Large Budget: With this budget, you can turn a spare space into a selling point. Add affordable cabinetry and shelves, a generous sink, and a washer and dryer for a stylish and functional laundry room.
A Small Budget: Rejuvenate a wood deck by applying a stain and sealant. You can also paint faded trim and shutters for a quick refresher.
A Medium Budget: Boost curb appeal with a new entry door, attractive outdoor light fixture, elegant address numbers, and a new doormat.
A Large Budget: If your home’s exterior is extremely faded or peeling, consider having it painted.
A Small Budget: Beautify your garden and landscaping by applying a product to banish weeds. Also, be sure to trim the hedges and prune the trees. Add a pop of color by planting blooming flowers or grouping pots of blooms on the porch.
Medium Budget: If your lawn is barren or unkempt, consider more extensive landscaping. You can lay sod, plant hedges and trees for privacy and shade, and arrange pavers to create an attractive path.
A Large Budget: Now is not the time to invest BIG BUCKS in the Lawn and Garden.
A Small Budget: Replace burned-out light bulbs, patch any holes in the walls, fix jammed doors and drawers, re-caulk the tub and shower, and replace cracked or broken floor and wall tiles.
A Medium Budget: If it’s in your budget, tackle larger repairs. Replace any broken windows, repair out-of-commission appliances, fix leaky faucets, and replace damaged doors.
A Large Budget: If your roof leaks or your driveway is damaged, you may want to address it before you sell.
A Small Budget: Add a splash of style with a pretty area rug - the best part? You can take it along with you when you move.
A Medium Budget: Replace a dated living room or bedroom floor with basic neutral-colored carpet.
A Large Budget: If other homes in your neighborhood have top-of-the-line floors, it might be time to splurge on hardwood or tile in key areas. But you need not break your budget: Shop for discontinued styles, which can be greatly marked down.
A Small Budget: To eliminate clutter and make rooms look larger, place extra furniture and other items in storage temporarily. Or, have your existing carpet professionally cleaned for a like-new look.
A Medium to Large Budget: If you’re too busy to keep the house in tip-top shape, hire a cleaning service once a month while the home is on the market. If your yard is an issue, consider hiring a lawn service to do regular mowing and edging. Or, consult a home-staging service that employs special techniques to prepare homes for selling.
What do you need to do to get your home ready for the market?
