When you sell your home, you want to get the most out of your sale that you can, which is why it is often encouraged to do some home improvement projects before putting your house on the market. If you love doing DIY projects, these are some easy and affordable projects that you can do before putting your house on the market this spring.
Paint the House
One of the easiest and most affordable DIY projects to help spruce up your house before putting it on the market is to paint parts, if not all, of it. A fresh coat of paint can make a room look fresh and clean, and it can transform the exterior of a home.
If any of the rooms in your home are painted dark colors or something unusual, it is definitely recommended to repaint those rooms first. The goal when showing your home is for the people looking at it to imagine themselves living there, and if one of the bedrooms is painted hot pink or black, it might be hard for them to see themselves living there. Grays, whites, and greiges are great neutral colors to allow someone to envision themselves living in your home.
When painting the exterior, make your front door a bold color that will pop. This can help make a lasting impression on anyone who is considering purchasing your home.
Update Light Fixtures
How old are the light fixtures in your home? If you have not updated them since you bought the house, it is definitely time to update them. Try to find fixtures that are both unique and neutral at the same time.
Replace the Roof
The roof is a crucial part of a house, so depending on how old your roof is, getting it replaced is a good idea. A recently replaced roof can often help attract buyers to the house, and it is something that you can get a good return on your investment when you sell the house. If you are not able to DIY this, it is a good investment to hire a professional for.
Install Faux Stone
Stone and brick bring natural beauty to any home, but it is expensive and hard to DIY. Instead, you can install faux stone in your home to bring out that natural beauty without breaking the bank, and it is easy to DIY. You can add it to your interior, in the kitchen, living room, bathroom, or even hallways. It can go outside as siding, in the garden, as wainscoting, and more. It is surprisingly versatile and a great thing to implement in your home before putting it on the market.
Make Repairs
What is currently on your to-do list in your home? Before putting your house on the market, you should get through that list. Some of the things to repair may include:
- Stained walls or ceilings
- Missing or chipped tiles
- Scratched floors
- Damaged carpets
- Broken or missing shingles
- Chipped, missing, or overturned paving stones
- Cracked boards or loose deck railings
- Leaky faucets
- Any damage to the fence
Essentially, you want to make sure that any of the things you have been putting off are taken care of before you put the house on the market. You do not want any prospective home buyers to think that you have neglected the upkeep of the house.
If you have any projects you have started but have not quite finished yet, make sure you get those little projects wrapped up, too, before you put the house on the market.
Wash the Windows
While this is not technically a repair, it is something that is often overlooked. Washing all of your windows can make a big difference in the appearance of your home. You might need a power cleaner to wash the exterior of the windows, and if you have a multi-story house, it is a good idea to call in a professional to make sure the job is done safely.
Give the Floors Some Love
Nobody wants to be greeted by a carpet that is stained or dingy looking, nor do they want to see a scratched-up wood floor or linoleum that is coming up in places. While it is not always possible to replace old flooring before selling your house, you can still take time to give your floors some love. Get the stains out of the carpet, refinish the wood floor to get rid of those scratches, or replace the flooring with some laminate, which is usually inexpensive and easy to install. The floors in the high-traffic areas will need extra attention since they get used the most.
Replace the Garage Door
The garage door is an important security feature, and it can be a big factor in the curb appeal of a home. If you install a new garage door that looks both attractive and sturdy, it can help attract potential buyers. Installing some stylish new light fixtures on either side of it can also help accentuate the new door.
Refresh the Bathroom
While it is not recommended to undergo an entire bathroom remodeling project right before selling your home, you can give it a small refresh first. Some of the easy things to refresh the bathroom that you can do easily and affordably are:
- Add new towel bars or rings
- Regrout the shower or tub
- Update the cabinets
- Change dated fixtures
- Fix any leaks
- Repair or update any broken or loose tiles or flooring
- Get a new shower curtain
- Get a new soap dispenser
Improve the Yard
The first impression of your home is an important one, and that is what they will see when they pull up for the first time. This means that you need to give your yard some improvements. Plant some new, beautiful flowers, make sure the lawn is mowed and looks tidy, and you do not have anything overgrown that looks like an eyesore. If you have lawn ornaments, make sure they are not chipped or cracked. If you have a wooden fence, paint it so it looks new and beautiful again. Also, if you have lighting outside, get that updated, too, to ensure the yard is well-lit at night.
Update Your Cabinets
Whether you decide to repaint the cabinets, get new ones, or just update the hardware, giving the cabinets an update is a great DIY project to complete before you sell your home. If you are on a limited budget, you can just scrub them and polish them with a cabinet restorer. Replacing the hardware should be inexpensive and will give the kitchen a new look. Repainting them is also inexpensive and makes the kitchen look like it is fresh and new.
Remove the Popcorn Ceiling
Let’s face it, popcorn ceilings are hideous. While spending a day scraping off a popcorn ceiling may not sound like fun, it can make your house look more appealing to a potential buyer. It is a fairly easy DIY project to complete, and it will definitely be worth it when you put the house on the market.
About the Author
Auz Burger is a freelance writer and an expert in faux stone and brick veneer and home DIY projects. She has a BA from Washington State University and has been writing and editing professionally for over a decade.