Preparing your home for the real estate market can be a stressful endeavor. It’s difficult to know where to start. What should you change? How much money should you invest to make your property appealing to potential buyers? You may decide that an entire kitchen or bathroom remodel is in order. However, if you’re hesitant to reach for the sledge hammer just yet, the following are a few low-cost, low-commitment projects that can help you increase your home’s value and get your property market ready.

Paint, Paint, Paint

It’s common advice, but it bears repeating: painting your interior is one of the quickest, easiest, cheapest ways to refresh your home. Freshly painted rooms look clean and updated. Choosing modern neutrals is the best way to appeal to the most buyers. You may love your indigo bedroom walls, but a soft grey will probably please more people.

Improve Energy Efficiency

Installing modern, energy efficient fixtures wherever possible will make your house more desirable to prospective buyers. For millennial home buyers in particular, energy efficiency is a huge priority. Many utility companies offer free energy audits for homes, showing you how to maximize energy efficiency. As an added bonus, the money you save on energy costs can be diverted into other home improvement projects.

Maximize Visual Square Footage

Knocking down walls and building new additions are drastic, costly home transformations. However, there a smaller, more cost-effective ways to increase the appearance and feel of “spaciousness” in your home. Remove heavy drapery and blinds to get the most out of natural light. Place some of your furniture and belongings in storage to eliminate clutter. Lighter-colored decor and well-placed, large mirrors can more than double the visual space, giving buyers the impression of more square footage.

Deep Cleaning

Cleaning your home may not add tangible, structural value to your home. However, a clean, organized house can make a drastically better first impression and attract far more buyers. Hire a cleaning service to scrub the place from top to bottom, or tackle the job yourself.

Low-Maintenance Landscaping

Don’t neglect the exterior of your property. Plants and shrubs improve the curb appeal of you home, making visitors feel more welcome. Invest in low-maintenance vegetation that requires less water and effort on your part. Buyers who love the lawn but have no green thumb will be relieved to hear that the plants need minimal love to thrive.

You don’t have to gut your home to make it marketable. Find several small, affordable ways to frame your property in the best light. You will increase your home’s value and presentation and come that much closer to a perfect offer.

CATEGORIES

RECENT POSTS