In many cases, the upgrades are simply too time-intensive or do not offer enough return on the investment. In others, these areas of the home have already undergone a makeover, but more value is desired. In either case, there are inexpensive upgrades that provide a viable solution.

Inexpensive Upgrades That Can Add Value

There are a lot of cheap upgrades to increase home value. However, the amount of value that will be added ultimately depends on the upgrades you choose to do. Let’s take a look at 8 inexpensive upgrades that may add value or at the very least improve the overall appearance of your home.

1. Freshen Things Up with a Coat of Paint

Paint is a fairly inexpensive but effective way to increase the market value of your home. It’s like putting a fresh face on every surface, which greatly appeals to those bright-eyed homebuyers looking to start their new life.

If you’re tight on budget, focus on the areas that look worn first. Then move to areas that simply look a dull or could use some sprucing up. Always paint the front door. Always. Freshen up scuffed or damaged baseboards. Paint or spray paint brass fixtures like lamps, doorknobs, and door pulls to give them more appeal and a whole new look. Painting your home’s exterior can also help build value, especially if the current coat is chipped, worn, or cracked.

When choosing paint, steer clear of bold colors like red, pink, orange, green, or blue. Anything too drastic can be off-putting for potential buyers. It can also cause a room to feel smaller and closed-in, which can further diminish a potential buyer’s interest. Choose calm or neutral colors instead. Light pastels, beige, and light grey are among the most commonly used house-selling hues. This is an area where a paint contractor will be able to provide excellent suggestions about current paint color trends.

2. Scrape and Repaint Ceilings

Popcorn ceilings, while hated by most, are still extremely common in older houses. If your house has one and you intend to sell, remove it. Doing so will cost you very little (outside of some water, paint, supplies, and time), but potential buyers will greatly appreciate the added effort.

3. Give Your Home a Professional Deep Clean

One of the most inexpensive upgrades is a deep clean! Potential buyers may not realize that your blinds need cleaning, or that your ceiling fans are dirty. However, they will likely “feel” it. A clean home smells naturally fresh. It feels inviting. Cobwebs, clutter, and dust bunnies can impede this overall sense of clean when potential buyers walk through the door.

You could spend weeks, deep cleaning and attacking every nook and cranny of your house, but why not hire a professional cleaning team instead? True, it is an investment, but the return on professional cleaning services is usually well worth the cost.

Before hiring a team, conduct your due diligence. Look specifically for a company that offers specialized services for clients selling their homes. It matters. Ask, upfront, what services are included and what your total cost will be. You might grit your teeth initially, but the stress will literally melt off you when the cleaning team arrives, supplies in hand, prepared to tackle every last cleaning detail of your home.

Have your carpets professionally cleaned as well. Try as you might, you can’t do the job as well as a professional. The equipment they use is expensive and top-of-the-line. It’s designed to deep clean and remove heavy-duty stains. You’ll be amazed at how fresh your carpets look when the job is done.

4. Use New Window Treatments to Open Up the Space

Thick, long, or heavy curtains can make a space feel closed off and void of natural light. Open it up with some new window treatments. Vertical blinds and wood blinds are usually preferable to curtains, but they can be cost-prohibitive. Your local Habitat for Humanity ReStore may have some inexpensive ones available; they get overflow from contractors, builders, and other suppliers and then sell the items at a deep discount.

If curtains end up being your only option, choose lightly colored ones. Avoid long drapes. Opt for ones that hang just below the frame instead. Open the curtains whenever you have viewers.

Adding value to your home doesn't have to require a complete renovation. There are several inexpensive upgrades that can add value to any home. #homeimprovements #diy Click to Tweet

5. Add Some Life to the Space

Emerging science shows plant life calms people, and calmness can help a potential buyer feel welcome and at home in your space. As a result, they’ll be less likely to balk at your asking price.

Bring the outdoors in with some well-placed house plants. Focus on areas of the home that feel closed off or that lack in color. If your thumb is more brown than green, choose plants that don’t need a lot of watering or care. Aloe vera plants, “spider plants,” and indoor ivy plants are all low-maintenance options.

6. Give Your Home Some Added Curb Appeal

Curb appeal is a must when selling a home and can be an inexpensive upgrade especially with a little elbow grease! The outside of your home is the first thing that people see, both in person and on the real estate listing. Attract more buyers and pique the interest of more viewers by sprucing up the driveway, patio, and yard.

Place vibrantly colored potted plants by your door. Remove weeds and grass from the driveway, and then give it a deep clean. Trim bushes and hedges and add a layer of mulch or rock.

You may even want to consider reducing the maintenance load for your yard by adding a visually appealing mulch or gravel border or driveway path; it minimizes the work you’ll have to do in the future, and it appeals to buyers who don’t want to spend their entire weekend outdoors, maintaining a yard.

7. Replace or Refurbish Mirrors in Prominent Areas

While a mirror may not be a dealbreaker for most potential homebuyers, replacing or refurbishing the original builder mirror can increase interest, visual appeal, and the overall value of your home.

8. Give Your Kitchen an Inexpensive Makeover

It’s entirely possible to update your kitchen without doing a complete remodel. Cabinets can be painted or restained. Drawer pulls and knobs can be replaced or spray painted for a fresh look. Peel-and-stick backsplashes are fairly affordable but are visually appealing. You can even give your countertop a “paint job” with either concrete or a marble paint kit. Both options can produce stunning results.

Final Thoughts

Increasing the value of your home doesn’t have to be expensive. However, there are inexpensive and expensive items that add no value to your house, so when deciding what upgrades you’re going to do it’s important to know if they add any value.

So many owners wonder “how to increase home value by $50,000” and odds are inexpensive upgrades like paint won’t be enough. And never assume just because you spend $50,000 on “inexpensive upgrades” throughout your home you’ll get all of that money back and more. Sometimes inexpensive upgrades won’t pay off. So it’s important to choose home upgrades that add value as discussed in this article.

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Additional Real Estate Advice

• Staging a home for sale doesn’t necessarily mean spending a lot of money. There are countless things homeowners can do themselves. Sometimes it’s things they declutter and move around furniture. While other times it might cost a little bit of money to add plants or window treatments but simple inexpensive upgrades can help with the overall appearance.
• Regardless of a home’s size creating a backyard oasis will always add value. This added value may not be in monetary form, but it could increase the odds of receiving an offer for top dollar. Buyers want space and by creating a backyard oasis that’s one more space they can sit back and relax.

About the Author

Top Wellington Realtor, Michelle Gibson, wrote: “8 Inexpensive Upgrades That Add Value to Your Home.”

Michelle has been specializing in residential real estate since 2001 throughout Wellington Florida and the surrounding area. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or rent she will guide you through the entire real estate transaction. If you’re ready to put Michelle’s knowledge and expertise to work for you call or e-mail her today.

Areas of service include Wellington, Lake Worth, Royal Palm Beach, Boynton Beach, West Palm Beach, Loxahatchee, Greenacres, and more.

8 Inexpensive Upgrades That Add Value to Your Home