Just because you’re on a tight budget doesn’t mean you can’t give your home a facelift. There are many cost-effective ways to give your home a fresh look and make minor improvements. These 5 home improvement tips will give you the tools you need.

1.      New Paint

A new coat of paint is the most cost-effective way to transform the look of your home. Before you pick a color visit your local paint store and purchase inexpensive samples. Painting samples on a wall will save you money in the long run by helping you pick the perfect color the first time.

2.      New Hardware

After you’ve freshly painted the inside and outside of your home it’s time to update the hardware. This includes outdoor light fixtures, the handles and knobs on your kitchen cabinets and doorknobs and door stoppers. Purchasing new hardware is much less expensive than replacing cabinets.

3.      Pressure Washing

Over time houses built up a layer of dirt and grime. Pressure washing the outside of your home, your sidewalk and driveway, will make your house look much cleaner and well-kept. Instead of purchasing an expensive pressure washer you can rent one from your local hardware store.

4.      New Landscaping

There are many ways to cut costs when updating your landscaping. First, you can do the work yourself and secondly you can plant plants that will survive your area’s harsh weather. Choose plants that won’t have to be replaced year after year and instead of mulch consider using pine needles.

5.      A Little Something Extra

If you have some money left over do a little something extra for yourself. Consider building a patio in the backyard or replacing your old kitchen appliances. These things can be done little by little so as not to break the bank.

Selling your home is a big decision which is why many people go back and forth about putting their house on the market. There are pros and cons to staying in your home or putting it on the market, so let’s take a look at them.

3 Reasons to Stay

1.      If it isn’t affordable to move. There’s nothing wrong with wanting a change of scenery, but be careful not to spread your finances too thin. When you finally make a move you need to be able to financially support it.

2.      If renovations could make you love your home again. Renovating your home can give you a fresh start and help you fall back in love with your house. Renovations don’t have to be extensive and costly. New paint, new kitchen cabinets, updated appliances and brand new hardware can really transform a space.  

3.      If your family is nearly grown. Raising teenagers in a tight space has its challenges, but if your kids are about to move out and make you an empty nester it can be best to hang in there until they’ve move away. As cramped as things are right now you’ll soon have more space to spread out.

3 Reasons to Go

1.      If you’re ready for a long awaited change. It’s not uncommon to fall out of love with your home and the neighborhood you love in. Our tastes and needs change over time. Living in an area that you don’t love can be very dissatisfying, so if you’re ready for a change go for it!

2.      If your home is overcrowded. If your family has outgrown your home and sharing you tight space is causing friction it’s time to go house hunting.

3.      If there are bigger and better opportunities for you somewhere else. If you’re ready for a big life change and you don’t feel like you’re going to find it where you currently live take the leap and relocate.

Are you ready to put your home on the market, but need to do some painting before it’s move-in ready? Follow these helpful tips for a flawless finish the first time.

Buyers want a good home buying experience. The last thing they want is to be overwhelmed by how much extra work they’ll have to do to make your house their home. Before you put your house on the market imagine yourself as the buyer and take an honest look at everything that needs a good cleaning.

1.      Pressure Wash

Get rid of the layers of dirt and grime that are covering your home. Spray down the walls, sidewalk and driveway. If you don’t own a pressure washer there’s no need to buy one. Some hardware stores have them for rent.

2.      Revamp The Yard

Give the yard a spring cleaning. Pull the weeds, trim the trees, rake the leaves and replace the dead plants. All of this can be done in a day’s work and will vamp up your home’s curb appeal.

3.      Clean The Garage

Clutter makes spaces feel much smaller than they actually are and the garage is no exception. Not only are garages the “hold all” for everything that you don’t want cluttering up the house, they also gather dust, leaves and dirt as well as unwelcome insects. Give your garage an overhaul and get it nice and tidy for your open house.

4.      Re-grout

Old mildewed grout is a big turnoff to buyers. Even if your home is spotless the day buyers come by, dirty dark grout is going to be a big red flag. Avoid this problem completely and make this necessary improvement.

5.      Clean The Carpets

Just like mildewed grout, dirty floors can be a deal breaker for buyers, but many floors can be given a fresh start with a good thorough professional cleaning. You’ll be surprised at how great your floors can look afterwards.   

Last week we talked about the 4 reasons buyers don’t like a home, so naturally this week we want to hear what Barbara Corcoran has to say. Her great advice on getting a house ready to sell is sure to help you attract the right buyer.