By Maria Conti Republished from HGTV
Build In Charm
From cozy window benches to stately fireside bookshelves, custom built-ins lend your home a stand-out quality that will leave a lasting impression on prospective buyers. Popular locales for built-in shelves or bookcases are living rooms, offices and dining rooms, while built-in window seats add ample charm to kids’ bedrooms, playrooms or breakfast nooks.
Add a Fresh Coat of Paint
You might be a fan of burgundy bedroom walls but chances are, the mass population won’t feel the same. Head to the home improvement store for a few gallons of a light, neutral paint to appeal to the mass market. Light gray, beige and classic white are all fool-proof picks.
Stain the Floors
Bring your beautiful hardwood floors back to life by adding a few coats of dark stain. We love this trick because not only does it give your home a handsome, fresh look but it also disguises years of wear and tear.
Update Your Countertops
It’s true: Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. If budget allows, invest in upgrading any dated countertops in these spaces with timeless materials like classic marble, creamy quartz or neutral soapstone. While replacing counters is certainly an investment, buyers are often more inclined to make an offer on a home that requires minimal expensive updates.
Install New Hardware
Toss any dated or tarnished cabinet pulls and replace them with sleek nickel or brushed brass hardware to give your kitchen and baths a current and clean look. The key to success is to stick to hardware with simple or classic silhouettes that speak to the architectural style of your home.
Paint the Kitchen Cabinets
Unfortunately, orange-y oak cabinets from circa 1993 aren’t doing so hot in today’s real estate market. Bring your cabinets into the 21st century with a fresh coat of paint. Be sure to stick to neutral colors like dove gray, beige or a classic white hue to appeal to the masses.
Slap on Subway Tile
Don’t let grimy and/or dated tile be the reason prospective buyers walk away without putting in an offer. Roll up your sleeves and install some crisp, white subway tile to give your kitchen or bath a fresh, universal look that works with many different design styles. Don’t forget to refresh existing tile by cleaning or touching up worn or stained grout.
Update Bath Fixtures
Roll out the red-carpet treatment and treat buyers to new, fancy bath fixtures. Shop for fixtures that have an enviable spa-like quality, and be sure to use a timeless finish such as nickel or brushed brass.
Makeshift a Mudroom
Mudrooms are the number one defense against commute-related clutter and dirty shoes, messy paws and snowy boots invading your home. Create a streamlined space near your garage, basement or back door to organize everyday essentials like shoes, bags, pet supplies and more. You can invest in a built-in wall cabinet or create a similar system with a shoe bench, wall shelves and strategically placed hooks.
Add Crown Molding
Install crown molding to woo prospective buyers as soon as they step through the door. This traditional, cosmetic update is easy to DIY and has the power to give a space a polished appearance. Who wouldn’t want that, right?
Create Architectural Interest Overhead
Take your crown molding project one step further and install a focal-point ceiling in a high-traffic area of your home. Installing distinctive millwork overhead infuses the space with character and ensures your home stands apart from its competitors. Use your home’s architectural style as your guide for selecting the best ceiling trim for the room. Faux beams or a shiplap-adorned ceiling will look at home in a farmhouse family room, while a classic coffered ceiling appears seamless in a traditional primary suite.
Design Your Utility Spaces
Utility spaces, like your laundry room, are often overlooked but are worth sprucing up before listing your home. We find ourselves sorting, treating and folding clothes in the laundry room for hours each week, so designing a space worth spending time in will be in your favor. If you’re on a budget, add a few fresh coats of paint to the wall and deep clean your floors. Or, go all in and install some built-in cabinets, floating shelves and a charming light fixture for added appeal.
Update Ceiling Fans and Light Fixtures
No one wants that dated ceiling fan from 1987, and they certainly don’t want the glossy, brass chandelier that comes with it. Invest in replacing any dated ceiling fixtures in the home, prioritizing the high-traffic areas first.
Organize Your Garage
Sports equipment, gardening essentials, carpentry tools — you name it, it’s probably in the garage somewhere. Our advice? Install a wall-mounted or free-standing organization system to give homebuyers a glimpse into what their life could look like with a well-organized garage. This tidy garage offers ample inspiration with floor-to-ceiling storage for hobbies, tools, exercise gear and more. Create your own organization wall, or take a scaled-back approach by painting your garage walls white and installing thoughtful hooks, shelves and baskets for purposeful storage.
Spruce Up the Front Yard
You’d be surprised at the impact that a Saturday spent in the yard can do for your home’s curb appeal. Head out to your home improvement store and pick up a handsome new mailbox and a few manicured shrubs to give your home an inviting and elegant appearance.
Refresh Your Garage Door
Never underestimate the visual impact a well-maintained garage door has on your home. Give your home a facelift on a Saturday afternoon by repairing and repainting your garage door. Or, if it’s well past its prime, consider investing in a new door before listing. This is another example of a pricey update that buyers will appreciate not needing to immediately address after moving into their new home.
Power Wash Your Driveway
Another afternoon project that requires minimal effort but goes a long way? Power-washing your driveway, walkways and patio. Throw on your headphones and some close-toed shoes and get to work, washing away the dirt, debris and pastel chalk marks from your kiddos before listing. You’ll be surprised at how this ultra-satisfying chore revives your curb appeal and lends a fresh, welcoming look to your home’s facade.
Create a Pretty Patio
Draw buyers in with a simple, DIY paver patio, budget-friendly dining set and some festive string lights. A few potted posies and a pretty outdoor rug will help paint the picture of what their life could look like if the buyers purchase your home.
Heat Up Your Backyard With a Fire Pit
Heat up the interest in your backyard by adding any prospective homeowner’s dream: a fire pit. A fire pit is a selling point for many because the cozy flames create a natural gathering place for friends, family and neighbors year-round. You can build a stone fire pit and patio from scratch, or invest in a portable pit and outdoor lounge chairs to provide buyers with a peek of the possibilities in the outdoor space.
Opt for Evergreens
Breathe life into your home’s façade with plenty of potted and planted evergreens. While blooming beauties are always a welcome addition to your garden, creating a base of evergreen plants ensures a yard will look lush year-round. In other words, if you need to list your home mid-winter, you can rest assured buyers will still be able to see the enduring appeal of your garden thanks to your tailored boxwoods, head-turning rhododendron or glossy gardenia plants.
