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You don't have to spend a fortune renovating your house to ensure a quick sale at the best price. Some of the most effective fix-ups are also the cheapest.
Spending just $400 to $500 on fresh landscaping, for example, can boost your home's value by $1,600 to $1,800, according to a survey of real estate agents conducted by HomeGain, an Internet real estate service. Spend another $300 on cleaning and de-cluttering your home, the survey found, and you could add another $2,000 or more to the sale price.
To pinpoint the projects that make the most sense, start by touring your property with fresh eyes, as if you were a prospective buyer. Drive or walk up to your house and see how it appears from the street. Walk through the front door and take a look around. You might ask a trusted friend to help you spot problems, clutter and weird smells that you've long since stopped noticing. Keep a pen and pad handy to list the projects that need to be done.
On the outside
Here are some suggestions for the exterior of your home:- Start at the sidewalk. Landscaping makes a huge difference in how people perceive your home. Whack back overgrown bushes and trees so your house is visible from the street. Plant colorful annuals in the flowerbeds. Keep the lawn green and trimmed, even if you have to hire a gardening service or a local teenager to help.
- Revive a tired exterior. Painting exterior doors and window trim can freshen your home's look without the huge expense of a complete exterior repainting. Shine or replace worn door knockers and hardware. Replace or remove torn screens or damaged storm windows. Make sure exterior lights are working and have fresh bulbs -- some buyers like to cruise by your home at night to see how it looks.
- Remove outside clutter. Get rid of anything that blocks pathways or clutters up side yards, back yards and patios. This includes toys, excess furniture and tools.
- Clean your windows. You want your home to look as light and bright as possible. Dirty or spotted windows drag down a home's appearance.
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