Selling Your House? These 5 Renovation Ideas are Easy and Inexpensive

Considering selling your house?

Before you call your realtor, take a close look at your house and the exterior.

Is there anything you could improve?

If so, what’s your budget and how much time do you have before you offer it to the market?

Extensive renovations could delay getting the process.

To cut on cost and save time, you can focus on smaller repairs to help you improve its appearance within your budget.

Here are some remodeling ideas to consider before selling.

1. Spruce up your exterior and landscaping

The first impression is critical, and you only get one chance to either nail or mess it.

The best sweetener for your buck comes when you keep your yard in tip-top condition to enhance its appeal.

Enhancing your exterior doesn’t have to cost you a fortune.

Trim trees and shrubs, mulch flowerbeds, and cover bare spots with seasonal and colorful plants. Such small investments create value when selling your home.

You will get more than 100% return on investment for the cost of landscaping.

2. Make minor kitchen enhancements

The kitchen is the heart and the focal point of every home.

Is yours worn down or outdated?

Remodeling your kitchen may cost thousands of dollars. Luckily for you, there are many affordable ways to modernize it without breaking the bank.

The Remodeling Magazine’s 2018 Cost vs. Value Report, says you can recoup more than 81 percent of the total cost of minor kitchen remodels.

You can choose to renew some areas instead of full replacement. You can swap outdated hardware and taps; reface hardwood floors, cabinets, and drawers. You may also paint the walls in the room or upgrade appliances.

There’s just something about new handles, doors, and stainless steel appliances that make people excited.

Showing an impressive kitchen will almost always make the difference between a maximum and an average offer.

As a result, you can recoup 87% of your investment.

3. Replace windows, doors, and floor

Do your windows look run-down or letting in drafts?
Consider replacing them.

In fact, consider steel doors for your home safety. Also according to the Remodeling Magazine’s 2018 report, you can recoup more than 80% of the cost.

Remember to highlight your new doors or windows as selling features to your prospects.

New flooring can also be a high-traffic area.

You can fix your hardwood floor where there are scratches. In case of tiles, you can consider replacing the broken ones in little time.

New flooring makes a huge difference in how your house comes across to potential buyers.

Installing hardwood is costly, but you can recoup up to 80% of the cost.

However, if you're working on a budget, then focus on replacing floors in public areas such as living room and kitchen, and opt for a less costly carpet in the bedrooms.

4. Replace your garage door

A 10-year old garage door is worth replacing.

Like any front door, it encounters a lot of elements. In a short time the door may not work properly and look weathered.

Replacing your garage door can cost $500 to $2500, depending on the material you use, the features, and the number of doors involved.

5. Refresh your bathroom

A dingy or outdated bathroom is a turn-off.

Luckily for you, there are ideas you can consider to renew your bathroom, even on a budget. Instead of a complete remodel, consider do-it-yourself ways such as repainting walls, installing a new sink, replacing light fixtures, refinishing cabinets and drawers or upgrading to a new toilet.

Replacing fixtures and mirrors also go a long way to improve the look and feel of your bathrooms.

Studies show that minor bathroom remodels can provide a 102% return on investment while spending less.

Final Thoughts

Understandably, there are other critical things to repair before selling your house; for example a faulty heating system, leaking roof, structural issues or anything that would prevent a prospective buyer from getting a mortgage.

Apart from such extremes, renovating doesn’t have to blow your budget.

Leaving repairs to the buyer is not a smart thing to do if you are looking to recoup most money out of the sale. But if your house is deplorable and looking to get it out with a quick sale, then consider selling to a professional cash home buyer.

However, such buyers will not pay a traditional market value of your house. Only consider this option if you prefer to sell quickly, not do any work, pay no costs, and get the remaining equity fast.

So take the time to sell your house right.

These 5 remodeling ideas before selling will make it sell faster and for more cash.

And some of them aren't even very much work.