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Home & Garden Articles
Inexpensive Changes Can Increase Your Home's Value
Mon 13 Apr 2009 - 11:06
Inexpensive Changes Can Increase Your Home's Value
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Ian_Marks]Ian Marks
In today's flat real estate market, many home sellers are looking for inexpensive ways to boost their home's value before listing it for sale. Here, in no particular order, are a few surprisingly simple - and relatively affordable - ways to make your property more attractive to buyers.
Nothing spruces up a house like a fresh coat of paint. If the exterior paint is in good condition but the overall appearance is dull, consider painting just the eaves and trim in a shade which complements the main color. Similarly, interiors painted in light, neutral, conventional shades will command a higher price.
Similarly, it's amazing how much a just a neglected front door can negatively impact the perceived value of your house. If your front door is peeling or in poor condition, repaint it in a durable gloss. While you're at it, repaint or replace that battered old mailbox too.
Excessive clutter can make rooms appear smaller and detract from your home's overall appearance. Eliminate as much as you can, up to and including the removal of any furniture which impedes the natural flow of traffic.
If light is an issue, replace interior light bulbs with bulbs of a higher wattage. Trim any low-hanging tree branches and shrubs which block the windows. Remember, you want visitors to see your home as open and inviting - never cramped or dimly-lit.
Hang a large mirror or two in the living room or bedrooms. As any decorator worth his or her salt can tell you, mirrors create the illusion of more space, opening up rooms and providing additional (reflected) illumination.
Replace damaged or worn vinyl floors in your kitchen and bathrooms. If possible, upgrade to tile or another more upscale flooring material. However, even fresh sheet vinyl beats the dingy old stuff.
If you're fortunate enough to have hardwood floors lurking beneath old wall-to-wall carpeting, consider pulling up the carpet and having the wood floors professionally refinished. This isn't cheap, but it can pay off handsomely in the form of a higher sales price. If your carpets have localized stains and new carpets are out of the question, consider concealing them with area rugs (of course, this doesn't relieve you of your duty to disclose such defects to interested buyers).
Replace all non-working window latches and bolts with new hardware, and oil squeaky door and cabinet hinges. While you're at it, test all light switches and electrical outlets and repair any that don't work. As a finishing touch, replace all outlet and switch plates with new ones. Be sure to choose something nicer than the old ivory-colored plastic that came with the house.
In the kitchen, degrease your oven and clean out your refrigerator. Scratched appliances can often be refreshed with a careful application of touch-up paint. More serious paint issues can be resolved with a complete re-spray, either by a skilled homeowner or professional appliance repair person.
If you have a green thumb, consider installing planter boxes outside your windows and filling them with cheery, colorful flowers. Not every house lends itself to this treatment, but those that do can benefit immensely.
Finally, remember that clutter is as much a problem outdoors as it is in. Dilapidated garden sheds, rusting swing-sets, and non-working "project" cars are among the worst things you can have on display when a prospective buyer tours your house. Get rid of them!
With dozens of articles appearing in print and online, Ian Marks writes about anything and everything, including entertainment, the economy, and the environment. He is a regular contributor to http://www.hardtimesherald.com and offers money-saving tips and advice at http://www.mommysownmoney.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ian_Marks http://EzineArticles.com/?Inexpensive-Changes-Can-Increase-Your-Homes-Value&id=2185287
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