Selling a home can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re unsure how to get the best return on your investment. If you’re wondering how to boost your sale price without draining your savings, you’re in luck—there are plenty of cheap ways to add value to your home that can make a big difference. These budget-friendly improvements can increase your home’s appeal and give you a competitive edge in the market.
With a bit of elbow grease and some thoughtful upgrades, you can make your home shine and set yourself up for success on closing day. So don’t let the stress of selling weigh you down—start making smart, affordable changes now, and your future self will thank you.
We’ve compiled some inexpensive ways to add serious appeal—and most importantly, value—to your home.
Curb Appeal Matters and First Impressions Count
The first thing a buyer will see is the exterior of your home. You want it to draw them in. You might even attract attention with an open house if your exterior is appealing enough and draws the eye.
A little bit of planning can go a long way here. Some suggestions:
- Trim bushes and remove dead or overgrown plants. If you’re no longer up to doing it yourself, or your yard has been neglected, talk to your real estate agent about finding a good landscaper.
- Take good care of your lawn, if you have one. Make sure your lawn is neat and well-trimmed. If it’s the appropriate season, add some fertilizer or lawn food or aerate the lawn. If it’s just a matter of mowing, don’t be afraid to get help.
- Pressure wash your home. A good pressure wash will clean your siding. You can rent a pressure washer from most hardware stores for about $50 to $90 per day, although you might be able to get away with a shorter period. If you (or a younger friend or family member) can’t handle it yourself, a pressure washing company will do it for $170 to $360, which is still very reasonable.
- Add a fresh coat of paint. If you have wood siding, you should paint the entire home. Vinyl siding doesn’t typically need to be repainted. At a minimum, repaint the front door and first-floor trim.
- Add some decorative plants. Your front yard might be dull if you aren’t a keen gardener. Add some low-maintenance plants that are appropriate for the climate—native plants are often the best. Talk to the staff at your local nursery or hardware store.
Keep It Cheap and Keep It DIY
Everything you can do yourself is cheaper, but don’t be afraid to splash out a little bit. Remember that buyers will be making quick judgments when they enter. You don’t have to clear out your home, but you should do something about the clutter that accumulates, especially if you have pets. There are lots of things you can do, which include:
- Clean, and then clean again. Do a thorough deep cleaning of your entire home. Steam clean the carpets. Use scent-free cleaning supplies so unpleasant cleaning scent (or strong fragrances a buyer might not like) don’t linger.
- Declutter your life. If you are downsizing, get rid of the stuff you don’t plan on keeping now. If you are moving, get rid of anything you don’t want to move. Donate items, give them to your kids, whatever it takes.
- Sweat the small stuff. Replace old and unsightly light switches and outlet covers. Remove your personal art, but if the walls look blank, add something neutral. Replace flickering bulbs.
- When in doubt, repaint. Repaint your interior if it is worn or, shall we say, uniquely tailored to your taste. Use neutral but appealing colors. Paint the walls before replacing switch covers. You can also repaint your bathroom and kitchen cabinets.
- Check your cabinets. Replace cabinet knobs and handles if they are loose or outdated. Buyers will often want to look in cabinets to get an idea of their size.
A lot of this is stuff you can do yourself, although you might want to hire a cleaning service or painters if you’re doing larger projects.
More Advanced Projects
Talk to your real estate agent before doing anything expensive. They know what will bring up the value in your specific property and neighborhood. Focus on things that have a good return on investment (ROI). Here are some ideas:
- Tread lightly. Look at the state of your floor and carpet. Sometimes carpets can be fixed with a good steam clean. But they may also be simply worn. Replace floors and carpeting with versatile colors, nothing trendy or unusual.
- Update first, replace second. Can you reglaze dated fixtures such as bathtubs or sinks, or will you need to replace them? Make sure to use the right paint for these fixtures. But even if you love them, consider changing the color. Replace faucets that are a little sticky, ugly, or dated.
- Start in the kitchen. Homebuyers spend a lot of time looking at the kitchen. Make sure you choose quality, midrange appliances. Replace anything that isn’t working correctly or that you plan on taking with you. Buyers expect a stove, fridge, and microwave, and most want a dishwasher too. (If you don’t own a dishwasher, consider adding one.) You may not want to invest in new cabinets, but you should consider the cheaper option of new fronts.
- Look at your driveway. If your driveway is chipped, cracked, or peeling, call somebody to get it fixed. It’s annoying to repair the driveway after moving in. This might also be something you can arrange to do after you move out and before the seller moves in.
- If your garage and entry doors are faulty or old, consider replacing them. Make sure your garage door opens reliably and replace the battery in the door opener proactively.
55places Can Help You Sell Your Home!
These are all simple, relatively cheap ways to add value to your home. They can also decrease your time to sell, especially in a competitive market. If you do your homework, talk to your agent, and put in some work, it’ll be worth it when you close on the best possible price.
If you’re ready to sell your home but don’t know where to start, 55places.com can connect you with a skilled real estate agent. Our Partner Agents can help you sell your home fast and for the best price. You will have someone in your corner from the initial consultation to closing and every step in between. Contact us today for help selling your home!
