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Thinking about selling your home some day?

Spending money on a house you are considering selling isn’t exactly an appealing thought. However, changing the look and installing a few changes in the right areas will not only make it more enjoyable to live in, but will increase it’s selling value should you actually decide to sell.

Are you wondering which projects you should take on and which to put on the back burner?

Here Are Some Tips 

Real estate agents know what buyers are looking for when they are shopping for a new home.

According to Jim Hamilton, a real estate agent and past president of the California Association of Realtors, “There are some basic things that can make your house more livable and more marketable.”

Consider these low-cost ideas to help maintain your house, enjoy living in it, and boost your sale price one day should you ever sell.

 Cosmetic The Kitchen

Your kitchen is an important selling point. “If you choose not to install that new kitchen, many buyers will expect a deep discount on home price,” Hamilton says. “Conservatively, I’d say they’d want 50% above the cost of the work. If it needs a $10,000 kitchen, they might ask for $15,000.”

However, he says you don’t have to break the bank to get results similar to a huge remodeling project. “Some inexpensive, cosmetic changes can help give your kitchen a fresh new look,” Hamilton says.

Paint your cabinets and switch out chipped pulls and knobs for something new and eye-catching. Or spend a bit more and install new cabinet doors and drawer fronts onto your existing boxes. For the rest of the kitchen, roll on a fresh coat of wall paint in a white or neutral color. While you love your red kitchen, potential buyers may not. Keep in mind, this tip applies not only to your kitchen but also to the remainder of the house.

Replace outdated fluorescent fixtures with recessed lighting or even more affordable surface-mounted tracks of adjustable spotlights. “Those old fluorescent light boxes really date a kitchen,” says Kingwood, Texas, contractor Fred Spaulding, a former officer of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Install a shiny, new faucet. Many high-quality models are available for less than $200.

 Spend Less on the Bathroom

Bathroom improvements can range from subtle updates to grand makeovers. Either way, upgrading the bathroom tends to garner rewards at resale.

Here are some affordable fixes:

• Remove dirty shower grout with a $10 grout-stripping saw and smooth on a new coat, or hire a handyman to do this inexpensive job.
• Peel up grimy caulk and lay down a bright, fresh bead in its place.
• Replace smaller, less expensive items, like the toilet seat and towel bars.
• Instead of ripping out old porcelain tubs and sinks, pay a professional to reglaze them.

Make Over the Master for Less

Staging the master suite is important. Outdated bedding and curtains can be a turnoff for buyers. By shopping in the home decor departments at stores like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls, you can find name-brand items at discount prices.

• Consider adding built-in organizers to your closet.
• Installing crown molding can be an inexpensive home project that can help boost the elegance factor in your master. Not only will it increase your home’s value but it also could be a great selling point.
• Without spending much, plush towels, candles and new cabinet pulls can make this space more inviting.

Less Means More (Done if actually selling)

Consider placing excess furniture in storage, or asking a friend to keep it in their garage until the house is sold. Most people don’t realize that the more items in a living room, the smaller it will appear. Keep it simple. A couch, love seat, coffee table and a floor lamp, unless it is a truly large living space. Your favorite Lazy-boy with the end tables on each side, along with an abundance of other furniture, can make a room appear cramped and smaller than it actually is.

Cost-effective Curb Appeal

Curb appeal and first impressions are important. Adding some flowers to your front steps is an easy way to create an inviting feel. In addition:

• Keep your lawn cut and grass green. By using a nitrogen-rich fertilizer, you should see results in just two to three weeks.
• Install a new front-door handle, hinges, house numbers and doorknocker to increase potential.
• Power-wash and re-stain weathered wood decks. If rebuilding, consider using synthetic materials that require less maintenance and hold up well.
• Touch up paint around entryway and make sure your windows are spotless.

 When You Must Sell

If you need to sell ASAP, there’s no guarantee you’ll recoup the money you’ve invested. In some cases, you might be better off marketing your house “as is.” “It totally depends on the local competition,” Hamilton says. Here’s what he suggests:

• Before you start any projects, study a list of homes that have recently sold and are on the market in your area to determine the market value of your house.
• Ask a local real estate agent to arrange visits inside current comparable homes in your neighborhood. If they all have brand-new kitchens, you’ll probably either have to install a new kitchen or lower your asking price.
• Try to make cost-effective changes where you can. If this isn’t an option, realize that you can’t count on the same price as more updated properties.