Selling your property can be a stressful time, especially when you are trying to squeeze out every last penny of value in your property. If you are planning on making small improvements to increase property value and prepare your home for the market, then this article is for you.

Consult Your Real Estate Agent Before You Begin

Many homeowners selling their property think it’s best to put it on the market and wait until an offer is received before beginning home improvements. However, most agents suggest the opposite.

Before you begin planning your projects or invest any time or money into them, invite your agent to come take a look at your home. They’ll suggest which improvements will have the best impact on its ability to appeal to buyers, while taking your budget and timeframe into consideration.

Once you’ve gotten your agent’s feedback and know what you need to tackle, it’s important that you complete your projects before putting your house on the market. If you wait, potential buyers are likely to take note during a showing of any work that still has to be done. It could potentially lead them to think more work will come up after they’ve bought your home.

The more you can present a home that is completely prepared for the market, the more you allow potential buyers to focus on what they love about your home and open the floor for an offer.

Affordable DIY Projects You Can Easily Tackle

Renovating your property can be intensely time- and money-consuming. However, the good news is that there are a great many inexpensive DIY projects available that can boost the value of your property.

Painting

One of the best and most cost-effective projects you can do yourself is slapping on a fresh coat of paint. You must be careful on the choice of color, but as long as you stick to neutral colors you will be able attract a larger number of buyers. The cost of painting your property is relatively inexpensive as well. The cost to paint the interior of an average house of 2,400 square-feet yourself can range from $1,000-$2,000. The return on investment (ROI) is definitely worth it, with most cases yielding over 100% ROI, according to this study by HomeGain. Painting the exterior of your property might be worth your consideration as well, with an average initial starting cost of $1,500 and an approximated 50% ROI.

Update Light Fixtures and Hardware

Another great DIY project you can do to improve the value of your property without spending a lot of money is updating light fixtures and hardware, like doorknobs and light switches. Recessed lighting in bedrooms or bathrooms can be a nice addition to give those rooms a more relaxed, warm feeling. Whereas adding a chandelier will give your room a bit more elegance. Chandeliers don’t need to be restricted to living or dining rooms; they can be added to bedrooms as well to give them a touch of class. Updating the hardware on cabinets and doors can be an effective, low-cost way to increase the value of your property. The cost to change hardware in rooms such as the kitchen or bathroom may most likely run around $100-$200, but can run higher or lower depending on the type of materials you choose.*

Declutter and Clean

The most cost-effective solution to increasing the value of your home is to simply declutter and clean it. The cost is minimal, yet cleaning and decluttering will increase the value of your property by much more than what you invested. HomeGain estimates that the ROI is over 400% and states that this simple improvement is recommended by 99% of real estate professionals. This also gives you the opportunity to give back to your community by donating some of those belongings you no longer have a use for.

Landscaping

Landscaping can be steep in cost if done professionally. However, if you are willing to do it yourself, then you will be able to reap much more of the benefits. You can keep the landscaping pretty simple by keeping your lawn healthy and adding a few drought-resistant plants throughout. Landscaping is recommended by 97% of real estate professionals and can yield a great return, with costs running less than $1,000 and an ROI exceeding 200%.

Conclusion

There are many DIY projects that you can invest your time and money into without breaking the bank while helping you sell at a higher price. The suggestions made here are low-cost, easily tackled, and effective; plus, the list does not stop here. We recommend that you contact your real estate agent for guidance as you select your DIY projects. As with any project, we recommend that you contact an expert in your area to assess your property and make recommendations that are specifically suited to your property.

*Source: Home Gain, http://blog.homegain.com

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Low Budget DIY Projects That Boost Property Value