Selling your home and want to avoid renovations? Getting by with quick fixes

Your home’s décor and its value go hand in hand. If you are one of the many who wants to take advantage of the rebounding real estate market and put your house up for sale, you are probably thinking about doing some renovations. Unless your home is brand new, it will have a lived in feel that you can’t get rid of unless you do some major work. You might need a paint job or your carpet is extremely worn and needs replacing. No matter what needs to be touched up, you can still manage to save a few dollars here and there by avoiding major renovations and focusing on your décor.

The first step? Assess the damage with a critical eye. If you’ve ever watched real estate programs on television you’ll have seen homeowners with bright, neon yellow walls in their kitchens and green carpet on their floors.  They may have holes in their walls and ceilings, or floor ripping up in certain areas. These are the people that are always shocked when their house doesn’t immediately sell.  By assessing your home with an eye to the newest styles and décor, you will understand what must be changed before you get started. What makes you happy in your home doesn’t necessarily extend to the greater public.

Once you have a good idea of what needs to be done, figure out exactly how you can perform the renovations and still save yourself money.  Does your kitchen need to be painted? If so, perform the painting yourself. Hiring a painter is costly and if you have the skills required, you can easily paint your kitchen for a fraction of the cost.  Another quick and inexpensive update for kitchens is changing the hardware on your cupboards. Stainless steel is very eye-catching, and will give your cupboards, no matter the style, a modern feel.

If your carpet is worn in spots but overall is in good condition, consider putting its best face forward through the artful use of area rugs. In a neutral room, you can focus on the colors of your couch, curtains, and throw pillows when choosing an area rug. Contemporary area rugs are a nice touch to any home, and as they often have a pattern that catches your eye you can use them as a focal point for the room.

Believe it or not, when purchasing a home most homeowners take a good long look at your sinks and faucets. Chipped sinks should be replaced, and facets that are dirty or broken should be fixed or replaced as well. A great investment is a high-end faucet that adds to your kitchen or bathroom, or a rain-shower sprinkler for your tub. Both items add a sense of luxury to your home.

When getting ready to sell, it can be overwhelming trying to fix everything to the needs of the new homebuyer. Finding quick, inexpensive ways to alter the style and décor of your home will often net you the largest interest and gains.