Improvement 1. Paint a room. This is the simplest, least expensive way to update and bring new life to any part of your home.
Improvement 2. Replace your most worn-out carpeting. Loop carpeting is great for high-use areas such as family rooms, because it's so durable. Twist carpet is softer to walk on and a better choice for bedrooms. But whatever style and color you choose, getting rid of stained and dated flooring can make a world of difference.
Improvement 3. Fix a cracked walkway or patio. Instead of pouring fresh concrete, use pretty pavers. The possibilities are endless -- bricks, stone, patio tiles -- and will have a major impact on your home's curb appeal.
Improvement 4. Add more insulation. Helping your home battle the elements will make it cheaper to heat and cool, and easier to maintain a comfortable temperature in every room.
Improvement 5. Stop drafts around doors and windows. Caulking and weather stripping can cut utility bills and keep that cold shiver from running down your neck.
Improvement 6. Do a mini-makeover of your kitchen. Complete renovations are expensive, but small changes can still give the room a totally new feel. Change the hardware on kitchen cabinets ($100); paint the cabinets ($150); add new mosaic tile backsplash ($200); install new lighting ($100).
Improvement 7. Plant a tree. It will enhance the look of your yard.
Improvement 8. Replace light fixtures. Taking out that brassy chandelier and replacing it with a sleek, modern fixture can instantly update a room. How much you spend is up to you; options are endless at prices that go from $50 to the thousands.
Improvement 9. Redecorate a bathroom. Paint the walls. Replace the lights. Install new faucets. Hang a new shower curtain. Put down new rugs. Amazing things can happen to your dull, dingy bathroom without spending a fortune.
Improvement 10. Organize your garage. Getting rid of all the clutter will make tools and paint cans easier to find. And who knows, maybe your car can finally fit inside.
Another point worth mentioning is to finish unfinished spaces. Payback on a developed basement is between 50-100% and it will allow your home to compete with the best!
HGTV is the second best source for everything real estate.....us being the first
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Renovating for re-sale + top 10 reno's to save money
