Fixing up your home can be daunting… and expensive!
Maybe you want to increase the potential sale price. Perhaps you’re just looking to spruce up your home for the season. Unfortunately, no matter where you turn, every improvement seems to blow your budget out of the water.
Fear not! There are many cheap fixes you can do to increase your home’s value in Grand Rapids. While several of these take some time and elbow grease, the end results can be truly beautiful. Let’s dive in!
1. Paint Your Area
Let’s start with a big one. For many homes, fresh paint can provide the most bang for your buck. If you properly prepare your walls, take your time, and use the right number of coats, a freshly painted room brings a whole new feel to a space.
As a word of advice… don’t be afraid to ‘splurge’ on a higher quality brush, painter’s tape, or drop cloth. The right tools will make the painting process faster, cleaner, and more enjoyable.
2. Replace Grout and Caulk
Grout and caulk are found in a surprising number of locations around the home. You can find them with your windows, throughout the kitchen, in the bathroom, and on the floors. Since they are typically used to seal and connect small areas, they get grimy quickly.
Scrape out the old stuff, and replace it with fresh material. This is a great job to work on if you only have a few minutes a day, because you can finish one small area at a time without wrecking your whole house.
3. Get a New Toilet Seat
It’s strange to think of, but toilet seats take a lot of wear. Chipping, discoloration, and squeaks are very common.
Fortunately, toilet seats aren’t very expensive, and come in a wide variety of colors and functions. You can even find no-slam seats and specialized units for potty training. Don’t let a dingy throne ruin your bathroom!
4. Install New Door / Drawer / Cupboard Handles
Old, outdated door handles really age a home. Mismatched knobs give it a hodgepodge look, and loose ones are just annoying.
You can find pleasant, matching handles for your doors, drawers, and cupboards for a few dollars, and the result can redefine the look of an area.
5. Power Washing
Curb appeal is crucial to home value. Whether you are getting ready to sell your house, or just want to present the most attractive front possible, having a clean exterior is key. Power washing your siding, deck , and driveway can make a drastic difference in the look of your home.
You can borrow a power washer from friends, or rent one from a local hardware store. By removing the grime and gunk from the exterior of your house, you will make it look brighter, fresher, and more inviting.
6. Install a New Front Door
This is a list about cheap fixes that will improve your home’s value in Grand Rapids. While a new front door is one of the more expensive items on the list, it also has a huge impact.
The entryway of your house shapes your guest’s first impression as they walk in. Home buyers often make purchasing decisions very quickly, so you want to start off on the right foot. Installing a door that welcomes your visitors with class and style is an excellent way to improve value.
7. Floor Cleaning / Re-finishing
Let’s face it… floors get filthy. Normal wear and tear, tracked-in mud, and furniture scratches can make the prettiest floors look rough over time.
You will be amazed at how different they look after a thorough cleaning. Typical vacuuming and sweeping don’t get the ‘deep’ dirt out of your floor. I recommend renting a carpet-specific wet vac, or a specialized wood cleaner to remove the grime.
If you have hardwood, re-finishing it makes a house feel new. This is relatively expensive if you hire a crew, but is more reasonable as a do-it-yourself project. The results can be very impressive.
8. Ticky-Tack Repairs
Most homes have several ‘little things’ that are out of sorts. Perhaps there’s a burnt out light bulb above the sink, or a squeaky window. Maybe you have to jiggle the toilet handle, or a cracked downspout is leaking water.
Many of these repairs take just a few minutes (or a few dollars). However, tackling these small things make your home feel ‘finished.’ Potential buyers will have less to worry about, and you will have fewer small annoyances throughout your day. Plan to knock them out one or two at a time, and you’ll feel much better in a few weeks.
9. Screens and Window Cleaning
I don’t tend to think about my windows and screens very often. Sure, they get dirty sometimes, but how bad can it really be?
If you want to check, run a clean paper towel over the OUTSIDE of one of your windows. It becomes pretty obvious just how much dirt they collect!
Grab a ladder, bucket, and towel, and clean those windows. Pop out your screens, and give them a good soap and rinse. Your views will be clearer and brighter, and your house will let more light in.
10. Landscaping
Think of your landscaping as a really big ‘WELCOME’ mat. People will see the exterior of your home long before they check out the inside… make it great!
Weed the flowerbeds, and clean up the mulch. Add a flower box or two, and consider patching up the cracked concrete in the driveway. These fixes are small on their own, but when combined, make for a great first impression.
Doing some (or all) of these cheap fixes should increase your home value in Grand Rapids. So dig in, get to work, and enjoy the fruits of your labor!