10 simple home improvement projects that add real value to your home (updated for 2020)

Posted by Dan Miller, REALTOR on Saturday, September 19th, 2020 at 8:08am.

Thinking of selling your home in the coming year? Below are 10 low-cost home improvement projects that add real value to your home. Over the years we've helped many sellers completely transform the look of their home by implementing these and similar projects. In some cases clients have increased their home's market value by tens of thousands of dollars through their sweat equity and only a minimal financial investment.   

Simple Home Improvement Projects

10 low-cost home improvement projects

1) Replace dated bathroom mirrors, towel bars, and towel rings with newer and inexpensive pieces. This one simple change can dramatically improve the appearance of a dated bathroom. Our amazing stager, Debbie Lea, can show you which products to buy and where to buy them. Remember, we offer Debbie's services free of charge as a standard benefit in our marketing plan.  

2) Replace a large, dated ceiling fan with a newer, sleeker fan or an affordable flush mount. Eliminating the dated fixture will make the room appear more spacious and up-to-date. Contact our team for guidance on which fixture you should purchase as a replacement. 

3) Swap out dated cabinet hardware with newer hardware from Menards or Home Depot. At $3 per pull, this is a quick and inexpensive way to upgrade the look of your kitchen and bathroom cabinets. Once again, we can offer guidance on which replacement parts to purchase.  

4) Remove wallpaper and replace with paint. Most buyers object to wallpaper. Replacing wallpaper with a neutral paint color is an easy way to boost your home's market value and increase its mass appeal. Kilim Beige from Sherwin Williams is a versatile color that works well in many of our staged listings. 

5) Apply touch-up stain to fatigued cabinets and trim. Stained wood can become worn over time. You can easily refresh wooden surfaces by applying matching stain to the affected areas. Rubbing the stain in with a cloth usually does the trick. 

6) Paint dated fireplace trim. Many older fireplaces have gold or brass-colored trim which date the unit. You can quickly create a more modern look by painting the trim black.

7) Replace dining room carpet with affordable wood or luxury vinyl flooring. Most buyers don't care for carpet in the dining room. Fortunately, there are many newer, affordable flooring products that appeal to today's buyer. Contact Mike King to upgrade your flooring. Mike is a flooring specialist who provides excellent service at a fair price. Call Mike on his cell at 608-289-4655. 

8) Replace dated electrical switch plates with newer switch plates. White switch plates are typically the best choice. 

9) Replace large, fluorescent light fixtures with more modern fixtures that give off more light. Many homes built in the seventies have kitchens with dated, fluorescent fixtures. Replacing the old fixture with a new one will give your kitchen a brand new look. 

10) Remove dated curtains. This is simple addition by subtraction. Let the natural light pour into your home by removing those curtains which are no longer in style. 

More home improvement resources

Here are 4 additional resources that will help you prepare for a successful sale. 

1) Read our article on our top 5 ways to increase your home's market value. Hint: our #1 tip is to always consult with a professional home stager. 

2) Check out our blog to see how other home owners have benefited from the home staging process. 

3) Contact Grant Priehs to implement your list of home improvement projects. Grant is a versatile handyman who also has a keen eye for design. Give Grant a call at 773-307-5288. 

4) Give Stephen Meyer with Phenomenal Carpet Care a call at (608) 520-3085 if your carpets need attention. He can let you know if traditional steam cleaning or the new eco-friendly pad system could save you time and money instead of a full replacement.  

The best way to prepare for your sale is to call on an expert and begin the process well before you need to sell your home. Contact your favorite Mad City Dream Homes real estate agent to get started. Our team of experts will work proactively with you and help you experience a successful sale. 

This article is published courtesy of:
Dan Miller, REALTOR
Mad City Dream Homes & RE/MAX Preferred
1619 Monroe Street #1, Madison, WI, 53711

Leave a Comment

Format example: you@domain.com
Format example: yourwebsitename.com

Sign up for email updates