8 Simple Improvements That Add Major Value to Your Home

In the quest to create a visually appealing house that will not only sell quickly but for the most money, much of the seller's focus is often placed on major renovations costing as much as tens of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately, the majority of homeowners don't have the ability to invest that much money, nor the subsequent time involved prior to placing their home on the market.

As you prepare for the listing process, what low-cost projects will elicit the highest return and make your home its most marketable? By honing in on the following eight improvements, you'll create a home that is clean, fresh, inviting and uniform.

[See: 8 Easy Renovation Projects Every Homeowner Can Do Now.]

Clutter. The most important thing you can do is declutter your house to show its size and function. Unfortunately, it's not as simple as randomly throwing half your items in boxes and then into storage. First, you'll want to organize everything in your house.

Once organized, assign a function to each room. Prospective buyers should walk in and be able to identify the room's primary purpose, and not be left guessing because there are toys, a computer desk and the KitchenAid mixer that didn't fit anywhere else all piled together. Once the room has been decorated and accessorized accordingly with what you already have, buy the necessary amount of boxes or storage containers and place the excess away.

Paint. Once your home is organized and free of clutter, you undoubtedly notice all the scuffs, crayon marks and countless other blemishes on your walls. Painting is a great renovation as many homeowners are able to tackle this job on their own, saving costs not only on labor, but by purchasing the products from big-box stores during semi-annual sales.

As with all do-it-yourself projects, if a buyer can tell you did it yourself, it's worth the fee of hiring a professional. A finished paint job should give the house a crisp look and a hint of that new-house smell.

Minor settlement cracks. As you paint, you will undoubtedly come across settlement cracks as well as nail pops in the dry wall. This is a completely expected issue and is part of the house's natural settling process over time. Unfortunately, not all buyers understand this, and you don't want a few nail pops dissuading a buyer from purchasing it because they think it's not soundly built. Prior to painting, check all areas for these issues and remedy them accordingly. Be sure to use primer, or a paint that includes it, so the patched areas don't continue to stand out.

[See: 12 Home Improvement Shortcuts That Are a Bad Idea.]

Carpet. Unless you live in a childless, petless, foodless house in which you've never worn shoes, it's highly likely you'll need to replace some carpeting, or at least clean it. Should you decide to go to the latter route, it's usually best to have the whole house done rather than spot-clean problem areas. This will provide a pleasant smell throughout the home and often gives you the best bang for your buck.

If your carpeting requires replacement, plan on spending an average of $3 to $5 per square foot of carpet installed. For resale purposes, you can stick with a basic choice, but it's nice to have at least a midgrade pad beneath the carpet, as this is a cheap upgrade that can have a substantial effect on the buyer's experience as he walks through your house.

Hardware. Replacing face plates, door handles and vent registers is one of the cheapest ways to create a polished, uniform appearance throughout your house. Again, you don't need to spring for the fanciest choices available. A new set of plastic face plates and new registers can cost less than $30 per room and will take very little time or effort.

Fixtures. Matching light fixtures are another inexpensive home improvement that will create uniformity throughout your house. As you peruse the selection, don't focus simply on appearance, but the function of the light in its designated space. When you've narrowed down your choices, visit the websites of the brands you're interested in for advice on selecting the appropriate size based on the dimensions of your room.

Doors. The front and rear doors should be both aesthetically pleasing and in good working order. The last thing you want is for prospective buyers to be greeted by a beat-up door they have to throw themselves at to open. The same goes for whatever type of door you have leading out to the backyard. Sliding doors should move smoothly and lock easily to promote a smooth transition from one area to the next, while providing a sense of security. While some doors may easily be fixed by tightening screws or with a simple realignment, others may be worth replacing if they prove to be overly cumbersome.

[See: 10 Ways to Save Energy and Reduce Utility Bills at Home.]

Landscaping. Despite being the first thing potential buyers will see, landscaping is one of the last items you should take care of before placing your house on the market. When the time comes for marketing photos, you will want the colors vibrant and the area clean so consider adding a few colorful annuals, refreshing the mulch and making sure all bushes are trimmed and weeds removed. Mulch is easily washed away and new weeds can pop up in a matter of what seems like hours following a good rain. Tackling the area proactively will provide a fresh look and smell while giving the buyer a great first and final impression.

Ray Boss Jr. is a full-time, licensed Realtor for Re/Max Realty Group in Gaithersburg, Maryland, with over 11 years of experience working with clients ranging from first-time homebuyers to investors, sellers and renters. You can learn more about Ray by connecting with him on LinkedIn.