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×Get Best Bang for Your Buck on Home Renovations; make your effot count for adding to your home's property value.
Home Renovation Tips
Many home sellers want to get the most for their money at the closing table. Whether you’re looking to sell right away or in a few years, several sound renovation investments are worth the money, according to HGTV real estate expert, Heather Unger, a Sales Associate with RE/MAX.
Home Renovation Tips and Homeowners Repairs - Suggestions from Heather:
Rev up curb appeal-
A green lawn and fresh exterior paint are sure ways to attract potential buyers. Plant colorful flowers or hang flower boxes from windows, repair cracked walkways and choose a neutral, pleasing exterior color to maximize your home’s appeal.
Upgrade the kitchen -
This is where you’ll get the best return on your investment. Buyers want granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, modern cabinets and hardware and updated light fixtures. Think IKEA kitchen: modern and functional. For the average kitchen in a 2,000-square-foot home, you’ll spend $8,000 or more for basic upgrades.
Redo the bathrooms -
After kitchens, bathrooms are the next places to get the best bang for your buck. Granite counter tops, modern faucets and light fixtures and tile floors are popular with buyers. The more you can do yourself, the more money you’ll save. Expect to spend about $3,000 or more. You can save even more by buying store floor models for sinks and vanities, or going to granite bone yards for materials.
Add space -
If you have the money, consider adding square footage to your home by finishing your basement, expanding the master closet or knocking down some walls to create a more open floor plan.
Home Renovation Tips: Low-budget Options:
Home Renovation Idea 
A fresh coat of paint is often one of the easiest, cheapest and most dramatic improvements you can make to the home interior. If you do nothing else, at least consider a paint touch-up. It will freshen up your home and make it more comfortable for you to live - and it may help with selling your home.
Home Renovation Idea 
Decluter your home. Do keep items of long term sentimental value for your family. Otherwise, eliminate items that you seldom or never use. Scan your home from attic to basement, including the garage and all outside buildings.
Home Renovation Idea 
Put anything you don’t need in storage – hire a storage unit. Any pieces of furniture that look “comfortably warn” should be taken off show. Your home will look larger with a fresh appeal by removing items that detract from it's strong points.
Home Renovation Idea 
Organize the home interior to make it look uncluttered. Rearrange furniture to make each room look as spacious as possible. Staging doesn't need to be hard or costly. We can recommend a stager to help you maximize the furniture you already have.
Home Renovation Idea 
Indoor/outdoor flow is important too. If it is a nice day and you have doors to the outdoor decking, then open them up. Give the idea of outdoor living by adding an outdoor table and chairs. Maybe a colorful umbrella. I did this when I sold my last house. A local outdoor furniture store was closing down so I lashed out and spent $140 on a table and 4 bright colored chairs and a matching umbrella. It looked a million dollars!
Home Renovation Idea 
you have cleaned your home's wall surfaces and removed scratches, fingerprints, stains, dents etc., do a thorough interior inspection again. If your walls still need improving, consider a fresh coat of paint. Check caulking, ceilings, woodwork, tiles, vinyl, wallpaper etc. for signs of wear and tear.
Don’t have time or a ton of money for major renovations? Don’t worry, says Laura Smith, a Sales Associate with RE/MAX First in Baton Rouge, La. A clean, clutter-free home goes a long way for many buyers, says Smith, who has appeared on HGTV’s "Bang for Your Buck."
Home Renovation and Home Upkeep Tips by Smith:
Make your home smell incredible
Get your air-conditioning unit professionally serviced and cleaned. Most companies charge under $150, and it goes a long way in removing household odors and allergens. Also, use plug-in fresheners and fabric deodorizing sprays.
Steam-clean the carpets
Instead of replacing carpets, call a professional to have them steam-cleaned and watch the transformation. You will be delighted to see that steam-cleaning the carpets (price depends on carpet area) is money well-spent.
Remove clutter
Check your closets and donate old clothes, shoes or other items that you haven’t used in the past year. Buyers want to see storage space; this goes for the other closets in your home, as well as garages, if you’re having showings, remove all personal photos and clear off all appliances and knickknacks from counter tops and display shelving.
Create an outdoor living space
Adding a sense of comfort to your patio, deck or backyard adds value to your home. Stage your patio or deck with a table and chairs, as well as an outdoor rug, lively plants, some colorful flowers or a small fountain. Get rid of unsightly weeds and keep the lawn mowed and presentable.