15 Weekend Projects That Will Increase the Resale Value of Your Home

Thinking about making a move? Or building a new home? If so, you’re probably also thinking about getting your home ready to be put on the market. If you were to list your home today, do you think you’d get the best price possible? Likely not, but it’s nothing to feel bad about — no one should feel obligated to live in a perpetually staged, sparkling clean home! 

When you think of increasing the resale value of your home, big renovation projects are often prioritized… but tackling some minor projects can have just as big of an affect on potential home buyers that may be walking through your home. Here are 15 things — big and small — you can do this weekend to increase your home’s resale value.

1. Declutter your entire home

Simply removing clutter and organizing rooms in your home can make a home appear larger and boost its resale value. According to real estate agent Allison Chiaramonte, “We are very visual as buyers and usually make a decision about whether a home could be the ‘one’ within seconds. Clutter and mess distract us from seeing the space and instinctively turns buyers off. This decluttering subconsciously signals that there is lots of storage room and that the house is well cared for.”

2. Use neutral colors

Neutralizing a room with a quick coat of paint will give an air of sophistication to your space. “While you may love teal walls or the red duvet that makes your master bedroom a sanctuary, not every buyer will! What’s more important is that many buyers are unable to mentally ‘whitewash’ a room or ignore its décor, so spending a weekend creating a blank canvas for them is money and time well spent,” Allison said.

3. Add white accents

In addition to neutral colors, white accents can make any space appear bigger and brighter. A quick trip to your local home goods store for some simple home furnishings (specifically pillows, bed linens, and towels) is a quick and easy way to increase your home’s resale value.

4. Remove pet hair

You’ll want to keep your home as clean as possible and that includes removing pet hair from your furniture and floors. Use a high quality vacuum with a HEPA filter to thoroughly clean your carpets and rugs and a microfiber dry mop to get rid of pet hair on hardwood and tile floors. Wipe down solid furniture and upholstery with a damp microfiber cloth.

5. Make sure your home is free of odors

It may be a given that prospective home buyers won’t be akin to smelly odors, but even strong candles and air fresheners can be distracting. According to Sharon McRill, owner of The Betty Brigade, a relocation management and organizing company, “A fresh breeze flowing through the room is the best air freshener you could want.”

6. Refinish your kitchen cabinets

Cabinet refinishing is an efficient way to freshen up your kitchen or bathroom without investing too much time and money into the project. Rather than replacing your kitchen cabinets all together, cabinet refinishing allows you to keep your existing cabinets and simply upgrade them by changing the finish or paint color. Usually all that’s required is a bit of sanding, stripping, and painting or staining.

7. Upgrade your kitchen backsplash

The right backsplash can completely transform the look of your kitchen. When choosing a kitchen backsplash, ask yourself these five questions: 1) What is the style of your home? 2) How big is your budget? 3) How big is your backsplash area? 4) How often do you cook? 5) How do you want to feel in your kitchen?

8. Replace kitchen hardware

Swap out old cabinet handles and drawer knobs with updated hardware. This is a subtle, simple, and inexpensive way to give your kitchen a facelift in under an hour.

9. Invest in energy-efficient appliances

Energy-efficient appliances are a main draw to prospective home buyers, as this signals lower monthly energy bills. Research published by The Appraisal Journal estimates that energy savings add 20 times the annual savings to the value of your property. Try compact fluorescent (CFL) or LED light bulbs—they use 75% less energy than traditional bulbs do.

10. Regrout bathroom tiles

Grout that’s crumbling and mildew-stained is not only unattractive, it’s unsound and will continue to crumble unless regrouted. This task will cost between $20 and $100, depending on the type of grout you use, and will take just a couple of hours to complete.

11. Caulk your shower or tub

The caulk in your shower or tub provides an important barrier against water damage in your home. If allowed to seep behind waterproof finish materials, water can reach the wood framing and subfloor materials in your bathroom and lead to mold and rot. Here’s a step-by-step guide to caulking your shower or tub.

12. Upgrade your toilet

If your toilet takes too long to flush, needs cosmetic repairs, or gets clogged frequently, consider upgrading to a water-saving, low-flush toilet: this type of toilet uses less than two gallons of water per flush, saving you money on your monthly water bills, and can be installed in under two hours.

13. Paint your front door

Don’t underestimate the power your front door has on first impressions. Paint your front door a bold red or go for traditional black or white if exciting colors aren’t your style.

14. Clean your air vents

Seeing dust and grime on air vents can immediately turn a prospective buyer away. Use a hand vacuum to remove dust from your air vents and finish by wiping them down with a damp microfiber cloth. While you’re at it, consider changing your air filter—this will prolong the life of your HVAC system, reduce airborne contaminants, and lower monthly energy bills.

15. Shampoo your carpets

Shampooing your carpets extends the life of your carpets and gives you a much deeper clean than vacuuming. Before you shampoo, remove furniture from the room, vacuum the entire area, and spot treat stains. Allow four to six hours for your carpets to dry.

Got more time and want to tackle more projects? Check out the full list from House Method, a site that makes it easy to find solutions to your household needs.