Over the past two years, the U.S. housing market has been highly volatile, mainly due to the economic downturn caused by the covid-19 pandemic. With skyrocketing mortgage rates, buyers are far less motivated to commit to a purchase, causing homes to sit on the market for a long time. Typically, the timeline of a pending sale is anywhere between 30 to 60 days. However, in some cities like St. Joseph, Missouri, where the housing market is somewhat competitive, a house is closed in as few as 16 days.

This is great news if you want to sell your family home in St. Joseph. However, if it’s been a while since you last renovated it, you should consider spending some time and effort on a few DIY home improvement projects to get a better price when you put it on the market. Even if you aren’t ready to sell just yet, you might appreciate living in a brighter, cozier space. Here are a few ideas for cheap but worthwhile renovations to your home.

1. Clear out the clutter

If you want the best price for your home, it’s time you get rid of the overflowing bookshelves in the living room or excess sports equipment in the front yard. When visiting your house for a viewing, people should be able to picture themselves living there. If it looks more like a storage facility instead of a welcoming home, potential buyers will be distracted by the mess and not appreciate all the benefits it offers.

Start by decluttering your home, one room at a time. Donate or sell everything you haven’t used in a long time. If your space still looks messy and cramped, consider using storage units St. Joseph Mo to put away bulky furniture and seasonal gear.

You don’t know how long your house will stay on the market. So, it’s better to keep all your extra belongings in your storage unit and retrieve them when needed. In addition, to make your home appear spacious, your realtor may ask you to remove personal items when it is being shown. With unsightly clutter out of the way, you might even get more and better offers on your house.

2. Build a container garden

You may skip this section if you already have an eco-friendly garden in your backyard. However, if you own an urban apartment with a terrace or balcony, some greenery would surely liven up your outdoor space. Whether you’re a newbie gardener or an avid landscaper, it’s always best to keep things simple and pick plants that require similar care. For instance, you shouldn’t put a plant that prefers shade next to sun-loving containers if you’re trying to fill a sunny spot on your patio.

Similarly, selecting plants with similar watering requirements allows you to water the entire garden simultaneously, saving time and effort. Grow them in stylish, colorful plant pots of different shapes and sizes for the most visual effect. Make the blooming plants stand out by bringing them to the front or elevating them above the rest of the garden. Also, move plants that are past their prime to less prominent locations. Remember that the best plant arrangements feature various sizes, textures, and heights.

3. Refresh your space with paint

Throughout their inspection, buyers’ agents and home inspectors look for warning signs, and peeling paint are one of them. Older homes, especially those constructed before 1978, were usually painted with lead-based paints. Peeling paint in such homes is a big red flag because lead-based paint, when inhaled, can result in serious health problems such as cancer.

Many potential buyers are put off by paint that is flaking, peeling, or chipping, and real estate brokers will consider this when deciding a fair price for your home. A good rule of thumb is to pick a paint palette that will allow future buyers to match their home decor effortlessly. In general, choose a blank slate color palette—grays, whites, and creams. Not only will it lend your space a touch of elegance, but it will also provide a sense of calmness and peace. Repainting your house in any of these colors will undoubtedly help you get the best price when you sell it. 

4. Upgrade your kitchen and bathroom

Your property value can take a hit if a viewer finds signs of deferred maintenance in misaligned or weather-damaged doors, leaky plumbing, and broken toilet seats, even when all your other house systems are fully functional. You do not want potential buyers to stress over necessary upgrades instead of imagining themselves relaxing in their new home. Thus, before you list it for sale, it’s vital to ensure that your home’s two most frequented areas—the kitchen and bathroom—are in excellent shape.

Sometimes, it’s not enough to repaint your cabinets to give them a brand-new look. Hardware fittings—taps, shower heads, towel racks, cabinet pulls—that are loose or damaged can make an otherwise modern kitchen and bathroom look out of place. You’ll have to upgrade them to boost your home’s value. Upgrading your kitchen and bathroom hardware doesn’t cost much, either. A new sink faucet costs about the same as a new mattress. For around $80, you can upgrade to a chrome shower head that looks like one from a high-end spa. DIY towel holders that cost less than $15 are quite a cheap upgrade, no? If anything, potential homebuyers are more likely to make an offer if the fixtures appear shiny new.

5. Refinish the flooring

Wood flooring is one of the first things guests notice when they enter your house. Well-maintained floors are crucial in creating a lasting impression, whether you want to add a dramatic visual appeal to your home or sell it above market value. Hardwood flooring, as we all know, is highly durable. But it will eventually need to be replaced after years of use, even if you mop it daily.

Refinishing is an excellent choice unless your wood floors haven’t started to show signs of a possible warping or buckling. This is especially true if you want to update the color, sheen, and feel of your flooring with less work and hassle. In contrast to full replacement, a hardwood refinish is also cheaper and more environmentally friendly.

Most refinishing procedures entail removing and replacing the old finish with a new one. However, in some cases, you may also have to rub off any stains, scratches, or dents to the wood. Once the floor returns to its original state, you can refinish it with various products to achieve the desired appearance.

Bottom Line

Thankfully, you don’t need to hire professionals to give your home a facelift or spend a lot of money on a full house remodel to maximize its resale value. Simple, inexpensive, DIY home improvements like those mentioned above will make your home appear more appealing to potential buyers and help you sell it above the list price.