Frederick County Short Sale Blog | Homes for Sale in Frederick Md

8 Inexpensive Ways to Increase the Value of Your Frederick Home

There are lots of things a homeowner can do to spruce up their home that will help maintain its value or even increase the value.  Sometimes in the busy-ness of life we forget about home maintenance.  When we find that we need to consider selling our home, for any number of reasons, we are daunted by the mile-long list of things we need to do to get it market-ready.  If you find yourself in that position, consider doing the less costly fixes first.

1.  Consider first impressions.  Cleaning up the yard and entrance to your home takes little more than muscle and energy.  Cut back overgrown shrubs and plantings.  Spray or sprinkle some kind of weed-and-feed product (Scotts has always been my fave.)  Powerwash sidewalks, walkways, decks, and outside of house, if needed. You can rent a powerwasher for a day and it will make a huge difference.  If you don't do anything else, paint the front door and possibly replace an old, worn door handle.  Plant some inexpensive flowers, in pots if you don't have suitable garden areas.

2.  Look Down, consider flooring.  If your carpet is not too worn, a simple cleaning will do wonders.  If you need to replace carpets, find a mid-grade, neutral color.  We recommend "Tea Stain".  It will appeal to the most people.  If your hardwoods are dingy, first try buffing to renew their gleam.  If there are too many scratches and dings, you might need to refinish them.

3.  Look Up, consider lighting. If your light fixtures are dated, get some new ones at Home Depot or Lowes.  You can find some very nice fixtures for very little.  Make sure they are bright. 

4.  Paint covers a multitude of sins.  And it is not expensive.  Again, select neutral, earthy colors, as they have the broadest appeal.  If someone likes bold colors, its still easy for them to "Imagine" their favorite colors in your home if you have a palate of neutrals for them to start with.

5.  Get rid of the stuff!  Its amazing how much stuff we collect, without even trying.  Pare down, thin out, pack away, de-clutter, whatever.  Consider renting a storage unit if need-be, people need to see themselvs living there, with all of Their Stuff, so give them room to do so.

6.  Give your house a good cleaning, even if it means hiring maid service for a single clean.  A dirty house is such a turn-off to prospective buyers.  When you have it all clean, start making the small repairs that you've been avoiding.  Replace window seals, fix the leaks, etc.

7.  Consider Staging.  A professional stager will make a big difference.  The psychology of space is an important factor, and the stager will help you present your space in the best possible light.

8.  Consider Bathrooms and Kitchens.  Now we're talking about more expensive fixes, but you can start small and work your way up over time.  Start with small tasks, like cleaning or redoing grout, or caulk.  Replace fixtures one at a time.  If you need a new appliance, make sure you replace it with an energy star appliance.  Check out Lowes or Best Buy for their "Open Box" sales, the demos that they sell for 30 to 40% off.  We got a great dishwasher that way.