Your first home may not be a palace, but it is your home! Now that you have closed on your first home, you can set about making it into a palace for you, your friends, and your family. Here are some affordable upgrades for your first home! Be sure to share some pictures with me – the before and after!
Start with these seven easy affordable upgrades that can help spruce up a tired living space for a few hundred dollars or less:
- Start with a power-wash – It won’t cost much, but having your home’s exterior professionally power-washed will give it a fresh, bright look – and since curb appeal counts, make sure the lawn is edged, hedges are trimmed, and weeds are pulled. You will be amazed by how this simple affordable upgrade will transform your home from the outside in.
- Freshen the front door – A new fiberglass door can cost $1,000 or more, but you can get a snazzy new look by simply painting the old door and/or replacing any worn-looking hardware. (While you’re at it, you might replace a tired-looking mailbox.)
- Paint the interior – For a minimal investment, fresh paint makes any room look cleaner and brighter. It’s your space now, so cover those interior walls with the neutral shades or bolder colors that appeal to you. Remember gray is the new color – and again – it is an affordable upgrade!
- Improve the lighting – Replace old ceiling fixtures with inexpensive new designs from the home store that may cost less than you imagined. While you’re there, check out modestly priced DIY track lighting, spotlights, and accent lights that can brighten and modernize any room. Check out the expensive lighting fixtures in the designer magazines, and then look for a similar fixture that captures the look but not the price tag. Remember – the goal is affordable upgrades!
- Spruce up the kitchen – Short of replacing cabinets or counter tops, you can give your kitchen a new look on a limited budget by painting the existing woodwork and/or changing outdated door and drawer pulls. If your kitchen appliances don’t match, check with the manufacturer about ordering new doors or face panels. These affordable upgrades will transform your kitchen.
- Buff up the bath – Adding a pedestal sink or a vessel sink on top of a floating cabinet can radically and economically change the look of an older bathroom. While you’re thinking economically, you can install a new toilet for less than $200. It will not only look good, but today’s low-flush models will save you money on the water bill. These affordable upgrades will make you smile every time you step into your new bathroom.
- Expand your storage space – Older homes are notoriously short on closet space. A quick trip to the home store can net you a variety of inexpensive closet organizers that may not add much to the look of your home, but will save you from crying over too-cramped closets.
I hope you found these affordable upgrades helpful. Contact me today with your real estate questions!
