When preparing your home for the market, it’s great to know there are some relatively inexpensive improvements that can make a big impact with buyers.

A few well-placed pieces of décor and a clutter-free home are simple things you can do on a budget to bump up interest in your home. Once the fundamentals of a well-maintained home are taken care of, these easy initiatives can seal the deal.

1. Declutter your kitchen. Counter space is extremely important for buyers. Be sure to store kitchen items off the counters. Purchase storage baskets in several different sizes to help you clear the decks in a hurry and minimise clutter.

2. Brighten up storage spaces. Closets and cupboard space are important selling features. You can make the most of what you have by purging unused items and painting a light colour inside cupboards and closets. Adding battery-operated lighting is also an inexpensive way to brighten a dark closet.

3. Update lighting around the house  While buyers will usually focus on the amount of natural light flooding into your property during a viewing, they’ll also be looking at how your electric lighting is used and how it affects the ambiance of your home.
   Focus on ceiling lights that can be updated with inexpensive newer bright light fixtures. Updating your bathroom vanity light  is also a real winner. Consider replacing any blown bulbs with energy efficient ones. Add lamps or corner lights to rooms that lack natural light

4. Change your front door. First impressions definitely count with buyers and as the front of your property is the first thing they’ll see, a new front door can really create the wow factor. As well as making a good impression as a design statement, a new front door can also appeal to buyers who are eco-conscious and want a home that is energy efficient. Modern doors are extremely energy efficient, as well as looking great, but even if your budget can’t stretch to a new one, you could add a splash of colour to your existing door if it’s wooden.

5. Replace interior room doors Quickly and inexpensively brighten hallways and rooms by replacing interior doors and hardware. New white panelled doors and hardware can quickly freshen the home. Look for sales at your local building centre.

6. Check your flooring. You may be pleasantly surprised by what’s underneath. Even if you don’t like what you see, replacing carpets is one of the most economical improvements you can make when you consider the overall return on your dollar.

7. Paint. Even high-end interior paints are a bargain when you look at what can be achieved with a fresh new finish. Opt for neutral colours in matte or eggshell finishes to camouflage flaws in walls. Read up on the current trends, too, and use colours that are of the moment, so your property really appeals to design-savvy buyers. Baseboard and door frames will get new life witha white shade of satin, semi-gloss or high-gloss finish. 

8. Tidy up your bathrooms.Along with the kitchen, buyers will place a large amount of their focus on your bathrooms when looking at your property.And while a new bathroom suite might be out of reach both financially and from a time point of view, there are still plenty of DIY tasks you can take on to present your bathrooms in the best possible way.

Consider:

1. Replacing any cracked or broken tiles

2. Refreshing the grouting that has become stained or discoloured

3. Replacing taps and shower fittings

4. Adding a storage unit if you have space