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Home Updates: How We Plan on Selling Our House Quickly

Last Updated: BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 63 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

Happy Monday everyone. Today’s post is all about how we want to update our house so that we can enjoy it while we live here, but to also sell our house more quickly when we put it up for sale. Usually on Monday’s I post my Extra Income and Life updates, but I figured that I talked about myself twice last week and there’s only so many times in a 7 day period that you probably want to read about my life! 🙂

Next Monday I will do a full life and extra income update and weekly roundup. I’m also going on vacation from this Thursday to next Monday and am going to the U.S. Virgin Islands with my sister. WOOHOO! Also, I currently have a Novica giveaway that you should check out because it ends this Wednesday.

There are many things that we want to do to our house. Most of these will improve the value of our house and/or help it sell more quickly when the time comes. AND there are some things that are on this list that will make living in our house more enjoyable as well. We still have at least another year in this house, so why not enjoy it?

We love our house, but over the years we haven’t been keeping up with the maintenance like we should have been. These are all things that have been on our list forever. We want to be able to sell our house quickly and with little problems, while also getting maximum value for our house.

Selling it quickly would be awesome, but we don’t want to sell it for super cheap either. We don’t mind keeping the house while waiting for the best offer.

We’re not putting our house up for sale until next year, but as I said, we still want to enjoy the house while we live in it now, and we want to be able to do things slowly.

Landscaping

We’ve already done some landscaping, and paid someone to clean everything up the other day.  For some reason a couple of people have been using the side of our house as storage, and there was TONS of garbage that people left. A full carpet (that was actually ours, oops), 4 tires, broken ladders, crutches (yes I said crutches), a huge metal cabinet, a dishwasher and so on.

The side of our house turned into a hoarder’s house and I’m sure our neighbors hated us for it. We paid someone to just take all of that and throw it all away (our trash company will not take these items) and we also paid the landscaping company to clean our gutters and clean up all of the leaves and other debris in our yard. This way our grass and plants can actually grow.

We plan on fixing up our front yard and making the grass green again and grow flowers.

Kitchen

Our kitchen was brand new when we bought our house and it still looks great. However, they put really ugly gold knobs on all the cabinets, and I think if they were changed to a darker color, then the kitchen would look MUCH better.

I priced out knobs and this would probably cost around $150, or we could just take all of these knobs out and spend probably $10 on that Rustoleum paint that everyone seems to be spraying all of their homes lately on doorknobs. We will probably do that so that we aren’t just wasting all of the knobs that we currently have. Cost: $10.

We also need to touch up the paint in the kitchen because whoever repainted the kitchen after the cabinet installation did a horrible job. There is leftover glue/paint on the walls and it just looks messy. We have the exact paint downstairs so the cost for this would be $0. Cost: $0.

Door Frame

We need to repair the door frame in our garage. Last year when we went to Kauai, we had a friend watch our house and she got locked out. She cracked the door frame trying to get back in. This will cost around $700 from what I’ve been told. However, I have heard others say that this might cost over $1,000. Have you ever replaced a door frame? Is it easy enough for us to do? Cost: $700 if we pay someone else to install a doorframe.

Guest Bathroom

There are only small things that we want to do with our bathroom. I bought a mirror a long time ago for super cheap, and we want to replace the current mirror in the bathroom with this one. We also want to touch up the paint on the cabinet. Cost: $0.

Miscellaneous

There are lots of other little things that we would like to do, such as switching out all of our door knobs in the house to a silver color instead of the gold that we have now. We’ve looked into it, and a little change like that can make a house look more modern. Some in our house are already the correct color, so only a couple need to be replaced. Cost: $75

We also need to somehow cover a pipe that we have in the basement as well. Right now our basement is finished but we had to replace this pipe last year so now it’s uncovered and doesn’t look good. Cost: I have no idea. 

The garage door also needs to be replaced. When we first moved in, W pulled the truck out of the garage (it’s a classic and we never drive it), and it slipped into reverse when W put it in park and got out of the car for a slight second, and hit the garage door. The garage door isn’t horrible looking, but it definitely needs to be replaced before we try selling the house. Cost: maybe $1,500? We have been told that we could just buy the garage door ourselves for around $500 and do this ourselves.

Decluttering is a MAJOR thing on our list that needs to be done. We have way too much in storage in our basement. This of course is free to do because we will declutter ourselves.

And lastly, the carpet in the living room needs to be replaced. This is something that has been on our list for quite some time. We pulled up the carpet in the living room when we first moved in because we didn’t like the carpet. It turned out that the hardwood floor underneath was extremely ugly and whoever put the carpet down did a horrible job and ruined the hardwood floor. So we need to replace this. Cost: $600.

What would you do to increase the value of your home and help it sell quickly?

How much have you spent (or would you spend) in order to sell your house more quickly and for a higher value? 

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About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. Pauline @ Reach Financial Independence says

    A fresh coat of paint will do wonders anywhere, as well as shampooing the carpets if you have some. I removed all personal items that were not essential for daily life as well, to give an impression of space and help the person feel like they could live there.
    My recent post Help me help a reader get on track with her finances

    Reply

  2. Sam says

    Declutter, increase curb appeal, update… Sounds like you're on the right track! It's wise for you to go ahead and make these minor repairs. $700 sounds crazy expensive to me for a door frame though. I have access to 10% off coupons with lowes through their realtor benefits program & would be happy to email you one if you go that route for your garage door. 10% off adds up on a large purchase like that.

    Also- totally unrelated, but I remember reading that you we to Vegas in the past. Any recommendations on must see, must do, must eat, etc.? I hope you have an awesome time on vacation!

    Reply

    • Michelle says

      $700 does seem expensive, but I was looking and the door frame alone cost around $300! I was shocked.

      And ooooh Vegas is so much fun! My main tip is to get on promoter's lists so that you can get into clubs/bars for free and drink for free as well. We got free tables and I don't think any of us bought a single drink when we were at a club, it was so cheap! We never do much when we go, we just always stay at a hotel with a nice pool and lounge there all day and then hit up the clubs/bars afterwards 🙂
      My recent post Home Updates: How We Plan on Selling Our House Quickly

      Reply

  3. Rhonda says

    I agree with Pauline. No personal photos or anything like that. Paint with neutral colors, and fix everything you know is broken, cracked, ruined. Buyers dock more than the actual value. Some of that is because of aggravation and/or having to hire the job out. Also, I read that appraisers use $500 increments when appraising. Would-be small repairs could cost you big during the appraisal process. You mentioned decluttering, and that is huge. Your closets, drawers, cabinets – nothing should be "full". It gives the impression that the house doesn't have enough space. Really, it's common sense, and you're already thinking like a buyer. If you can separate yourself emotionally from your house and look at it like a buyer, you'll see immediately what needs to be done. If you see something and think, "Oh, ___ doesn't bother me", fix it. It will bother someone and may risk a sale. Good luck!
    My recent post Putting in a floor

    Reply

  4. John S @ Frugal Rules says

    We just got done re-doing our master bath, which was more so out of need than anything else…but I think will increase the value of our house. Unfortunately many of the things we either want/need to do are all pricey. We're starting to need a new fence, I would like to put in a new deck, a few things in the kitchen, etc.

    Reply

  6. DC@Young Adult Money says

    We have no intention of moving anytime soon, but if we were going to we'd probably put in hardwood floors (or manufactured hardwood), renovate the kitchen and bathroom, and possibly put in new windows. We bought our house planning ton selling more like 7-10 years down the road, not one, so these are also the upgrades we plan to do over that time frame. Landscaping is huge tho and something we would absolutely do if trying to sell!

    Reply

  8. Holly@ClubThrifty says

    I think that small things like touching up paint and keeping your home clean can make a world of difference. I am always more attracted to real estate that appears to be well taken care of.

    Reply

  9. Brian says

    We would redo our main bathroom (which we are going to do this summer anyways) to get rid of the 1950's pink tile and make it a little more modern. Other than that it would be touching up some paint and making sure the house was really clean. Total cost will be around $12K (our at least that is the price the contractor we are going with is charging us).

    Reply

  10. Betsy says

    We are literally going through all of this right now with our condo! Some of our biggest things are replacing our counter-tops (but luckily it's a small kitchen!), closet doors, and doing a lot of patch and paint work. We also have to de-clutter a ton! Being in a one bedroom and both of us have hobbies that require larger objects and larger amounts of these objects means we have to take out a ton of stuff before we even put it up haha. We are now looking at it as hey we've already packed for when the move comes : )

    Reply

  12. plantingourpennies says

    $700 for the door frame seems insane. If its just the moulding, you can pry that off and get replacement molding at lowes. If you need a new door rehung, that can be more, but the way you're describing it, I can't imagine you need to go that far.

    Reply

      • Meghan says

        I recommend buying the frame/door combo. I've been in this situation, only I bought door slabs instead of combos (6 times over). For one, you'll have to cut out hinges and get them to fit, in the same place. This is not as easy as it sounds. Two, I have hung a door, and it's a pain in the rear. I actually screwed it up, and ended up having to have someone come in behind me and re-hang it. Home Depot will sell you an exterior door for under a couple hundred, and they'll install for about $150. They'll take the old stuff with them. I replaced all but two doors in my house with white (they were stained and were flat slabs) and a front door.

        I recommend a Habitat for Humanity outlet for knobs, if there's one nearby, or an overstock store. We have tons of them in Denver and they have cabinets, doors, etc.

        On the knobs, made sure you clean them with rubbing alcohol first so the paint has a clean surface to adhere to.

        Those are just my little tips. I had my house under contract in 3 days in November, but it was after a lot of work, similar to what you'll be doing!

        Reply

  13. Happy_Homeowner says

    Definitely paint and fixtures–small, cheap fixes that have an amazing impact!!

    I'm headed to Kauai on Thursday–love that we'll both be vacationing somewhere fun this weekend. Have a blast!!

    Reply

  14. Budget & the Beach says

    That sucks you friend cracked the door frame and you are the one ending up paying so much. Can they pay for some of it? I'm not a fan of carpet and if there is anyway to salvage the hardwood floors and make them nice I think I would. I think it adds a lot of value to a home. And people say the kitchen is always a good are to focus on when deciding to sell a house.
    My recent post Ever been bullied into buying something?

    Reply

    • MakingSenseofCents says

      She hasn't offered, and I wouldn't want to ruin a friendship over something like that.

      And I'm not a huge fan of carpet either. Our whole house is hardwood floors though besides the bedrooms and the living room is supposed to be carpet as well. If we kept it as hard wood, then we would also have to lower all the trim and we're just not wanting to do that much work haha 🙂

      Reply

  17. kimateyesonthedollar says

    I would say make the front yard and entry look wonderful so it will invite people in. Then just make sure it's really clean, open and neutral. I don't think you have to spend lots of money as long as people can see themselves living there. When we looked at houses to purchase for a rental, that was one reason we got ours so cheap. It was dirty and full of crap and was a smaller house anyway. I don't think people could see past all the dirt and mess to notice that it was a good house.
    My recent post How We Lost $6000 in Student Loan Forgiveness

    Reply

    • MakingSenseofCents says

      We plan on devoting a lot of time to our front yard. I feel horrible for our neighbors because we should have been doing better. Our yard looks good, but we could have put some more time into it.

      Reply

  18. Cece says

    Carpet for the whole house for $600? I don't know if you have actually gotten an estimate but it might be more. It cost about that much for my studio. I HATE painting. We have 3 bathrooms and 2 rooms with white walls but I just figure who ever buys it next will be happy to make it their own. In reality, I'm just lazy!!! It sounds like you aren't doing anything too major. Just cosmetic touches that you will enjoy and fixes that people who want a move in ready home will appreciate.
    My recent post You Know How I am

    Reply

    • MakingSenseofCents says

      Oops sorry I should have been more clear. We only need to replace the floor in the living room, as the rest of the house already has nice hardwood floor and/or carpet. That's why it's so cheap 🙂

      Reply

  22. kylebschmitt says

    It's surprising how much impact a little maintenance (or paint job) can do to a house. When our landlord flips his rentals between renters, a new coat of paint can make the place brand new!
    My recent post 10 Year Game Plan

    Reply

  24. Shannon says

    Love the new design, Michelle! Looks fantastic! A few years ago, we put our home on the market, we eventually opted to stay in our home, but changing out the cabinet knobs was something we did to update the look. It made a huge difference, and I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the difference it makes. They all sound like a great plans to make your home more comfortable while you live there but also definitely increase the value. Curb appeal is huge, so it's smart that you're investing in making the outside look great.
    My recent post How to Navigate the Financial World after Graduation

    Reply

  26. wmwo says

    Out of curiosity, would removing the glue, sanding and refinishing the hardwood in the livingroom make it less ugly, or is the wood seriously that bad? It may not be a bad idea to try salvaging it first, especially given how many people prefer wood to carpet nowadays.
    My recent post The Battle Continues

    Reply

    • MakingSenseofCents says

      No, the hardwood is pretty bad and would take a LOT of work to fix. W prefers carpet anyways for the living room. Almost our whole house is hardwood (but nice hardwood). We would just replace it with nice hardwood but the cost is much higher 🙁

      Reply

  27. Pretired Nick says

    Best thing you can do after the cleanup you noted above is to stage it nicely. Either hire someone or do it yourself. I actually negotiated with a realtor when I listed my property a few years ago. I just told him if you pay for the staging, I'll list with you. He did it and it sold the first day. But also don't be greedy about the price. You're better off listing it under market slightly than trying to squeeze every dime out of it. If it's a good enough deal, people will bid it back up.
    My recent post How much should you spend on your house?

    Reply

  29. Jenny@FrugalGuru says

    $700 should get you an entire new entry door AND frame. Fix it yourself–it's not that hard and will cost under $20.
    My recent post How NOT To Run Your Finances Like The Federal Government

    Reply

    • MakingSenseofCents says

      Question: where would I get the supplies for less than $20? I've looked at Lowes and Home Depot and their door frames start at $250 to $300. I would love any information!

      Reply

  30. Squirrelers says

    I like seeing "cost: $0". Those are the types of moves with high ROI 🙂

    Really, my experience has also indicated that simply decluttering, as well as doing some basic staging, can really help a home sell a bit quicker.

    Reply

  31. shopaholicsavers says

    I watch a lot of HGTV but one thing I think that they get wrong is that you CAN make a huge difference with smaller upgrades rather than always ripping out walls. One place anyone might consider for quality home materials at a steep discount is Habitat for Humanity ReStores. They sell all kinds of things from appliances to knobs. My sister was able to replace her large over stove microwave for $20 when used appliance stores quoted her over $200. They can be hit or miss so if you are looking for something specific it's always good to check back a few times.
    My recent post 5-5-13 Shopaholic Savers Weekend Update- Our New Look!

    Reply

  32. Canadian Budget Binder says

    Sometimes just fixing up all the small things make a huge impact. Many have already said it but a fresh coat of paint, shampooing rugs, washing windows and frames, replacing knobs, handles, and outlets around the house inside and out that might be sun damaged. We’ll be doing lots to our house but if we stay we will still love it as we will do a quality job for the next person. There’s nothing I hate more is that to buy a house someone renovated cheaply or DIY it themselves and have no idea what they are doing and expects to get a fortune for. I’d rather move on if I have to rip something out and replace it but they still want top dollar for it, no thanks. Cheers

    Reply

  35. valleycat1 says

    I would add that any home improvements made with an eye toward resale should be made as appropriate for the house's value. For example, if your house is high-end you should spring for the new cabinet handles, but if it's a standard suburban or in a less expensive price range the spray paint is probably more than adequate. (In other words, don't go the cheap route in a high end house but don't overspend on items for a lower-range home.) Also, check online real estate listings & evaluate the offerings in your intended price range – you want your house to be comparable but to stand out . It might also make the process easier if you get a home inspection up front before listing, so you can take care of any required repairs to bring things up to code. What we found when we recently prepped our house for sale is that there were few houses in our potential price range that were completely move-in ready, so we painted & cleaned & spruced up the house & yard. All the buyer would have to do would be some minor optional cosmetic changes if they didn't like the paint color or something, the house was totally livable. We also waited until near the sale time to repaint, choosing contemporary colors; and we picked up a few pieces inexpensive art work with a contemporary feel, & sets of bath & kitchen towels in a current color/style to use when staging the house for viewings. We put a ton of stuff in storage before the realtor took the photos, and we sold the house within a week for full asking price.

    Reply

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