If you’re a home improvement show geek, you may dream of remodeling your kitchen or bathroom, or installing a luxury landscaping, complete with a water feature. But those types of repairs can cost thousands.
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The truth is you don’t have to invest in expensive large-scale repairs to make a big difference to the appearance of your home. Many useful and effective home improvements can be made for under $100 each.
And if you do one or two of these home renovations per month — whatever your budget allows — in less than a year, you can have a home that is more updated, brighter, and less cluttered. See what these real estate industry experts suggest when making home improvements on a budget.
Outdated Closet Paint
“Painting worn-out cabinets white or light gray can increase a home’s value by thousands of dollars, and it’s no secret that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes,” says Kevin Bazazzadeh, owner of a real estate investment firm. House of Brilliant Days.
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“You shouldn’t have a problem buying a brush or two, a small roller, and a few gallons of good paint for $100 or less. A weekend and a little elbow grease can bring new life to an old kitchen and earn you quick equity if you’re trying to sell your house or a new look.” if you plan to keep it.”
Replace Kitchen Appliances
“This includes all the knobs and handles on the drawers and cupboards,” says owner Matthew Griffin At the Real Estate Consulting House. “This is the most affordable and easiest of all the upgrades. Ditching the 2002 gold-coloured handles and bringing in matte black or silver handles is an easy way to help your kitchen look less dated.”
Buying kitchen equipment individually can be expensive, but you can save money by buying in bulk. You can find a pack of 25 matte black cabinet handles on Amazon for around $25.
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Add Solar Lights
“Adding a solar path light to an exterior walkway or patio is an affordable way to upgrade your outdoor space,” says Jason Gelios, a top manufacturers realtor with The Reality of Community Choice in Southeastern Michigan. “Solar lights have become much more affordable in recent years.”
If you’re looking for the wow factor, you can find a 12 pack of sleek stainless steel solar lights, featuring eight LED bulbs each, on Amazon for $42.
Replace Light Bulb
“Replacing light bulbs in all rooms costs $50 for about 16 bulbs at Home Depot,” says realtor Alex Young of The Bow Tie Group. “Making sure the bulbs are the same color as the fixtures (and brighter LEDs if possible) is a great way to help a room feel larger. Be sure to get bulbs that are the right color temperature for the room. Bedrooms and some living rooms should have slightly warmer light, while kitchens and bathrooms should have cooler light temperatures.”
Update Your Fireplace
Elizabeth Leanza of Group One Realty suggest updating a dirty brick fireplace with lime. “This is an affordable and simple lime-based solution that will give your fireplace a fresh new look in no time, and can be a friendlier medium than paint,” he says. “Limewashing is one of the best ways to update an old or worn brick fireplace without spending too much time or money. There are many products available for washing your fireplace. You can order one at most home improvement stores for around $52.97 .
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Mount Your TV Wall
“Console and TV stands can look dated and cluttered,” said Khari Washington, broker and owner 1 United Realty & Mortgage. “Mounting the TV to the wall and hiding the equipment can make a room look open, fresher, and cleaner.”
You can find TV stands for 37- to 70-inch TVs for under $30 on Amazon.
Repaint Your Front Door
“One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to upgrade your home is to repaint your front door,” says Marina Vaamonde, founder at PropertyCash. “The entrance to your home makes a huge impact, and not just in terms of first impressions. The feeling someone feels when they approach your front door has a lasting effect on their perception of your entire home. Refresh or completely change the color of your front door It’s inexpensive, and it’s one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your home for under $100, in terms of effect.”
Replace One or Two Headlights
“Replacing worn or worn light fixtures can really make a big difference in the look of a home,” says Mike Stewart, realtor and owner. Mike Stewart Professional Real Estate Company. “People love new things. When you’re selling your property, having modern or stylish light fixtures that match the rest of your home decor can really help get potential buyers interested in your property.”
You can find hundreds of light fixtures for under $100 on Amazon that will enhance your home. Or take a trip to your local home improvement store to browse the options.
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Refreshing Landscape
“Adding black or red mulch to landscaping is another great way to increase curb appeal,” says Gelios. “Typically, a large bag of mulch costs $3-$4 a bag.”
However, you may be able to find mulch on sale and sometimes large stores, such as Home Depot, offer wholesale prices, such as if you buy 30 bags, they will drop 35 cents per bag.
Upgrade Your Bathroom Mirror
“Everyone loves a clean, updated bathroom,” says James Watson, owner Omaha House for Cash. “What’s the one thing in the bathroom you always look at? Size usually impacts price, however, most mirrors can be purchased for under $100.”
And if you don’t want to completely replace your mirror, consider the advice of former mortgage broker Danny Marshall of Master Mortgage Rate: “Just adding a frame to your builder-grade bathroom mirror will instantly give it a lift.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Home Improvements That Cost Less Than $100
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