Below are several low-cost ways to increase the value of your home and make it easier to sell. Not everything will apply to your situation and you will need to use your best judgment to decide where your time is best spent.

Repaint your front door (first impressions count)

Touch up the paint on the exterior of the house and repair any cracks or holes.

Replace burned out or dim bulbs

Clean and organize your garage.

Buy inexpensive supports and hang tools out of the way.

Go through all the rooms and remove the junk from your house. Be ruthless and get rid of anything you haven’t used in the last year or two.

Get rid of any old, ratty furniture.

Invest in a new set of bath hand towels that are for show only. You may also want to replace soap dispensers etc.

Clean your bathroom counter.

Organize things and put them in drawers instead of spreading them out on the counter.

Thoroughly clean shower/tub in bathrooms (including grout lines). If your shower head is worn and dirty, spend a few bucks and replace it with a shiny new one.

Organize your closets. Go through them first and throw away (or take them to your local thrift store) anything you no longer use. Clean the closet well so it smells nice and fresh. You may want to hang a new rail or install a shelf or other organizer to make your closets look as spacious as possible.

Identify and remove any unpleasant odors. The most common causes of odors are leaks around bathroom fixtures, mold in areas that trap moisture, tobacco smoke, and animals.

Many potential buyers won’t consider a home that has had pets inside, so clean up pet areas and remove any signs (or smells) your pets have left in the home. Obviously, when you show the house, you’ll want to keep your pets outside if possible.

Remove heavy window coverings that block light. (Brighter rooms seem bigger)

Get a small tub of drywall compound and a drywall sander and repair any small cracks, holes, dents, and protruding nails.

Be sure to check where your doorknobs may be hitting the wall and causing a dent in the wall. Then touch up with a bit of paint. If there is a large area that needs to be repainted, you may want to repaint the entire wall.

Clean and wax the vinyl floor to make it shine. If you have wooden floors, clean and polish them with the appropriate treatment depending on the finish they have.

Add a wallpaper border to brighten up a kitchen or bathroom. Just be sure to choose a tasteful design with subdued colors.

Repaint old and outdated cabinet fronts. Replace missing or broken drawer handles and cabinet pulls. If they are outdated, replace them all.

Repair and repaint broken trim around doors and windows.

Replace broken knobs or buttons on appliances.

Clean out the stuff on the front of your fridge and skip it.

Do the same with the oven and be sure to clean the inside of the oven.

Older houses may have dark wood paneling that dates back to the house and makes the room look small and uninviting. You can remove the panels, repair the wall and repaint it or sand the panels and paint over them. Use a good primer first, dark panels may need a couple of coats to fully cover.

As hard as it is, keep your laundry room/utility room clean and organized. If necessary, hang a shelf to provide space for additional storage.

Light up a base by removing unnecessary window coverings and installing higher wattage bulbs.

Take a look at your cars, boats and other possessions. Buyers will judge how well you’ve cared for your home by how well you’ve maintained your other possessions. If necessary, have them washed and waxed.

Keep in mind that you want to attract as many buyers as possible, so you’ll want to stay away from extreme colors or designs. Usually the best idea is to keep the base colors neutral so that you can use contrasting colors as an accent.