13 Budget-Friendly Renovations that Boost Appeal

Moving is a lot. It’s time-consuming and stressful—not to mention expensive. 

Nasdaq reports that Americans spend $2,000 on average for a local move and more than $5,000 for a long-distance one—just to haul their stuff. That figure doesn’t include other costs commonly associated with moves, like real-estate-agent fees, shelling out for dozens of cardboard boxes (and a ton of tape), and upgrades that get a property ready for an incoming buyer. 

If you’re planning on selling your spot, cut costs by focusing on budget-friendly renovations. Check out our list of 13 affordable home improvements — perfect for properties that don’t require a complete renovation or remodel and can shine after just a few cosmetic changes.

1. Get an agent - No, hiring a real estate agent isn’t technically a budget-friendly renovation, but it’s a key step in helping you make upgrades that will add value. This professional will share insights on how to improve the aesthetics and functionality of your home to appeal to the local market, connect you with reliable contractors, and even help you secure financing for renovations. Realtors who partner with Titus can help their clients get tens of thousands of dollars in interest-free credits to upgrade a property pre-sale and cover related costs (like that storage space you’re probably going to need once you start work on your home).

2. Landscape - Simple exterior renovations go a long way in boosting curb appeal and making an impactful first impression with potential buyers. Gather the family and spend the weekend doing some DIY landscaping. Arrange aesthetically pleasing potted plants around the front door and plant perennial gardens. Mow the lawn and trim bushes (or hire a professional to help).

3. Put on a fresh coat of paint - Repainting walls makes a huge difference: your property ends up looking clean and cared for. Plus, you can make a cosmetic shift to your home, choosing trendy hues a new buyer will appreciate. Paint interior walls easily and affordably on your own and pay a professional to help with exterior ones. Stick to universally appealing colors—that is, lean toward neutrals instead of bright, bold tones the next homeowner might paint over.

4. Swap out linens - Staging is the process of getting your home viewer-ready by upgrading its decor. Some folks go all out, hiring an interior designer and switching out their furniture for hipper models. But you can make a simple, affordable shift by swapping your current bedding, towels, throws, and other linens for new ones. This update will freshen your space. A neutral bedding set can make the room appear tidier and airier, and a well-placed throw can add a pop of color and comfort to a seating area. Not an interior designer? Not a problem: you can take inspiration from DIY home shows or platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Ask your real estate agent for advice, as well. They have tons of expertise in staging homes pre-sale and can also refer you to professional services that prep your spaces.

4. Paint the front door - Painting your front door is a promising custom home renovation that only requires a few hours and a minimal investment. Choose a paint hue that works well with your home’s color scheme or creates an interesting contrast. Your front door is the primary entry (and welcoming point) of your property. A freshly painted, unique front door can help a potential buyer feel at home. If you have the budget, go a step further and swap out old entry lights for contemporary ones, get a new doormat, and add a few potted plants to boost the welcoming factor of the space.

5. Deep clean - Deep cleaning is an inexpensive and recommendable (if not unavoidable) step of getting your home market-ready. The last thing a buyer wants is to spend their first days in a new home scrubbing away years of grime. Hire professionals or make cleaning checklists to work through on your own in your spare time. The goal is to leave floors, upholstery, and bathroom and kitchen surfaces (including those dark back corners of the cabinets) spotless.

6. Add art (and remove yours) - According to Investopedia, depersonalizing your home—which entails removing your art, photos, and nostalgic knickknacks—makes it a fresh slate that potential buyers can imagine imprinting their personality upon. After packing your personal items, fill voids on walls and surfaces with tasteful art. Stylish design and furniture stores often carry posters and prints, and you should have no trouble finding a few that align with your home’s aesthetic. Just be cautious of cluttering your space with too much art, which could distract from other features of the home.

7. Change fixtures - Dated door and cabinet nobs, faucets, and light fixtures can make surrounding spaces look like a blast from the past, too. Swap outmoded fixtures for contemporary ones and transform a 20-year-old cabinet door or the entire personality of a bathroom. This is an affordable, mostly DIY home improvement project—just be sure to get professional help if you’re unsure how to safely replace lighting or plumbing features.

8. Refurbish hardwood floors - Floor Covering Weekly reports that hardwood floors are here to stay, citing research figures that show two-thirds of Americans want this type of flooring in their dream homes. If your property has this coveted feature, flaunt it. Have a professional sand and polish wood floors, restoring them to their original beauty and creating an attractive focal point for potential buyers.

9. Refresh bathrooms - Moderate bathroom remodels rank on the list of the highest ROI (return-on-investment) home upgrades. Squeeze the most out of your investment by focusing on inexpensive, cosmetic changes and cleaning tasks that increase the space’s appeal. Supposing that your plumbing and tiling are in good shape, renovations like repainting, scrubbing grout, and putting in a new vanity are enough to get bathrooms market-ready. Stage the space with tasteful towels, mats, and accessories, and watch your bathroom transform into a spa-like haven.

10. Revamp the kitchen - Mid-range kitchen renovations also make the high-ROI home upgrade lists. According to the New York Times, an “outdated room can stand out” as a sore point for a buyer and “hurt a sale.” Take an old kitchen into the present with painless, DIY improvements. Sand and repaint cabinets in trending hues, put in new drawer and cabinet handles, re-tile the backsplash, and replace aging appliances with contemporary ones. Add a selling point by getting energy-efficient units. 

    A word to the wise, shared by that same New York Times report, is to set boundaries and a budget. Kitchen renovations can easily grow in scope and expenses, leaving you with a costly, interminable project that you’ll end up losing money on.

10. Make your house smarter - Smart lights and thermostats meter energy usage help homeowners save on utility bills. They’re also convenient, as they can be controlled by apps. What’s more comfortable than being able to turn off a light left on from under the covers? Boost the appeal of your property with a few low-cost smart upgrades that’ll make a buyer feel like they’re moving into a state-of-the-art home.

11. Redo the fireplace - Whether you have the selling point of a working fireplace or not, you have an attractive focal point for the aesthetics of your home. Do a fireplace update, which might include installing modern stone or tile finishes, painting or restoring wooden moldings, and staging the mantle (or the inside of the fireplace) with candles, framed art, or mirrors.

Make the right renovations with help from Titus

The most budget-friendly renovations are those that don’t cost a fortune but help you earn one when you sell your home. Work with a Titus partner agent and get excellent advice on how to wisely prepare your property for sale. Titus only partners with the best realtors in the industry, whose sell-through rate is far above the national average.

Plus, when your real estate agent is affiliated with Titus, they have exclusive access to closing lines of credit (CLoCs), funds homeowners can use to upgrade their property for sale. Credits of up to $25,000 are zero interest. Learn more here.