Whether you are planning to put your home on the Burnaby real estate market or are simply looking to spruce up the home, renovations can be highly effective. Simple jobs can have a huge impact on the aesthetic appeal and value of your home.

But some renovations can also be expensive, either up front or in the long run. These kinds of jobs are often great to do eventually, but can easily destroy a budget and even keep you out of your own house for a long time. Here are some cost effective, relatively quick renovations for your home to get it spruced up for the spring.

The Front Door

As you have probably heard before, cleaning up the gateway to your home can have a huge impact on its value. It’s also one of the quickest jobs you can do. There are few returns on investment that come close to front doors. Whether you buy a brand new door or just repaint the current one, a few hours’ work at a couple hundred dollars will grab the attention of passersby and potential buyers equally.

Lawn Care

While you are outside working on the front door, work on the lawn a bit. Simply cutting back the grass from the walkway and pulling up weeds can improve the look of your home. In addition, strategically planting flowers near the house or placing potted plants near the doorway can create a welcoming atmosphere for visitors.

New Appliances

If you have a beautiful kitchen with new countertops and flooring, nothing negates its appeal more than old, dirty appliances. Spending a few hundred to a few thousand dollars on a top-of-the-line stainless steel refrigerator or range can increase the value of your home drastically. And if your kitchen is in need of renovations, new appliances can draw attention away from those dingy floors.

Retouching the Bathroom

Few things set off visitors like a grimy bathroom. By re-caulking the bath or installing a new toilet seat, you set a perception of cleanliness. For something more drastic, spending a couple hundred dollars on a new vanity can go a long way toward a first impression.

New Lighting

Of course, even after you have made all these small renovations in your house, you want it to look good when you flip on the lights. If you are willing to shell out a couple hundred dollars and an afternoon of labour, you can install beautiful fixtures that highlight the best aspects of your home. Recessed lighting and daylight bulbs can make any house feel more like a home.

For only a few hundred bucks and a free weekend, you can drastically increase the value and aesthetic appeal of your home. For more information about increasing your home value, including staging and marketing ideas, be sure to visit our sellers page.

Meta: If you have some spare cash and a free weekend, why not spend it increasing the value of your home? Here are some cost-effective renovations you can do quickly.

It has been a miserable winter, with record low temperatures and horrible precipitation across the continent. The weather has finally taken a turn, however, and spring is upon us. Along with the birds, bunnies and blue skies, this means it is time to dress up your home for the season of renewal. Here are some great ways to welcome the new season, whether you are looking to host guests or put your Burnaby real estate on the market for sale.

Flowers

Flowers are the most obvious way to dress up your home. Get your lawn garden going and pick up some potted or in-the-vase bouquets to bring some bright color, beauty and wonderful aromas to your home. Not only do flowers look wonderful, but they are natural air fresheners, giving off oxygen while consuming carbon dioxide. This can help to improve your overall health.

A Coat of Paint

A fresh coat of paint is one of the best ways to give your home a great new look. Call in the painters to touch up those rooms that are looking a bit rough, or to lend a whole new color palate to your house. Make it look vibrant and bright to go along with the youth of spring.

Organize!

Spring is the perfect time to get organized and give a new life to your schedule and coming tasks. Go through your home and clear the clutter. Organize those drawers and file cabinets. Get rid of trash and downsize your life by removing those things that have been sitting around unused for far too long.

Change the Linens

Put away those heavy, dark comforters and replace them with lightweight spring sheets. Move from blues and grays to lighter hues of yellow, green and brighter earth tones. Get the color scheme and energy of your whole home lighter and brighter.

Host a Tea Party or Barbecue

Having a party may not seem a way to spruce up your home, but it is! Bringing guests in and having an afternoon tea will bring life and positive energy to your home. You and your nearest and dearest can celebrate the season of renewal and life, and make plans for the coming months.

If high tea isn’t really your thing, try opening the grill and having the first cookout of the season! What better way to celebrate spring than by cooking and eating outdoors? Open the picnic tables and lay out the steaks, burgers and hot dogs.

Springtime is also a great time to buy or sell real estate. If you are looking to buy a new home or sell your existing home, we are ready to help. Give us a call today!