{"id":14287,"date":"2020-02-27T10:02:09","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=14287"},"modified":"2026-04-03T08:04:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T15:04:49","slug":"instant-house-upgrades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/instant-house-upgrades\/","title":{"rendered":"16 Instant House Upgrades You Can Do For Under $100 in an Hour’s Time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Your house has been for sale for a few days now, and the place across the street was just listed. You\u2019re curious, and you can’t resist walking through the open house to check out the competition firsthand \u2014 but you leave comparing all their rooms, lighting, paint choices and more to yours, feeling dejected and tempted to call your agent<\/a> to reduce your list price.<\/p>\n

Before you find yourself in this situation, do your best to make your house look its best \u2014 quickly and on a budget \u2014 before real estate agents begin to book showings<\/a>. Don\u2019t worry \u2014 we\u2019ve got your back. Here\u2019s a list of 16 instant house upgrades that will cost you less than $100 and take less than an hour (more or less \u2014 it helps to grab a pal to lend a hand!)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Theme Photos \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A fresh coat of paint<\/h2>\n

Potential buyers love new kitchen upgrades<\/a>. Even if you have a small budget, you can still work on some small improvements that will make a big impact. If your kitchen cabinets are looking a little drab and all new cabinets are out of your budget, you might consider repainting them \u2014\u00a0a fresh coat<\/a> can perk up a room really quickly.<\/p>\n

A note:<\/b> If your house was built before 1978 and previously painted, the paint may be lead-based. You can use a testing kit to check or call in a professional.<\/p>\n

How-to<\/a>:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Figure out what color you want to paint your cabinets; You can go to the hardware store for samples, and some paint companies \u2014 such as Sherwin-Williams<\/a> \u2014 have apps loaded with samples to look through.<\/li>\n
  2. Remove the cabinet doors so you can paint them separately and not miss an inch.<\/li>\n
  3. If your existing paint is in good condition, you\u2019ll be able to paint over it. If not, you\u2019ll need to remove the old paint with a stripping product first.<\/li>\n
  4. Clean all surfaces on the cabinets.<\/li>\n
  5. Cover your floor, countertops, and appliances \u2014\u00a0anywhere you don\u2019t want paint!<\/li>\n
  6. Sand the parts of the cabinets you want to paint, so the paint will stick to the surface better.<\/li>\n
  7. Apply primer.<\/li>\n
  8. Paint the cabinets (start with the doors!)<\/li>\n
  9. Let everything dry; Reattach the doors to the cabinets.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Cost:<\/b> $75.86 for one gallon of paint, painting kit with rollers and brush, painting tape, a drop cloth, primer, and sandpaper from Home Depot.<\/p>\n

    While you\u2019re at it\u2026<\/h2>\n

    Why not find all the wall spots in your home that need a bit of TLC<\/a>? There might be holes from old pictures, or simply areas where the paint has chipped<\/a>. Take a sample to your hardware store to get the right paint color, if you don\u2019t have any paint handy from the previous job.<\/p>\n

    How-to<\/a>:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Clean the surface with a sponge, mild soap, and water.<\/li>\n
    2. Fill in small holes and scratches with a spackling compound.<\/li>\n
    3. Fill in larger holes (two inches or greater in diameter) using a wall repair patch kit.<\/li>\n
    4. Use primer to prep the area for paint.<\/li>\n
    5. Paint over the area.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Cost:<\/b> $76.11 for one gallon of paint, painting kit with rollers and brush, painting tape, a drop cloth, primer, and spackle from Home Depot.<\/p>\n

      Don\u2019t forget the details<\/h2>\n

      Now that you\u2019ve repainted the cabinets, why not buy some new hardware? Etsy<\/a> has a wide selection of antique cabinet hardware, and places like Wayfair<\/a> and Home Depot<\/a> will have a wide selection of new, modern pieces at great prices.<\/p>\n

      According to the American Institute of Architects\u2019 Home Design Trends Survey<\/a>, upscale showers are increasing in popularity<\/a>. For a quick fix to add luxury to your bathrooms, replace old showerheads and consider something striking that will make your bathroom stand out, like a spa-style rainwater showerhead<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Don\u2019t know what\u2019s trendy in your area? It\u2019s best to discuss what\u2019s hot and what\u2019s not<\/a> with your real estate agent, who will have seen plenty<\/i> of bathrooms<\/a> and know what buyers like best.<\/p>\n

      Cost:<\/b> Prices range quite a bit based on materials used, but generally speaking, a set of 12 vintage knobs on Etsy goes for between $35 and $50; A set of 10 knobs at Home Depot ranges between $35 and $50; Finally, on Wayfair, a set of 10 knobs starts at $15 and goes up from there.<\/p>\n

      \"Pictures<\/a>
      Source: (Derick McKinney \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Hang some pictures<\/h2>\n

      When potential buyers are looking at properties, personalization<\/a> can be nice \u2014\u00a0it helps them view the houses as homes<\/i>, places where families live, cook, watch movies. If you have some old family photos and frames hanging around, find some wall space and hang them up in a common area.<\/p>\n

      Be careful, though, and don\u2019t overdo it. Mike Mendoza<\/a>, a Phoenix-based top real estate agent with 37 years of experience, notes that a few pictures are fine, but fifty might be too many; Some buyers will also think about the holes in the walls that frames require, and the need to fix those. Mendoza says he\u2019s had this emerge in the contract negotiations:<\/p>\n

      \u201cI’ve had lots of buyers say to me when we were writing contracts: are they gonna fix all those holes and paint those walls?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

      Cost:<\/b> $101.55 for a picture-hanging kit, anchors, a leveler, and a hammer from Home Depot, as well as four simple frames from Target<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Declutter your closets<\/h2>\n

      By decluttering<\/a> and organizing your closets, you\u2019ll make them appear more spacious. Buy shoe boxes to organize your shoes, donate old items you no longer wear (this tip doubles as a good deed!), and move the top rail up a notch to make room for an extra bottom rail.<\/p>\n

      Cost:<\/b> $29.99 for a simple six-pack of shoe boxes from Walmart<\/a>.<\/p>\n

      Declutter your pantry, too<\/h2>\n

      It\u2019s easy for a pantry to get out of control \u2014\u00a0especially if you have a family. From snacks to food set aside for emergencies like earthquakes, the shelves can get cluttered quickly. Now that you\u2019ve tackled the closet, you\u2019re in the right state of mind to organize and clean out that pantry, too<\/a>. Here are some steps to make the process<\/a> easier:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Pull everything off the shelves.<\/li>\n
      2. Go through items and toss anything that is past its \u201cbest by\u201d date.<\/li>\n
      3. Clean the shelves.<\/li>\n
      4. Group items logically: Spices together, baking goods together, oils\/liquids together, canned goods together.<\/li>\n
      5. Use large glass containers to consolidate bulk items, such as flours, nuts, and pasta.<\/li>\n
      6. Use shelf dividers to create more space.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        More generally, a thorough cleaning<\/a> of your home can only help you. When we asked Mendoza<\/a> what he would recommend clients do if they only have time for one upgrade, and he emphatically answered: A deep clean<\/i>. A tidy home, he says, shows you have pride of ownership and that you care about the details. Some of his buyers have been particularly impressed with clean and organized garages<\/a> \u2014\u00a0a space often overlooked!<\/p>\n

        Cost:<\/b> This will vary a bit based on how large and complicated your pantry is, but a set of 12 gallon-sized Ball jars from Amazon<\/a> will set you back $33.85, and a spice rack, canned goods rack, and four bins all cost $71.34 at The Container Store<\/a>, for a total of $105.19.<\/p>\n

        Mask the blemishes<\/h2>\n

        Homes are a lot like people. Sometimes they have an ugly mark or two \u2014 like a weird wire coming out of the wall, or a small electrical panel. Whatever it is \u2014 cover it up<\/a>!<\/p>\n

        You can use the previous tip and hang a few family photos, buy a unique vintage tapestry on Etsy<\/a>, or pick up an inexpensive art piece from IKEA to conceal the eyesore. If the panel is something you use often, like an alarm or a pool thermostat, create a hinged hanging that will allow you to \u201copen\u201d the painting cover whenever you need to access the control.<\/p>\n

        Here\u2019s how<\/a> to create a \u201chinged\u201d hanging:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Screw hinges into the frame. Make sure they are facing the right way so the frame will open out, and that they match your wall color so they don\u2019t stand out.<\/li>\n
        2. Line up the frame on the wall to make sure it will cover the electrical panel or circuit breaker.<\/li>\n
        3. Screw the hinges into the wall; Start with the top and bottom ones, then do the ones in the middle so the frame will be stable.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Cost:<\/b> If you\u2019ve already got art or photographs, this will be a very inexpensive project: $10.77 for a three-pack of hinges with nails from Home Depot. Ready-to-hang art from IKEA averages $40, bringing the total to $50.77.<\/p>\n

          And if you have wallpaper\u2026<\/h2>\n

          Check and see if any of the seams are coming apart. If they are, here\u2019s a quick way<\/a> to repair them:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Soak a rag in warm water.<\/li>\n
          2. Place the rag over the seam for a minute or two.<\/li>\n
          3. Lift the seam a tiny bit so you have a little more room to work with, then squeeze seam sealer (or white glue, if that\u2019s all you have on hand) into the seam.<\/li>\n
          4. Press the paper back into the wall using a roller; Wipe any excess glue or sealer away with a sponge.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            Cost:<\/b> $41.68 for seam sealer, rags, sponges, and a roller from Home Depot.<\/p>\n

            \"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

            Check the tiles<\/h2>\n

            If there are old, chipped tiles in your bathrooms, kitchen<\/a>, or entryway, it might be time to replace those<\/a> \u2014\u00a0not only are they unsightly, but they could be dangerous and you don\u2019t want to stir up any ideas that your house might be unsafe just because of a few aging tiles.<\/p>\n

            How-to<\/a>:<\/p>\n

              \n
            1. Remove any loose grout.<\/li>\n
            2. Put painter\u2019s tape around the surrounding tiles to protect them.<\/li>\n
            3. Drill holes into the broken tile pieces with a \u00bc inch ceramic bit. This will loosen the pieces and make them easier to chisel out.<\/li>\n
            4. Tap out the broken pieces with a hammer and a tile chisel.<\/li>\n
            5. Use a wider chisel to clear out any old thin-set.<\/li>\n
            6. Using a half-inch notched trowel, place some mortar thin-set in the now-cleared area.<\/li>\n
            7. Spread some thin-set on the new tile as well, to help with adhesion.<\/li>\n
            8. Press the tile into place.<\/li>\n
            9. After the thin-set has cured, spread some grout over the gaps between tiles. Once the grout no longer feels tacky, wipe any excess away with a sponge.<\/li>\n
            10. The grout should be dry in 24 hours; During that time, do not walk on your new tile!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

              Cost:<\/b> This will vary based on the price of the tiles and how many you need to replace, but supplies should only run you $54.32 from Home Depot for the thinset, chisel, trowel, and sponges. If you need a drill, you can buy a basic one<\/a> for $27.49.<\/p>\n

              Replace your old thermostat<\/h2>\n

              It costs less than $50<\/a> to buy a programmable thermostat to replace your old manual one<\/a> \u2014\u00a0the new one will let you better control the temperature in your home and make your walls look a little more modern and sleek.<\/p>\n

              Cost:<\/b> This best-selling Honeywell thermostat<\/a> is only $24.98.<\/p>\n

              Straighten things out<\/h2>\n

              If you have blinds with metal slats, you can buy a slat straightener<\/a> to \u201ciron out\u201d any slats that have bent out of shape.<\/p>\n

              Before you do that, though, be sure to clean the blinds of any dust and grime. A simple way<\/a> to wipe down blinds \u2014\u00a0which are notoriously difficult to clean! \u2014 is to cut a rag into two small pieces, then attach those pieces on the two sides of a set of tongs, which you can secure with a rubber band. Now you can easily run the tongs along the blinds.<\/p>\n

              Cost:<\/b> $10.99 for the slat straightener.<\/p>\n

              \"Potted<\/a>
              Source: (Rumman Amin \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

              Go green<\/h2>\n

              Even if you\u2019ve got a black thumb<\/a>, you can buy some attractive container plants to spruce up the front yard. Try a Japanese maple<\/a> or some evergreen conifers \u2014\u00a0both are excellent container plants.<\/p>\n

              You should also tidy up what\u2019s already there: Pull out any weeds, and make sure to trim any shrubs or trees that are overgrown. Plants typically follow a \u201cpruning schedule<\/a>\u201d but even if you\u2019re selling a house outside of that window, you can still get out your shears. Just be aware of the following:<\/p>\n