If you want to go beyond paint, try new hardware and fixtures.

For our own personal enjoyment before we thought about selling, we replaced all the door handles (sliding closets included), strike plates, stair brackets and hinges with brush nickel finishes. I had to spray paint the stair brackets to match. Then to sell, we made sure all but one lonely bathroom had new sink fixtures in brush nickel.

We also did high profile baseboard, but that was a pain in the wee-hoo! I wouldn't recommend moulding replacement.

Anyway, our 15 year old home stood out as a real value priced $10,000 below what everyone else was entering the market at in our neighborhood.

Remove all clutter, make it neat and sparkling clean and definately paint in neutral colors--if applicable remove any wallpaper, get rid of bulky furniture and old carpeting etc.

Anna

Hello Adellacqua and thanks for your question.

Paint is absolutely the best way to refresh the look of any home as it make the interior seem brighter and cleaner. The smell of paint is so associated with new homes, that even a little whiff of it can make your older home seem "newer" to buyers.

In addition to paint, however, keep in mind that "God is in the details" and nowhere is this more true than in housing. Buyers often are attracted by small details in the home rather than enormous, expensive changes. I find that some of my buyers will hone in an an unusual doorknob that they like, or the drawer pulls, or a small colored tile on the vanity top. So, if you can, pay a little more to purchase these little items that "dress up" the look of the ordinary cabinet and kitchen.

Although this is not a small or inexpensive item, changing windows to dual pane, low-e, or sound reduction is often highly prized by buyers. If you have windows--especially bedroom windows--that face noisy streets, it would be worthwhile to change them to newer, more energy and sound efficient windows to help sell your home.

Finally, one of the best ways to get the most "bang for the buck" is to consult with a professional Realtor who can look at your home and help guide you in making the best repairs or improvements that will make your home more marketable in your geographic region.

Good luck and happy home selling!!

Sincerely,
Grace Morioka, SRES, e-Pro
Area Pro Realty

Yes paint is the number one way to make something old look new. I would even recommend painting the cabinets if they are not in good condition. Clear up all the clutter and remove any "extra" furniture that you might have hanging around. Re-arrange the furniture to make it look cozy and warm. You may consider changing knobs on the bathroom vanity and kitchen cabinets to give it a more modern look. More current window treatments/ curtains can also help to modernize it some.

If you need more ideas or would just like a second look, feel free to contact me at any time at lgugliotta@coachrealtors.com.

Paint is the best and least expensive fix. I would be happy to tour the co-op and give you additional inexpensives fixes. E-mail me at: catherine.quinlan@cbmoves.com to arrange a time.