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Debbie Gartner, The Flooring Girl & Blog Stylist -Dynamo Marketers (The Flooring Girl)

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Rainmaker
1,543,817
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I have done all these projects on my own and with friends in the past:

  1. A $30.00 gallon can of paint is worth $3,000 on the walls. Paint!
  2. New baseboard & Crown Moulding
  3. Remove carpet & replace with snap in place engineered woood floors
  4. New Tile
  5. Update Kitchen cabinet hardware and appliances
  6. Update your windows
  7. Install ceiling fans
  8. Re-sod the lawn, plant fresh flowers in the yards or go native plants and low water consumption.
  9. Update the vanity, sink, light fixture and toilet in a bathroom.
  10. Steam Clean the carpets
Apr 19, 2020 04:55 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Declutter, deep clean, paint, deodorize, add flowers, landscape cleanup, if they have hardwood under the carpet remove the carpet.

Apr 20, 2020 07:12 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

Fresh paint actually.

Get rid of 1/3 of the furniture/knick knacks in a room. Most people have just too much stuff. 

Polish up those hardwood floors or get new carpet.  Forget about those crappy snap in floors. 

Apr 20, 2020 06:53 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

What you can see? 

Paint inside/out

What can you feel?

Hardware and other finishing touches.

What can impress?

Cleanliness in all aspects and simple yet well-manicured landscaping. 

Apr 19, 2020 04:55 PM
Ambassador
2,178,603
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Richie Alan Naggar hit the nail on the head. See what I did there?  LOL 


Apr 19, 2020 03:45 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Painting works like a tonic...Cleanliness just sparks...Light fixtures with bright lighting...Flowers, garden and stone/rock trim path to front door

Any old light fixture  has to be replaced ...Toilet & seat a must

Knobs and handles...Screens...Window coverings...concrete cracks...a/c vents

Apr 19, 2020 03:12 PM
Rainmaker
620,692
Ernie Steele
Lebanon, PA

Landscaping

Apr 20, 2020 05:41 AM
Ambassador
5,049,183
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Some of that depends on the homeowners and how skilled or handy they are...or who have friends who area. De-personalizing is a big deal and they have to move anyhow. Painting in neutral tones where needed is a cheap and easy fix. It's pretty simple to improve the curb appeal with trimming or removing plants, adding plantings, cleaning up that front door (paint, welcome mat, workable door lock).

Apr 19, 2020 08:02 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

if you are going to DIY you best stick to paint, updated lamps and shower curtains.  Beyond that my best advice is hire a professional.

Apr 19, 2020 07:45 PM
Rainmaker
805,899
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Painting and having a clean place I think are #1. Any touch ups if needed such as caulking or grout is missing.

Apr 19, 2020 05:56 PM
Rainmaker
508,318
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

The easiest and cheapest improvment is to convert your lights to LED. There are all types of bulbs and fixtures available that allow any homeowner to make this change. Even flourescent bulbs can be upgraded just by cahning the tubes.

Apr 19, 2020 05:00 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

Murals on the walls depicting their childrens acheivements.

Maintance free front yard filled with native flora planted 4 years ago.

And of course...chain link fence.

That is how one describes a career listing.

To answer your question, "The opposite of ALL of those."

Apr 19, 2020 04:07 PM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Painting and cleaning up for certain!  

Apr 20, 2020 10:57 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

flooring

Apr 20, 2020 06:52 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor e-Pro, CRS, RCS-D, Vets has it covered well!

Apr 20, 2020 06:05 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

After decluttering and deep cleaning, I think new faucets, light fixtures, door and cupboard knobs, and paint make a nice difference. 

Apr 20, 2020 05:29 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

It really depends on the ability of the home owner to d it right. I would rather they did not oant if they were also going to get that paint on the floor, ceiling, wondow and even switches. Cleaning the home is worth a ton as well for those those with no DIY skills. 

Apr 20, 2020 05:10 AM
Rainmaker
2,241,053
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Rip the fluorescent lights out of the baths that look like a morgue Debbie Gartner . Lighting in a clean home with no smells and mowed lawns can make the difference to stand out. In small rural markets its get rid of dingy paint and paper, the Mopar glow in the dark colors. Broken glass, ceiling roof leak stains don't make a buyer warm and tingly.

Apr 20, 2020 04:26 AM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Check out Debe Maxwell, CRS article on a home she just re-did and sold. I see that it has been featured. She did an awesome job all the way around - not just the re-do but realizing a more than expected (or dreamed of) profit for the seller. What she accomplished is what buyers in my area are looking for and we've done a bunch of them over the last number of years.  Style/colors/decor may change a bit over time but they all seem to want that clean and clutter free look - light and bright.

Apr 20, 2020 03:44 PM
Ambassador
6,393,404
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Fix, Clean, and paint

 

Apr 20, 2020 12:30 PM
Rainmaker
637,434
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

New appliances in kitchen make a big difference in some cases. Certainly painting if there is funky wallpaper for example. Exterior painting if there's weathering. New front door.

Apr 20, 2020 11:41 AM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

A fresh coat of paint.

Declutter.

Clean, clean, clean,

Apr 20, 2020 08:25 AM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

It starts with front yard landscaping, manicured grass and added colored flowers.  Next is cosmetic repairs from the entry to the back door.  De-clutter and then the backyard.  Paint where needed as well.  Spend as little as possible but get the house in ship shape.

Apr 19, 2020 09:20 PM
Ambassador
5,230,079
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

LOL I just shared a post with some updates done to a seller's home that sold it in no time! Of the things that can be DIY:

1. Change out door knobs, hinges and locks on doors...OR you can actually buy metal spray paint - I used that on a few door knobs and it worked beautifully!

2. Replace the cabinet knobs and hardware.

3. Paint the walls neutral - makes a world of difference. Paint the shutters and doors.

4. Pick out faucets and lighting to have ready for a plumber & electrician to install when the Stay-at-Home Orders have been lifted!!

5. Landscaping - give it a face lift including having colorful flowers in pots by a freshly painted front door.

6. Powerwash all sidewalks, patios and the driveway.

7. Clean windows.

8. Clean out closets.

9. Clean the garage - donate, donate, donate!

Apr 20, 2020 07:57 PM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Pressure wash the curb in front of your house, pressure wash your driveway.  

Apr 20, 2020 02:30 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Declutter, clean up, including outside and landscaping; touch up paint.

Apr 20, 2020 07:17 AM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

1. Get rid of half their stuff 2. clean deep scrub clean again 3. paint neutral and I mean don't paint it grey - that style is 2017 4. fix all broken or eyesores and health and safety code violations 5. how much money do they have vs total value of house? Super jumbo it's okay to update flooring from old smelly carpeting to wood

Apr 21, 2020 11:54 AM