If you’re on a budget (like most of us are), there are simple DIY projects you can undertake to get your home ready for the market while eking out as much equity as possible. Sometimes the smallest upgrade can be just what potential home buyers are looking for. Here’s our list of the top 8 DIY tips to get the most from your home sale.

1. R E A L T O R ®
R E A L T O R ®
TOP 8 DIY TIPS
to sell your home for
more money

2. If you’re on a
budget (like most
of us are), there
are simple DIY
projects you can
undertake to get
your home ready
for the market
while eking out
as much equity as
possible.

3. Here’s our list of
the top 8 DIY tips.
(These are in no
particular order -
you’ll want to work
with your agent
to put together
a timeline that
makes the most
sense for you.)

4. TIP 1
paint

5. Giving a fresh coat of modern paint color to cabinets and walls can
completely transform your home. For example - 1980s inspired
oak cabinets can easily transform to chic modern design. Put
some modern colored paint on those bad boys, pair with new
fixtures, and you have yourself an updated look!
*Image from amberinteriordesign.com

6. For the exterior
of your home, the
general rule is to
stick with no more
than 3 colors.
• Color 1 - Main
• Color 2 - Accent
(trim and
shutters)
• Color 3 - Front
door
*Image from homebunch.com

7. For your home
interior, you can
repaint bathroom
and kitchen
cabinets to give
a fresh, modern,
look.

8. *Image from apartmenttherapy.com
*Image from honestlywtf.com
*Image from houseofturqoise.com
*Image from
huffingtonpost.com *Image from Court Atkins Group

9. TIP 2
update fixtures

10. Do you have fixtures that were installed in 1984? Are the handles
on your cabinets worn or falling off? Do your 30 year-old light
fixtures have dead bug remnants and stains? Giving them an
update can greatly increase the appeal of your house.

11. Here are a few
reasonably priced
fixtures that you can
pick up at your local
Home Depot:

12. Bathroom
Faucets
*Image from sheerluxe.com

13. MOEN DARCY | $139
8 in. Widespread
2-Handle High-Arc
Bathroom Faucet in Spot
Resist Brushed Nickel
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

14. MOEN BANBURY | $109
8 in. Widespread 2-Handle
Bathroom Faucet in
Chrome
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

15. MOEN 90 DEGREE | $286
Single Hole Single-Handle
Low-Arc Bathroom Faucet
in Chrome
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

16. Shower
Faucets
*Image from carlaaston.com

17. MOEN ASHVILLE | $154
Single-Handle 1-Spray
Shower Faucet in Spot
Resist Brushed Nickel
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

18. DELTA ASHLYN | $123
1-Handle Pressure Balance
Shower Faucet Trim Kit in
Venetian Bronze
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

19. DELTA ARZO | $212
Single-Handle 1-Spray
Shower Faucet Trim Kit in
Chrome
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

20. Kitchen
Faucets
*Image from Liz Marie Blog

21. KOEHLER SIMPLICE | $190
Single-Handle Pull-Down
Sprayer Kitchen Faucet with
DockNetik and Sweep Spray
in Polished Chrome
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

22. DANZE PARMA | $276
Side-Mount Single-Handle
Pull-Down Sprayer Kitchen
Faucet in Stainless Steel
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

23. PEERLESS CHOICE 2 | $85
2-Handle Kitchen Faucet in
Chrome
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

24. Cabinet
Fixtures
*Image from sarahshermansamuel.com

25. LIBERTY BRUSHED STEEL
BAR PULL | $22
3-3/4 in. (96mm) Brushed
Steel Bar Pull (10-Pack)
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

26. LIBERTY DUAL MOUNT
CUP PULL | $4.32 each
2-1/2 or 3 in. (64 or 76mm)
Dark Oil Rubbed Bronze Dual
Mount Cup Pull
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

27. LIBERTY STEEL BAR
CABINET KNOB | $4.32
1-5/8 in. Brushed Steel Bar
Cabinet Knob
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

28. Light
Fixtures
*Image from housetrends.com

29. HAMPTON BAY LOW PROFILE
FLUSHMOUNT | $57
Hampton Bay Model # HB1023-
35 Internet # 205127898 Store
SKU # 1000053230 Brushed
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

30. HAMPTON BAY SQUARE
CEILING FLUSH | $50
14 in. 1-Light Brushed Nickel
LED Square Ceiling Flush
Mount Light
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

31. PROGRESS LIGHTING
URBAN BRONZE | $191
2-Light Urban Bronze
Fluorescent Fixture
*Image and pricing from the Home Depot website.

32. TIP 3
yardwork

33. It’s hard to sell a house if you can’t see it! Stand across the street
from your home and really evaluate the curb appeal. Are your
shrubs overgrown? Is there a clear walkway to get to the front
door? Does the front door look inviting?
*Image from hgtv.com

34. Sometimes taking a picture
and evaluating the photo
instead of your actual house
can help you get a better
sense of what it will look
like to prospective buyers.
(There’s something about
looking at it as a picture that
helps you detach a bit.) What
about your backyard? Are
the weeds overgrown? Does
it look like there is a space to
dine outside and an area for
kids to run around?
*Image from soulfulhome.com

35. *Image from 1-hire.com
*Image from Better Homes and Gardens
*Image from Better Homes and Gardens
*Image from Better Homes and Gardens
*Image from interiorsbystudiom.com
*Image from southshoredecoratingblog.com

36. TIP 4
update appliances

37. One of the most common
comments we get when
going through a kitchen
is “Oh, those appliances
look dated” or “Oh! Brand
new appliances!” Even if
you think that the home
buyers will want to buy
their own appliances, it
makes a difference in their
purchasing decision if
appliances are already up-
to-date.
*Image from appliancereports.com

38. Kenmore | $799
41153 25 cu. ft. Side-
by-Side Refrigerator -
Stainless Steel
*Image and pricing from the Kenmore website.

39. Kenmore | $399
12413 24” Built-
In Dishwasher w/
SmartWash® HE Cycle -
Stainless Steel
*Image and pricing from the Kenmore website.

40. Kenmore | $499
73233 4.2 cu. ft. Gas Range
w/ Broil & Serve™ Drawer
- Stainless Steel
*Image and pricing from the Kenmore website.

41. TIP 5
clean

42. *Image from homebunch.com
Our standard
recommendations:
• Get your carpets
shampooed (especially if
you have a pet, you may
have grown accustom to
your pet’s smell, but guests
have not).
• Floors shined or polished
• Get into all nooks of your
stove range, take out all
pieces and clean them until
they shine
*Image from studio-mcgee.com

43. Some areas you
may forget about:
• Walls and baseboards
• The top of wall outlets…
(clean carefully)
• Behind the toilet
• Ceilings - dust out all of the
cobwebs
• Underneath furniture - If
you remove a piece of
furniture that has been
placed in the same spot
and there are carpet marks,
place some ice cubes on
the carpet dent, let it sit,
and then use a fork to fluff
up the carpet marks
*Image from thisisourbliss.com

44. *Image from wood-mode.com
• Cabinet faces (especially
in the kitchen) - Use a
towel and a little bit of
dish soap and water (for
standard wood cabinets,
but research what
product is best for your
particular cabinets before
proceeding).
• Doors - Dust and grime can
build up on the decorative
cuts of doors. Use a damp
towel (and a q tip if needed)
to make your doors shine.

45. TIP 6
organize

46. We previously wrote an article about decluttering
your space. When home buyers are walking through a
property, they WILL open closets and WILL want to go in
the garage (wouldn’t you?).
*Image from hgtv.com

47. In an ideal world, you’ll have a
friend’s house or storage unit
to temporarily store all of your
excess stuff that you need
to clear out when your home
is on the market. If that isn’t
an option, your garage can
be used, but try to use clean
rows of boxes so that buyers
can get a sense of how big the
garage is. The bigger you can
make your closets and garage
look, the better!
*Image from thecreativityexchange.com

48. TIP 7
deodorize

49. *Image from homebunch.com
Usually tip #5 helps to
eliminate odors - however,
if you have any pesky scents
lingering, there are a few
additional avenues to take.
Buy several boxes of baking
soda and place the opened
cartons throughout your
home - concentrate on the
areas that are producing the
smell (just be sure to remove
the boxes before your open
house).
*Image from apartmenttherapy.com

50. Also, mix together vinegar
and an essential oil of choice
(lavender is a favorite of mine)
- mist this throughout your
home (just be careful to avoid
direct contact with any fabrics
or materials that may be
sensitive to vinegar).

51. TIP 8
stage your home

52. Home staging is a term used to describe how a home is set like the
stage of a play to welcome in buyers. It’s safe to say that tips #1-7 are
all a part of home staging, but home staging also includes arranging
furniture and decor to make your house attractive to buyers.
*Image from hgtv.com
*Staging by Live West Home Staging

53. Statistically, staged homes
sell faster and for more
money. Staging can be a DIY
project if you have a good
design eye and know what
buyers are looking for. If you
need some help and live in a
more competitive market (like
the Bay Area), we are here
for you with our new staging
business, Live West Home
Staging. (In fact, we offer FREE
home staging when you list
your property with Steven.)
*Staging by Live West Home Staging

54. Good luck! If you have questions about these tips, please
don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help, even if you
live out of state or out of the country.
*Image from hgtv.com
*Staging by Live West Home Staging

55. Keller Williams is an independently owned and operated real estate
brokerage. If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency,
this is not intended as a solicitation. All information deemed reliable
but not guaranteed. Equal Opportunity Housing Provider.
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