Whenever someone has to move, they must consider 3 things – purchasing a new home, moving out of their old home, and of course, selling the old house. If you’re in a hurry to move for some reason, you may just take the first offer on the table – after all, you’ve got a lot of things to do, like selecting a new home and packing up and moving to your new neighborhood. But don’t take a loss on the sale of your new home, even in a recession. There are some easy and simple upgrades you can do, to increase your house’ appeal and value.

1) Paint – a can of paint can be inexpensive, and you may just need a some touch-ups here or there. A freshly colored wall can give any room a “pick-me-up” and make it seem brand new. The same with your window trims and outside doors.

2) Energy efficiency – check with your utility companies for a free energy audit. Decreasing you home’s energy consumption can attract potential buyers. You’ll probably be able to make anything from small changes (like installing some weather stripping) to some major changes (like installing new windows).

3) Update the kitchen – most buyers focus on the kitchen, since this is one of the places everyone will be spending a lot of time in. You can make a few small changes – if you have worn out or broken tiles or fixtures, it’s easy enough to take a trip to the hardware store and replace them. If you have a bigger budget, see if you can replace cabinets and paneling to make everything look cohesive.

4) Refresh the bathroom – a clean-looking bathroom makes a big difference to potential homebuyers. Simple things like getting a new toilet seat can give your bathroom a facelift. For the floor, you can easily purchase pre-made vinyl tiles that are easy to apply over the old floor. Look at your wall tiles and check for dirt – get some industrial cleansers (or a professional) to get them sparkling again. If the case is too extreme, you may want to think about regrouting and replacing the tiles.

5) Wash the outside – never underestimate the value of a good first impression. You can easily rent a powerwasher for a day and give your walls and driveway a good scrub.

6) Upgrade your light fixtures – instead of a plain light bulb, consider purchasing an inexpensive light fixture to spruce up any room.

7) Spruce up your front yard – plant some shrubs, a tree or two and keep your lawn cleanly cut, especially if you know people are coming over to view your house.
Clean up and organize clutter – if you have a garage, clear it to make it look neat and clean. Install some storage systems, which can cost only a few hundred dollars, but will add immeasurable to the appeal of your home.

9) Make repairs – go around your house, inside and out, and take an inventory of anything that needs to be fixed and just do it, especially stuff that you’ve been meaning to fix but haven’t gotten around to fixing.