Renovating a house doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, there are many ways to renovate a home on a budget. Keeping your renovation costs low is always important especially when you’re an investor looking to turn a profit on a property or to increase a property’s value.
If you’re looking for ways to spruce up your investment property – here are 20 ways to renovate a house with no money.
1. Paint the front door
Before you work on any part of the home, focus on the exterior. It’s the first impression anyone has when looking at your home. A broken or shoddy-looking door only leads others to believe the inside is just as bad. A quick coat of paint and some new hardware should fix things up perfectly.
2. Spruce up the landscaping
Just like the front door, the landscaping says a lot about your house too. You can spruce up landscaping without spending a penny. Trim down the bushes, clean up the weeds, and cut the grass. You’ll be amazed at how much better your house looks just by trimming back the landscaping.
3. Paint windows and shutters
If you paint the front door, make sure your windows and shutters match. Even if they already match, if they look worn or dirty, wash them and consider a fresh coat of paint. It will give the home a much-needed facelift that will make it look like you renovated the home.
4. Clean the rugs
This seems like such a simple thing to do, but you’ll be amazed at the fresh and clean feeling you get when you walk through your home with clean carpets. We often don’t realize how much dirt, dust, and grime accumulates in our rugs from everyday use. Grab a carpet cleaner and get to work beautifying your home.
5. Paint the walls
Look at the home’s walls. Do they look dingy and worn? Unless there are holes or major gashes, a fresh coat of paint is all it may take to freshen up the home’s interior. Painting the walls is also a good idea if you painted them an ‘interesting’ color that others may not appreciate. When you sell, you want the home as neutral as possible so buyers can picture their belongings in the home and not be distracted by bold colors.
6. Deep clean the home
Giving your home a good cleaning, not just a basic dusting and vacuuming can do wonders for it. Deep cleaning means getting in all the nooks and crannies – removing cobwebs, dust bunnies, dirt, and grime. Don’t forget key areas like the bathtubs and showers, crawl spaces, and ceilings, and baseboards. A few hours spent cleaning can make your house look brand new.
7. Lift the curtain rods
This simple way to renovate a house with no money is so basic yet most people don’t even realize it makes a difference. Rather than having your curtain rod right at the top of the window, lift it a few inches. This gives the illusion of taller ceilings and more room in the home. If you already have long enough curtains on the windows, it won’t cost you a penny but will make the home look more attractive.
8. Fix broken tiles
Look closely at your flooring. Are there broken, chipped, or missing tiles? If you have extras stashed away, break them out and fix the flooring. This is a great way to spend no money renovating your home but giving it an updated look. If you don’t have the tiles to replace it, look for cheap flooring you can replace it with as flooring is one of the top factors buyers consider.
9. Paint kitchen cabinets
The kitchen is the heart of the home, so focusing your efforts (and money) there will pay off. If the kitchen cabinets look worn or are outdated, a fresh coat of paint can make a tremendous difference. Today, white cabinets are popular with buyers and easy enough for you to do yourself.
10. Replace cabinet hardware
If you want to renovate a house with no money or little money, consider replacing cabinet hardware throughout the house. It’s a simple fix with low costs that makes a huge difference. Look for modern hardware and watch how it changes the entire home’s tone.
11. Update lighting
Lighting is one of the most important factors in a home’s appeal. Natural light is king, but if you don’t have large windows there’s not much you can do about it. Instead, you can position lighting strategically so it lights up the entire room. Simply changing out lightbulbs or moving the lighting around the room can make a dramatic difference.
12. Add a backsplash
If your kitchen doesn’t have a backsplash or it has seen its day, add or replace it. This inexpensive fix can dramatically change the kitchen, giving it a more modern feel. Play around with different patterns and styles, but keep the colors neutral to appeal to all audiences.
13. Refinish doorknobs
Just like cabinet hardware, doorknobs play an important role in a home’s personality. Refinishing doorknobs is expensive and fast. You can touch up all doorknobs in the house, giving the home a fresh look – don’t forget the exterior doorknobs too.
14. Make appliances look shiny and new
Kitchen appliances are especially noticed when buyers walk through a home. To renovate a house with no money, focus on the appliances. Make them look shiny and new – touching up any worn areas and make sure the appliances work well. If they aren’t running at peak performance, watch YouTube to see if it’s a repair you can do yourself.
15. Replace old shower doors
Old shower doors make a bathroom look outdated. Instead, get a cheap shower curtain and rod and remove the door. The curtain will give the bathroom an open and updated feel and the shower will look brand new.
16. Add colored grout
If your bathroom or kitchen has tile that’s just ‘okay’ but doesn’t need replacing, consider adding colored grout. You’ll invest a little money in the grout (it’s inexpensive), but give your bathroom or kitchen a complete facelift.
17. Paint the garage door
If your home’s exterior feels a little bland, consider painting the garage door a fun accent color. Of course, make sure it matches the home and isn’t so bold that it turns people off, but the right color can really change the appearance of a home.
18. Frame a mirror
If your bathroom needs ‘something’ but you can’t put your finger on it, consider framing the mirror. a little crown molding around it will change the entire bathroom’s appearance, making it feel more sophisticated and modern.
19. Strategically hang mirrors
Mirrors aren’t just to check your appearance – they are a great tool for reflecting light and keeping the natural feel in a room. Hang mirrors opposite a window so they reflect the light into other areas of the room, making it feel more open.
20. Add curtains to your bathtub
Use the tub’s shower curtain to protect the bathroom from water, but for a more upgraded look, add curtains to the outside and sweep them back with curtain ties. It will give the bathroom an entirely new look and bring in new patterns too.
Final Thoughts
Think outside the box when you want to renovate a house with no money. While you may have to spend a few dollars to buy hardware or cheap supplies to fix things up, there are many ways to improve your home’s value without spending much money out of your pocket.