10 Inexpensive Ways to Wow Buyers

Now is the time for home owners contemplating a spring sale to spruce up their properties in anticipation of what Mike Larson of Weiss Research calls a potentially vibrant home-selling season.

"If you have been beating your head against a wall, this is going to feel a lot better,” he says.

Here are 10 cheap ways to make a property more attractive to shoppers:
-Improve first impressions. Touch up the paint on the front door and other areas that buyers see first.
-Clean up the landscaping. Trim the hedges and trees and plant some annuals in the flowerbeds.
Paint the interior. A coat of light yellow or cream with contrasting white woodwork looks fresh and clean.
-Refurbish the floors. Buff the hardwoods. Install new carpets – or at least get them professionally cleaned.
-Take care of the big problems. If the house needs a roof or the front stoop is crumbling, get them fixed.
-Buy warranties. Putting appliances under warranty gives homebuyers a secure feeling.
-Improve energy efficiency. New windows or improved insulation tells a potential buyer the seller is on top of things plus they come with tax benefits.
-Replace light fixtures. Updated fixtures, especially at the entrance way and in the foyer, create a good first impression.
-Buy a stove. Home owners whose kitchen isn’t top of the line can jazz it up for a few hundred dollars by buying a new stove, which gives the room a fresh feel.
Tidy up the bathrooms. Get rid of mildew, replace caulking, and replace stained sinks.