Basic Landscaping

• Potential buyers begin to evaluate your home before they even step inside. Increase the curb appeal of the home by investing in some basic landscaping. Clear weeds and debris from the yard, fertilize and mow the lawn so it looks lush, shape hedges and plant a few simple annual flowers to add color. These steps can add 5 to 10 percent to the value of your home, according to Bankrate.com.
  
  

Spruce Up Inside

• Paint, clean and de-clutter the inside of your home to increase its value without much cost. Choose a neutral paint color that will appeal to a wide range of buyers and still be in style ten years down the road. Clean the carpets, kitchen and bathrooms so potential buyers feel like the home is an inviting and comfortable place rather than a dingy one. Because homes feel more spacious if they have fewer items, rent a storage unit and move unnecessary furniture, boxes piled in the garage or the contents of messy closets out of the house.
  
  

Kitchen Remodel

• Buyers care more about the kitchen than any other room in the house. Even if you plan to be in your home for a few more years before selling, remodeling the kitchen now will still increase the home's value significantly, plus you will get to enjoy the more modern kitchen. Some common projects include replacing fixtures, getting new countertops, adding an island and replacing or refinishing cabinets. On average, every dollar spent on modest kitchen remodeling increases the home's value by 80 to 85 cents. In some real estate markets, the remodel can have an even larger effect.
  
  

Bathroom Remodel

• Modest bathroom remodels have a fairly good return in home value on the money spent on the project. Adding a second bathroom to a house with only one bathroom can increase the home's value by up to $1.50 for each dollar spent, according to Parade. Smaller projects, such as replacing the lighting, faucets, wallpaper, bathtub and vanity countertops, add 80 to 85 cents per dollar spent, on average.