Consumers and Homeowners: Before you put your house on the market, be sure to read the following home improvement ideas recommended by St Louis realtors and how you can spruce up the old place without spending an entire fortune.

1. Heat your kitchen

Depending on your budget, why not start with the least expensive type of replacement that will make your old kitchen look like new? Remember, this is probably one of the most important rooms in your house to show off to the new family. Start with some new light fixtures, and don’t forget to replace those old cabinet door handles. A new kitchen sink or faucets will do wonders for the perfect open house. And if you have a bigger budget, consider upgrading your kitchen cabinets, which is still less than buying new ones.

2. A facelift will make your home look younger

Another eyesore you want to avoid is if your kitchen appliances don’t match. A simple solution would be to order new doors or front panels from the manufacturer. Most people don’t realize this, but many dishwasher panels are white on one side and black on the other and are easy to change.

3. Give your bathroom some style

The bathroom is another important room in the house that may need a reform. And it doesn’t have to mean mortgaging the house, so to speak. Consider a new toilet seat or pedestal sink. They are easy to install and can create a whole new look.

If your floor looks old and faded, replace it with vinyl or sheet tile. Another tip is to replace old, cracked and chipped tiles with new ones and don’t forget to use new grout if necessary. If you have extra money for upgrades, put in a new prefab.

4. Paint, paint and more paint

People seem to forget that painting is not only an inexpensive home improvement, it can also bring life to an old room. It will look new and clean. Paint all the trim a contrasting color and do the ceiling!

Here’s something new to think about. Paint your walls three different shades of the same color. More and more decorators are proposing this new type of theme. Place the darkest shade in the bottom third with the next lightest shade in the middle, and so on.

5. This would be a good time to look down.

Do you see? old carpet? Then you need to take a few steps to make it look like new, which in turn will reflect the same look throughout your home. This is not the time to do it yourself. Call in a professional carpet cleaner and let them do the voodoo they do so well.

On the other hand, if your rug is badly worn, a quick cover could be an inexpensive and strategically placed area rug. Replacing wall-to-wall carpeting isn’t always the best idea, as most new homeowners will want to choose their own carpet.

6. The entrance says it all

This is the first thing you and your guests will see when they enter your home. If the door is made of wood and is in good shape, then a fresh coat of paint or finish may be the answer. But if you have a steel door and you notice it’s dented, replace it with an inexpensive steel door, a fiberglass door, or upgrade it with a nice fiberboard door.

After you paint or refinish your front door, give some serious thought to replacing the door knob, lock kit and hasp. Another great tip is to place two large planters on either side of the new door.

7. Your home and curb appeal

These tips may seem obvious, but let’s go over them anyway. When new buyers arrive at your address, make absolutely sure that the grass is cut and cared for. Make sure any bushes you have are trimmed back as well. The inside of your house may be immaculate, but if the outside looks like a complete mess, your chances of selling the house just went down.

Consider speaking with a professional landscaper. They will certainly give you excellent suggestions on simple and inexpensive ways to make your lawn a masterpiece. The last thing he wants is for his house to remain on the market just because it doesn’t look presentable. You won’t like this, your broker won’t like it, and of course your St. Louis mortgage broker won’t like these avoidable delays at all.