If you are among the thousands of Americans trying to sell a house in our flailing economy, then you may be wondering how to spruce things up a bit without going overboard in the budget department. While there are dozens of small things that you can do to liven things up without breaking the bank, there are a few that stand out, and they are the most popular amongst homeowners, realtors, stagers, and others who are buying, renovating, remodeling, or selling homes. These include paint, roller shades, lighting, and curb appeal.

The first is paint. Neutral, basic colors in window shades of gray, tan, or off-white are very popular, and an excellent choice to add appeal to your home. This is especially true if you are one of the people that customize each room in the house. Not everyone appreciates the beautiful job that your teenage son did painting his entire room black, and bright colors can be just as off-putting. Choosing a basic color will appeal to many more buyers, who can then customize the home to suit their own tastes later.

Roller shades are the perfect way to add some style and sophistication to any room. They can be used to block light or let more in, and come in a very broad range of colors, fabrics, and styles. The cost is relatively inexpensive, and they bring an updated and modern look to older homes. They can be purchased at major department stores that offer home furnishings, such as JC Penney, or online at many different Internet retail websites. They can be customized with metal or wooden rollers, and the best choice is a durable metal roller with a neutral or simple print (not floral) fabric.

Lighting can make a huge difference in how buyers see a room. When possible, allow as much natural light into the room as you can. For rooms that get little or no natural light (due to trees, shrubs, buildings, location or lack of windows), make use of energy-efficient bulbs that mimic natural lighting. Sunlight makes a room feel more clean and open, and lending that feel even to a smaller room can mean a big improvement.

Landscaping is the other basic curb appeal feature. It can cost thousands to overhaul your entire yard, especially if it large or you need a significant number of trees. However, you can add a lot of curb appeal to your home simply by adding sod, a few trees or shrubs, trimming hedges and bushes, pruning existing trees, and planting flowers or other small plants that add some color to the yard. Talk to an expert first, though, and make sure that what you plant will grow where you are planting it.

While it can be tempting to paint your home in bright and cheerful colors that showcase your individuality, opt for neutral tones instead. The point is to present a home that buyers think they can make match what they like, not what you like. Instead of bright reds, blues, greens, or purples, go for neutral tones. This means browns, grays, white or off-white, and similar colors. This adds attractiveness and spaciousness to the room. Remember: the darker the room is painted or paneled, the smaller it feels.

Finally, roller shades are the ideal way to introduce some luxury and style to every room. They can be effectively used to block sunlight or allow more to enter, and can be purchased in a very wide variety of window shades, materials, and designs. The price is comparatively cheap, and they bring about a modernized and contemporary look to older houses. They can be obtained at large department stores that sell home furnishings, like JC Penney, or on the Internet at many separate online retail websites. They can be tailored with wooden or metal rollers, and the smartest choice is a tough metal roller with a light-colored or plain print (not flowery) fabric.

There are many things that you can do to enhance the look of your home quickly and efficiently. Some are expensive, while things like lighting, paint, curb appeal, and roller shades are very cheap. Simply do what you can, and make sure that colors and styles are neutral, so that they appeal to more buyers.

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