Easy Upgrades

Some homes I walk through are just appalling.

• Nasty carpet that's 10 times dirtier than my shoes or 15 years beyond its useful life
• Countertops that are dated or have been used as a cutting board
• Pastel walls or striped wallpaper

For just a few hundred to a thousand dollars or so, you can transform a dog into a home that makes people say "Wow!".

Whether you're selling or looking for a deal, the following items will go a long way to dress up a home and get maximum bang for the buck:

• Carpet - shop around and ask about mill-ends, returns or remnants and you can get new carpet for as low as $500 per room
• Counter-tops - new laminate counter-tops can cost as little as $300-500
• Walls - if you have wallpaper and it's in good shape, a satisfactory option may be to roll paint OVER it. Or, you can take it down in a day and paint the next day. If you're covering a glossy, obnoxious or dark paint, be sure to use a good primer first!

These tips can net you $5000 more on the sale or your home or save you thousands on the purchase of a dog that everyone else is passing by.