Small, projects to make home more welcoming that won’t break the bank

Nine projects under $1,000

Here are nine mini-projects under $1,000 experts recommend:

1. Paint the front door and put on new house numbers

Don't have the money to paint your home's entire exterior? Try the front door instead.Another easy fix? Try affixing new house numbers. However, don't use off-the-shelf stickers. Get something substantial, Resch advises."I always put on new house numbers, especially if they're replacing the kind that were just off the rack from your local hardware store," she says.

2. Spruce up landscaping

You've likely heard of  "curb appeal," the phrase real estate agents use to describe the visual aesthetics of a home's outside yard and entryway. 

3. Build a fire pit

Building a fire pit can make your yard its own retreat. And it's less expensive than installing a fireplace inside. What's more, they can be easy to build yourself.

4. Paint one or more rooms

A recent survey from HomeAdvisor found it costs between $2 and $6 per square foot for an interior paint job, with most averaging about $3.50. Thumbtack, a similar service, found interior painting averages about $385 a room and wallpaper about $580.

5. Spruce up the bathroom

For a client in Maryland with a vintage tub in the bathroom, Resch bought a new vanity with storage at Home Depot, added new black matte hardware and added new light fixtures."It looks so pretty. And this had a nice vintage vibe to it," she recalls. "Even with labor for installation, we weren't even up to $600."If your bathroom tile has moldy or worn grout, you may want to have it cleaned and repaired. The average cost for tile grout cleaning and professional touch-up is $225 to $300. A high-end job can cost just less than $1,000, according to Thumbtack.

6. Get your windows washed

Get both the interior and exterior windows washed, Resch says. 

"It makes a massive difference and, depending on the size of the house, it's anywhere from $400 to $800 because they (cleaners) do the inside and the outside and often they wash the screens," Resch says. "It's imperative."

7. Add open shelving

Home improvement shows made open shelves popular. The addition adds a bit of personality to your home. It also can speed a home sale.

8. Replace the light fixtures

Simply changing light fixtures can modernize a house, Resch says. "I always try to swap out the primary fixtures where I can," Resch says. "Even outdoor lights can change the vibe of a place."

9. Clean the carpets and the floors

Floor cleaning prices range from $250 to $400. Carpet cleaning costs about $94 per room, with two rooms costing about $120 and three about $146, according to Thumbtack. Refinishing hardwood floors can cost between $3 and $7 per square foot, an average of $1500, with a wide range of prices depending on condition and square footage, according to Thumbtack. If a full refinishing is out of your price range, a "light buff" may do the trick Resch says. "Just do a quick buff, not even a full sanding," Resch advises. "Then do a quick polish or coat of polyurethane and it looks so pretty."