Image by Dorothea Lucia Pietrek from Pixabay

Does your bathroom look vintage but not in a cool or trendy sort of way? If so, and you don’t have the resources or time to give your bathroom a complete remodel, you can make some minor changes to your bathroom to freshen it up.

For instance, you can plan a weekend DIY project to refinish your bathroom cabinets and give them an updated look. All you need is a few materials, paint and some elbow grease.

Materials you’ll need:

Fine grade sandpaper, water-resistant (durable) paint, primer, painters’ tape, small tarp or drop cloth, small paintbrush, small roller and a screwdriver. 

If you’re looking to replace your visible hardware (an easy task and gives it some modern flair!), you’ll also need some new knobs and/or pulls.

Once you’ve gathered your tools and materials together, you can get started.

Step 1: Remove the hardware and position painters’ tape

Unscrew all of the cabinet’s hardware so you can remove any drawers, along with the cabinet door(s). Put these aside and lay them flat on the tarp or drop cloth in preparation for painting. Next, use painters’ tape to cover any areas you don’t want to accidentally get paint on.

Tip: Place any screws and other pieces in a small baggie so they don’t get lost.

Step 2: Sand down all surfaces

Take the sandpaper and gently sand down the cabinet, door and drawer surfaces. Next, thoroughly wipe them down to remove any residual dust, grime or dirt.

Step 3: Prime the cabinet

Once the drawers are clean, you’re ready to prime your surface. Give it a good coat, you might need two, depending on the current stain or paint of your cabinet. Let the primer completely dry.

Step 4: Paint the cabinet

Take your roller and paint the larger surfaces of your cabinet, including the front of the door(s) and drawers. Use the small paintbrush to catch any details the roller can’t properly reach. If there are still some tight grooves or other areas left the paintbrush can’t adequately cover, try using a craft paintbrush to dab the paint onto these areas. Let all surfaces thoroughly dry. Apply a second coat, if necessary.

Keep in mind, if you go with an oil-based paint, which tends to last longer and is more durable, you’ll need extra time for the paint to dry, along with good ventilation. If not, you can go with a semi-gloss or satin paint that doesn’t have the same strong odor.

Step 5: Reattach door(s) & drawers

Reattach any hardware that was removed earlier and then re-screw the door(s) and drawers back onto the cabinet. If you really want a completely new look, go ahead and replace those knobs and/or pulls.

A new coat of paint can do wonders for any old bathroom, especially if a replacement isn’t in your near future. Try this easy makeover and see what a difference it really makes.

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Looking to list your house and maximize its value? Ultimately, a home selling timeline can make a world of difference, regardless of where your house is located.

A home selling timeline enables you to map out the home selling journey. Then, you can decide the best steps to ensure you can achieve your home selling goals as quickly as possible.

Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you craft an effective home selling timeline.

1. Set a Deadline

When do you want to be out of your current house and living elsewhere? Establish a home selling deadline, and you can determine how much time you have to navigate the home selling journey.

If you need to sell your home in a matter of weeks, you'll likely need to move quickly if you want to achieve the best-possible results. Thus, you'll need to make a plan to ensure you can promote your house to the right buyers and speed up the home selling process.

Conversely, if you have several months to sell your house, you may be able to take a gradual approach to listing and promoting your residence. In this scenario, it may be worthwhile to conduct a home inspection, identify any underlying home problems and address these issues. That way, you can perform assorted house improvements to boost the value of your residence.

2. Determine Your Budget

A home selling timeline and budget often go hand-in-hand, and for good reason. If you craft a home selling budget in conjunction with your timeline, you can ensure you have the necessary finances for expenses that may arise during the home selling journey.

For example, consider what may happen if a homebuyer identifies myriad home problems during an inspection. In this situation, a buyer may ask you to complete home improvements in order to move forward in the home selling process. And if you have already set aside funds for home improvements, you can complete these tasks and ensure you can stick to your home selling timeline.

3. Consult with a Real Estate Agent

For home sellers, it generally helps to hire a real estate agent. This housing market professional can help you create a successful home selling timeline and address a wide range of home selling hurdles.

A real estate agent understands the complexities of selling a house and will make it easy for you to make informed decisions throughout the home selling journey. He or she will teach you about the housing market and ensure you can establish a competitive initial asking price for your residence. Next, a real estate agent will promote your house to prospective buyers and help you review offers on your residence. And once you receive a fair homebuying proposal, a real estate agent will ensure you can quickly and effortlessly finalize a home sale.

Set up a timeline for selling your house – you'll be glad you did. If you use the aforementioned tips, you can establish an effective home selling timeline that guarantees you can optimize the profits from your home sale.

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Image by mynemesis2011 from Pixabay

If you're anticipating putting your home on the market soon and want to sell it as quickly as possible, you're probably thinking that the best way to accomplish this is to accept a major drop in price. Although it's true that price points can affect how quickly a property sells, you don't have to dip much, if anything, below market value to facilitate a fast sale as long as you live in an area with a moderately healthy real estate market. Following are five proactive ways you can help your upcoming home sale go quickly.

Declutter and Depersonalize

One of the key components of a successful home sale is creating an environment where potential buyers can easily envision themselves and their family enjoying a pleasant life. Too many family photos and general clutter takes away from this. Renting a storage unit helps by providing a place to keep things and also gives you a head start on your move.

Be Available

Homeowners who limit when the house can be shown are missing out on a lot of potential buyers. Although it's a hassle to always have to be available, you can make it easier on yourself by doing a general quick cleaning every morning and by using the above strategy of keeping clutter to an absolute minimum. If you simply can't guarantee availability for last-minute showings at all times, at least try to do so on weekend because that's when most people are looking at homes. 

Have Professional Photos Taken

Professional photographs that show your home in the best possible light make it more likely that prospective buyers will ask to see your home. Don't settle for just any local photographer, though -- ask your real estate agent to recommend someone who specializes in home photography. 

Move Out 

If you move out of the home, you and your family won't have to endure the inconvenience of people coming in and out, and your real estate agent will be free to show the property at literally any time. 

Paint Your Home in Neutral Colors

Now is the time to make your home look as much like a blank slate as possible without sacrificing any of its charm. Neutral colors don't clash with anything, so buyers are therefore less likely to pass on your home due to aversions to certain colors, and there's something really appealing about a fresh coat of paint.

You'll also want to amp up the curb appeal of your home to make it more attractive. Because people are often blind to the faults of their own environments, ask a trusted friend or relative to look at your home exterior from the critical eye of a potential homebuyer and add improvements from there. 

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