In a previous article, I detailed 20 things homeowners can do to drive up the asking and offer price for their homes. This won’t necessarily drive up the market value, but it will “force” buyers to offer more for your home.

Here’s the thought behind this: if there is anything “off” or wrong with the house, in buyer’s eyes, the offer will naturally be lower. And if they can’t see themselves in your home, they won’t make an offer at all. This the nature of a buyer’s market.

So, if you decide to follow the steps to “recession proof” your home, you’re naturally wondering how much all this will set you back. In other words, to get a few thousand more dollars out of your home, how much should you spend on it?

Let’s take it tip by tip for each of the 20 tips and give an estimation.

1. Clean it up: $20

This takes next to no resources at all, maybe some cleaning supplies and a free weekend. But let’s assume that you need to buy some supplies anyway.

2. Remove unnecessary furniture or clutter :$0

Taking things out of a room doesn’t cost anything!

3. Keep everything unobstructed: $0

Again, you’re simply moving furniture around.

4. Neutral color schemes: $100

I’m assuming you are going to repaint a few rooms in your house. This will take, let’s say, 5 cans of paint @ $20 each. (Note: If you repaint here, you won’t need Tip 16. So there’s either $100 here or there.)

5. Open the floor plan: $0

Just moving furniture around

6. Landscape and invest in annuals: $50 – $75

Cutting the lawn is free, picking up trash is free. Buying a few flats of colorful annuals and some new mulch will run you $50 to $75, depending on how much needs to be done.

7. Re-caulk the lavatory: $7

Caulk costs about $3-$4 a tube, and let’s say you need two of them. (Tip: Remove old caulk with a standard scraper. If you start right, the old caulk can be pulled away with next to no residue.)

8. Clean the sinks, toilet, etc: $10

Free unless you have to buy the cleaning supplies. I’m assuming you do…

9. Arrange the garage and attic: $0

Cleaning it out, having a garage sale, putting things into storage, moving around boxes, etc.

10. Clean and repair the driveway and sidewalk: $0-$20

Cleaning is free, take a pressure washer to the surfaces. Or hose it off. Or scrub it. De-cluttering is free too. You may need some detergent, which is where some of the cost comes in. If you need to repair some concrete, a few bags should do the trick.

11. Curb Appeal : $60

Cleaning again is free. If you have to re-stain or repaint, you may have to buy the supplies.

12. Use energy wisely to make the home comfortable: $0

Actually, there is an energy cost, but you don’t have to pay it now.

13. Strategically place lights to highlight areas of prominence or features: $0

Assuming you have the lights already, the energy cost is negligible at this point. If you have to buy new fixtures, you’ll incur a cost here.

14. Remove personal accents or effects, esp if there are many of them: $0

Taking things away or packing them doesn’t cost anything.

15. Plug holes in the walls and repaint, or repair damaged moulding, etc: $5

A simple, small $5 canister of drywall compound works wonders. Plus a couple sheets of sandpaper.

16. Repaint: $0

Again, if you did #4, you don’t have to do this. Otherwise, about $100 here.

17. Don’t forget the basements: $0-$40

Cleaning and moving things around doesn’t cost anything. If you have to buy sealer or paint, you’ll run about $40.

18. Prominently show or bring attention to updates: $0

You already spent the money to put the updates in!

19. Remove your pets during showings: $0

Take them for a car ride – it only costs you some gas.

20. Freshen the air in your home: $15

Buying some portable air fresher units and refills, if you don’t already have them. Opening the windows, of course, is free.

So, let’s add it up!

All the above costs $452, if you take the “high estimate”. That’s less than $500 and some of your weekends to make your house more appealing to buyers. Spread that out over a few weeks, and its about $100 a week.

In return, your “investment” may yield a final offer or deal for your home of $2000 or more, depending on your local market. In fact, some may even sell for $5000 or more. The fact is, even if your home sells for $1000 more, you still recouped your sub $500 investment.