As you start to plan your fall home-improvement schedule, here are 10 cost-effective options to consider:
1. Dust and reverse ceiling fans
While it’s virtually free to dust and reverse ceiling fans, most homeowners don’t do it.
When you reverse the blade direction, you’ll send warm air down—heating rooms more effectively in the colder months.
2. Switch out light bulbs
Replace those dingy yellow bulbs with bright daylight bulbs. It’s about $3 per bulb, but the return in kitchens or workspaces is huge.
Updated bulbs instantly make everything look cleaner, brighter, and newer. Good lighting is an inexpensive way to take any room to new heights.
3. Air seal your front doors
A weatherstrip kit for $18, a door sweep for $25, and foam outlet gaskets for $6 across 10 plates can calm cold drafts in only two hours.
The change will be obvious from the second the heater comes on.
4. Give your windows some TLC
Spray $30 worth of clear inside film on a drafty window, run a $10 tube of clear silicone at the outside trim gap, and replace a $10 pair of squeaky crank handles. Then, wash both sides of the window with a $4 concentrate and two $6 squeegees.
This is not as intense or expensive as a window replacement but could last two heating seasons and save you thousands.
5. Apply a fresh layers of mulch
Adding a fresh layer of season mulch to garden beds for about $40 not only makes your curb look better but also shields your plants from frost.
This affordable trick can ensure your plants are in good shape by the time spring rolls around.
6. Clean your gutters
Removing leaves, pine needles, and other debris from your gutters is a $0-to-$50 project that pays dividends. It might take two hours plus a ladder and a pair of gloves, but keeping your gutters free from clogs will keep water away from your foundations—potentially saving you thousands in damage.
Plus, clean gutters signal that a home that’s been well maintained, which is more important to buyers than most homeowners realize.
7. Change out your air filters
Changing HVAC filters is not as sexy, but it’s just as important. Filters costing as little as $30 can mean the difference between stale/dusty or clean flowing air throughout your home.
If the air feels dirty, potential buyers make a mental note to lower their price. If it’s clean, well, the implication is your home is well cared for
8. Caulk around bathrooms and kitchens
This is another $50 task that can stop leaks and water damage. It also makes sinks and tubs appear clean—instantly.
New caulk just screams “sanitary” to most people, where broken or moldy lines scream “neglected” or “overhaul needed.
9. Pressure wash your driveways and walkways
Driveways, walkways, patios, and siding can become dirty enough to make a property look years older. That’s where pressure washing comes in. A two-hour cleaning can make concrete appear five years newer.
It adds curb appeal for a fraction of the cost of resurfacing. It is one of those projects where sweat equity multiplies return.
It’ll cost you $50 to $100 for a pressure washer rental, if you don’t have one
10. Replace cabinet knobs and drawer pulls
Even switching out cabinet knobs or drawer pulls for around $3 to $5 each, can give your kitchen or bathrooms a fresh look without the significant expense of an overhaul.
If you have plans to sell, rest assured buyers will notice and appreciate these types of small updates.