When you rent your home, you obviously want it to show well. Staging your home with spacious-looking rooms that are free of clutter is a must for showings. And adding in small touches like flowers and houseplants can really warm the place up and make it look appealing. But what sort of minor repairs should every landlord consider when getting a house market ready?

Paint

Never underestimate the power of a fresh coat of clean paint, unmarked, un-dinged, and bright. It can go a long way toward freshening up the look of a room. Since not everyone is partial to color, go with something neutral so prospective renters can superimpose their own palette over an unassuming beige, grey, or off-white. Light colors give a sense of spaciousness. Just make sure the new paint looks like it was applied professionally. Sloppy cut lines or drips on trim and baseboards won’t do you any favors.

Fixtures

From drawer and cabinet pulls to doorknobs and from switch plates to faucets, replacing dated or damaged fixtures will always make a home seem cleaner and better cared-for. You don’t have to drain your bank account at Home Depot, but a quick trip to the hardware store can result in some fresh-looking hardware. Most fixtures are easy to swap out and you can really give a new look to a worn-out kitchen or bathroom. Think classic; anything too flashy, and you could end up turning off a buyer with more subdued tastes.

Lighting

Swapping in energy-efficient bulbs for older varieties can update the feel of your home while reducing its carbon footprint. Better still; replace old and dirty ceiling fixtures with something clean and new. Again, a trip to the local hardware store might give you just the change you’re looking for.

Kitchens and Bathrooms

There are a lot of little things you can do to “modernize” a kitchen or bathroom without digging too deeply into your wallet. And let’s face it: kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. If your kitchen looks updated, your house is going to hold more appeal for a prospective renter. You can accomplish such an “update” with new fixtures and lighting but also think about adding a trendy splash of color in the way of dishtowels or houseplants. A curved shower rod can reinvent a dated bathroom, and investing in a new, white shower curtain is a cheap and effective way to transform a tired bathroom.

If you want to go a little further with your updates, there are plenty of companies that specialize in “makeovers” that can give the effect of an actual renovation at only a fraction of the cost of an expensive, messy, and time-consuming overhaul. Your options are virtually as limitless as your creativity. And even if you don’t consider yourself “handy,” home improvement stores offer a lot of no-brainer do-it-yourself projects that can give your home a fresh, new look…such as restoring gleaming hardwood floors. By spending just a little, you might be buying your way to a quick and tidy home rental.