Part 3 in our series of economical remodeling suggestions features:

Fixtures

Fixtures are a relatively inexpensive way to dress up older homes if you don’t have a remodeling budget, but don’t want to look completely out of style. Try installing new faucets, towel bars, doorknobs, hinges, drawer handles, and drawer pulls throughout your kitchen and bath. The walk through buyer will remember rusty hinges and bent towel bars.

Even a basic $40 faucet is an improvement over a calcified relic. A $200 kitchen faucet with a pull-out spray wand that matches your cabinet hardware can transform a basic kitchen.

The first thing I saw as a buyer was a “new” bath with brushed silver vanity light, no mirror, a chrome faucet, and gold vanity knobs and said “Ick.” Pick a color theme for fixtures and lights and try to stick with it through the house…or at minimum, within the room! Even if your buyer doesn’t like brushed silver or antique brass, the uniformity and details you will add through bringing together the theme of the fixtures together will help. Five years later I still remember my first impression. The “new” bath didn’t sell the house.

Many basic fixtures are do-it-yourself replacements, but if you ever need a referral to a plumber or handyman to help, we have several contractors we work with regularly in the Bay Area, so we can recommend someone who can help you if needed!