Top 15 Home Updates

Here, find out how the top 15 home improvements rank, plus get tips on maximizing the return at resale.

(Continued from Page 13) By Dona DeZube
Special to HGTV.com

#14 Bedroom Updates
Average return at resale: 52%

Cost for new lighting will vary from $100 - $500.
For a romantic design touch, swap the old light fixture for a small chandelier. The formula for sizing a chandelier: Room width + Room length in feet = chandelier diameter in inches.
When doing dry wall repair, less really is more. Using as little joint compound as possible makes it easier to even out the surface when sanding later.
Scale your window treatments to your room size. Cost to rent wallpaper steamer: $20; new bedding and window treatments: $300.
Hardwood floors are hotter than ever. Pull up worn carpeting and refinish old floors to let the wood shine. Sanding hardwoods is physically demanding and if you do it wrong, you ruin the floor. Hire a pro to do the sanding and then do your own staining and sealing to save money. Cost $1 to $1.50 a foot. Fill carpet tack holes with Color Putty®.

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