no real reason to replace them. You can get that new look by thoroughly washing, sanding, and painting them with spray paint made spe cifi cally for kitchen and bath hardware, which is generally more cost-e ff ective. Th e goal is to touch up your home and give it a new, clean look without breaking the bank. Th e Internet has a wealth of do-it- yourself (DIY) videos that can help you update your bath and kitchen if your budget is limited, or if you simply have both the time and interest in these DIY projects. If the hardware is broken or completely worn out, it’s best to replace the whole set. If it’s just broken in a few places and you can fin d matching pieces, you can paint the old and new to match. You could also consolidate all the good parts in one bathroom and replace all the hardware in the other. Here are some inexpensive ways to update the bath and kitchen: • Replace the toilet seat. • Repair the grout in tile backsplashe s, fl oors, and tub surrounds. • Refurbish tired-looking cabinets with fresh paint o r fin ish. • Replace a dated bathroom sink with a pedestal variety or cabinet sink. FLOORING A buyer will downgrade your home’s value if your fl oors are in bad shape. On the fli p side, if your home’s fl ooring is well done and in excellent condition, buyers will pay more. Maximizing your pro fi t without compromising your investment dollars is certainly the goal, but if your fl ooring and carpeting aren’t in salable shape, you need to take inventory.
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