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Painting creates a new palette
Besides cleaning, painting is one of the least expensive, major fix-up jobs you can do to improve the appearance of your house. If your walls haven’t been painted in the last 2 years, your house will benefit from a new paint job.
A new faucet is better than trying to fix an old one
Kitchens and bathrooms are 2 very important rooms when it comes to selling your house. Even if the budget won't allow you to update these rooms completely, sometimes a new faucet may be just the trick to give that tired kitchen or bath a bit of a lift..
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Damaged walls
Walls need repaired and most likely repainted
If anyone has lived in the house for more than just a few months, there will probably be some damaged walls of one kind or another. Here are a few tips depending on the damage that you might be able to use:
All those little nail holes, nicks, dings and scratches, need to be repaired before you paint.
Cracked or Peeling Paint
First remove any loose, peeling paint. Scrub all surfaces to remove all dirt, grease, oil, etc. Rinse surface well and allow to dry. Sand the edges of the peeled or cracked paint to reduce their visibility. Remove dust residue by wiping with a soft, lint-free cloth dampened slightly with water or mineral spirits.
Holes and Cracks Nail Holes
Use your finger or a putty knife to fill nail holes or very small cracks with wood filler if you are patching wood. For plaster or drywall, brush the hole or crack clean and dampen the surface, then fill with non-shrinking joint or spackling compound. Using a putty knife, apply a layer of joint compound or wood filler. After patching the area, allow the patch to dry, and then sand smooth, wipe with a moistened cloth to tack off dust, and spot-prime the patch.
Larger Holes and Cracks
For a holes and cracks larger than a nail hole, cut two lengths of a self-adhesive mesh joint tape that is wider than the hole. Center one piece over the hole to form an X with the first piece, and press it in place. Then, using a putty knife, cover the mesh with one or more layers of joint compound. When the material is dry, sand smooth and spot-prime.
Removing Wallpaper
Use a paste remover, vinegar and water, or a steamer to remove wallpaper. After wallpaper is removed, wash the wall with a paste remover. A stiff plastic bristle brush or non-woven mesh scrubber will help to remove paste from the wall. If all paste cannot be removed, use oil based sealer-primer to prevent wallpaper paste from bleeding through the finished paint film.
Sags, Drips, Runs
Sand to smooth sags, drips or runs. Use a damp, lint-free cloth to remove sanding dust.
Water and Smoke Damage
After you have corrected the cause of the water/smoke staining, use a primer-sealer designed for stain blocking. These are available in both alkyd and latex-based versions. While both work to block this type of stain, the alkyd stain blocker will usually seal water stains better because it doesn't contain water that could re-wet the stain. You may still see the stain through the stain blocker, but they are designed to "lock-in" the stain to prevent it from bleeding through into the topcoat.