As a Realtor, I truly see it all. From the beautiful and professionally done remodels to the DIY projects to the…’were you even paying attention to this project’ projects? Yikes!

Don’t let these 4 upgrades get overlooked during your next project.

1. Outlet Sockets

…not just the outlet plates. I find many people replace the outlet plate but forget the socket, making it look mismatched (see photo below). While you can update wall outlets to have more modern features such as USB ports or LED lights, my upgrade decision was purely aesthetic. Even if it’s ‘just for looks,’ trust me, it makes a difference.

This may be something you can do yourself with proper knowledge and skill, but I suggest hiring a professional if you feel uncertain. My home had aluminum wiring so I hired my favorite Austin area electrician, BAE Electric.

2. Smart Thermostat

As someone who loves to change the temperature from my bed, this is a dream come true. With my Nest thermostat, I can set a schedule for the temperatures changes throughout the day. The upgraded version even starts to ‘learn’ your routine and will adjust automatically.

The ability to change the temperature while I’m away is used more often than I thought. Last year, I went to Minnesota in December and the temperature, in Austin, was in the 50s when I left. The following day it spiked up to the 80s (uh, I’m ready to come back now). I was able to turn off the heat and set a more reasonable temperature, from my smart phone.

3. Pressure Wash

Pressure washing changes lives! Ok, that’s a bit dramatic but it seriously can transform your exterior. This summer I thought I’d needed to replace my backyard fence, but decided to see what pressure washing would do. With the help of my sister, hello quarantine projects, we spent a few *hours out in the yard cleaning the fence. It looks significantly better and I can put ‘new fence’ on a future To-Do List.

Don’t forget to clean your front door, exterior siding/brick/stone, driveway and patio, and even your mailbox.

*Although, extremely satisfying to watch, pressure washing is not fast job. I don’t know what made me think it was, but I would definitely hire someone for bigger projects in the future.

4. Ceiling and Baseboard Paint

Updating your space with paint can lighten up a room significantly, especially if you have a dark and dated home. But don’t stop at the walls…please. When you only paint a wall, stopping at the baseboards or ceiling almost calls out the work you did, and not in a good way. It’s like ‘HEY YOU FORGOT ABOUT ME!’ Yes, it yells at you.

When the homeowners went crazy with beige in the early 2000s, they didn’t stop at the baseboards and ceiling. Only painting the wall a more modern and fresh color will highlight the items you didn’t paint. I almost prefer not painting, vs. only painting a portion of everything that should be painted.

To me, it’s not a fun task but a necessary one. If you don’t want to take on the project yourself, call my favorite local team, Brush & Color Eco Paint.

If you have questions about what upgrades make the most sense, send me a message.

What are some of your favorite upgrades you’ve made to your home?