Updating in a crappy economy

The interior decorating business has been said to have gone the way of the economy...in the toilet.  I am not sure about this as we are basically an intelligent bunch of people.  Saying that, we realize that to try and sell our homes in today's economy usually turns out to be a frustrating and sometimes fruitless endeavor.  Instead of moving think of, wisely, improving your space.  The market will turn, someday and while we are stuck in our homes why not make the best of it.  Make some well thought out decisions and enjoy your home while you are still in it instead of making a lot of changes for the next home owner to reap the benefits of.
A lot of customers have benefited from this advise and just stayed put.  Hardwood floors, granite countertops, back splashes, updated bathrooms have been gained for the cost of a realtor's commission.  Have an appraisal done to see what your market calls for and what your home's after repair value would be with some of those improvements and you could be doing your part to revitalize the economy in your own way.
If you have considered the open floor plan concept of a lot of new construction, this may be achieved in your own home.  Knocking down a wall to open spaces that now seem a little claustrophobic is a much better plan than buying new, right now.  Most of us think about all the mess and cost and contractors that even the simplest construction project calls for.  But, with the right people getting the job done this can be minimized by keeping a reliable crew working together to not be stepping over each other but following through to get the job done.
The most traveled spaces like kitchens and bath reap the largest rewards in resale yet we hesitate to touch those spots for fear of creating upheaval in the family dynamics.  If this is where the family stays together, they will play so much nicer together with a new and efficient use of space.
Big changes aren't the only way to create an impact.  Adding crown molding, higher base boards, new hardware such as hinges and knobs to interior, exterior and cabinet doors make drastic changes to the eye.  Recently having flipped a house, we had a poor mix of door types, hinges and hardware on an old 1920's Victorian.  One of the biggest changes to the inside came from paint (cheap) and new doors and hardware.  I hated to remove the original doors but it had to be done and we found age appropriate, pre-primed hollow core doors for a little more than the cheap ones at the box stores.  New oil rubbed bronze, egg shaped knobs and hinges and it grabbed the attention of every buyer that walked through our doors.  I believe that improvement helped to sell our house in less than 38 hours.

Before

After

Simple back splash

New master bath

New tile floor

Slate and glass mosaics make for a popping back splash!

Happy Decorating