Brokers Tell All: 10 Ways to Boost House Value

Haas calls it the "What's that?" factor, and whatever it is (1950s wallpaper in a 1930s bungalow, a broken front step or cracked threshold, green-and-blue vinyl flooring), fix it or remove it. She recommends getting the impartial advice of a friend who can tell you what's drawing attention and raising questions for the wrong reasons. "The more questions, the more people are likely to say, 'We don't want that house.' Sometimes it's the quick fix that someone put in thinking, 'I can live with it.''' Haas says those fixes bite you back later when it's time to sell because prospective buyers are looking for more than jerrybuilt solutions.

Get It Done
• Replace a Threshold
• Strip Wallpaper
• Remove Vinyl Flooring