Last night, I watched David Letterman for the first time in probably 7-8 years.

While I wasn’t inspired to watch the show again anytime soon, I was inspired to do my own Top-10 list.

Here are ten “small” things you can do around your condo to increase the value and improve the look…

Recall the blog article I wrote last week called “Clean Behind Your Ears” where I ripped apart that crummy, messy condo.  It boggles my mind how somebody could list their property in that condition, and leave the unit such a mess.

Whether you’re listing your condo for sale or not, there are things you can do to enhance the value of your unit.

Not all of these things come with a prohibitive cost.  Obviously paying a designer to come in and redo the entire condo is going to cost far too much and probably won’t provide you with as great a return on your money as you’d hoped.

But as I continue to spruce up my own condo and add value to it, I can’t help but marvel at how many “small” jobs you can do that aren’t invasive, messy, or costly.

Here are ten of those things, in no particular order:

1) Paint– So simple, yet so rarely thought of.  Colors go in and out of style probably more than anything else, and I’m sure nobody would consider painting a “renovation.”  Bright, loud colors might offend some people’s tastes, thus neutral colors are the best bet to please everbody.  There is a reason why all newly-constructed houses use the same shades of light grey, beige….um….other beige, etc.

2) Light Fixtures– This one is easy!  If you bought your condo from the developer, chances are you’ve got crummy light fixtures that cost $30, are unattractive, or both.  Light fixtures aren’t necessarily expensive, but most people are too lazy to change them!  Do you have a 4 x 2 foot florescent light above your kitchen?  Get rid of it!  Spend a few hundred bucks and you’ll be thankful you did!

3) Hardwood Floors – This is probably the most expensive renovation on the list, but if you’ve got extremely cheap laminate flooring that came with the unit, a modest upgrade is worth the investment.  Put on your shoe and lightly tap the floor with the tip of your toe – does it sound like plastic?  Rich, dark hardwood floors give the room an accent, and the gleam will be the first thing a friend or a buyer sees when they come in the room.

4) Cupboard Storage– If you’re like me, you’re 5’10” and named “Dave.”  Okay, no seriously, if you’re like me, you have an oversized cupboard in your hall closet that is as large as most people’s storage locker.  But if you only have a rod to hang coats, you’re wasting space.  Spend some time and/or money on built-in shelving and storage organization.  If you’re storing objects on the floor, you know you are in desperate need of some shelving!

5) Crown Moulding – I never thought I would really notice a difference with/without crown moulding until I had it put into my condo.  It’s absolutely gorgeous!  Just as Dude says that the rug “really ties the room together” in Big Lebowski, I find that the crown moulding not only ties the room together but gives it a “finished look.”  It’s a luxury feature, no doubt, and you’ll feel like you’re condo just moved up a notch.

6) Patio Work – Whether you have a large 400 square foot terrace, or a small 12 x 4 balcony, you should utilize every square inch of the space.  The possibilities are endless for terraces; from six-foot-cedars to patio sets.  But even for small balconies, owners should hang some potted plants outside and affix some small planters to the railings.  Buy a bistro-set, throw up some outdoor Christmas lights, and you’ll love your outdoor summer oasis, no matter how small.

7) Carpets – Carpets go in and out of style too; how else could shag carpets ever have been cool?  If you’re installing hardwood flooring in your condo, you might want to remove the old carpet in the bedroom.  Personally, I like the soft, warm feeling of carpet under my feet when I get in and out of bed, so I’d suggest getting rid of anything that’s worn down, out of style, or stained and ripped with some new Berber carpet.  I just had carpet installed TODAY, and I’m loving the new look.

8 ) Granite – Some people get really cheap when they pick the finishes from the builder’s plan in their new condo, and decide not to get granite counters….but to get the granite breakfast bar!  It looks ridiculous.  Sure, a new slab of granite might run you over a thousand dollars, but if you have dark cabinets and a white linoleum counter, that too looks terrible.  Granite counters are are the first kitchen feature people look at when condo shopping; just consider that for a moment…

9) Doors – Not just doors, but door-handles too!  Just like light fixtures, these are inexpensive and you see and use them more than many other features of your condo.  Instead of sliding doors on your bedroom cupboards, get mirrored bi-folds.  Double-doors or “pantry doors” are far more practical than one large door that opens left-to-right for your laundry room or hall closet.  Plain white doors with no recessed design are boring and you can get jazzy doors at Home Depot for $50.

10) Clean! – No, this doesn’t fall into the renovation category but it needs to be done!  If you’re not in the habit of cleaning on a regular basis, take a weekend for an all-out blitz!  Maybe you’ll find a room you didn’t know you had, or a pet you thought you’d lost!  There’s no bigger turn off when you take a first step into a condo for sale than a bad smell, and while you might be used to it, that doesn’t make it okay.  Does anybody enjoy hands-and-knees on the bathroom floor with their face an inch from the toilet?  No, but clean is king and a condo that literally sparkles and shines is one that is always presentable to buyers and enjoyable to owners.

So there you have it.

Ten small things you can do to improve the look and value of your condominium.

Summer is here and many of us have more free time than during the rest of the year.  Of course, much of the extra free time will be spent drinking on restaurant patios, golfing, and doing other activities we only dream of during the winter months.  But your condominium is surely your largest investment.  Put some time, effort, and value into it!

After all, the more money you make on your condo, the more money you have to spend on sharing drinks on patios and golfing…