10 cheap ways to increase home value

Selling your home this summer? Cheap tweaks can pay off big-time. "And even when these don't equate to big dollars, they may help sell your property faster," says Adam Hade, an associate broker with Houlihan Lawrence in southeastern New York state.

But choosing which improvements to make is where many homeowners go wrong, according to Hade. "They over-improve or improve in ways that don't really matter to the buyers in their particular area," he says. Exactly the reason you should consult with a qualified realtor in your neighborhood before investing in any improvement projects.