Step 2:  Get the Grunt Work Done

We made about $2,700 from our house clearance, so that was our budget for fixing up the house. That meant the work had to be done by me and my sister, plus volunteers, including her daughter and her daughter’s fiancé, who (jackpot!) had construction experience and one of those crazy ladders that goes around corners to paint stair wells.

“Estate condition” was an accurate euphemism for our suburban townhouse. Built in the 1970s, it was well maintained but not updated. The house did not have cathedral ceilings or big windows that later tastes demanded. But it had more space and higher-quality details than many expensive houses built during the boom. And it had more property, backing right up to a state park -- the kind of land developers can’t find any more.

All we had to do was brighten it up a bit. We scrubbed every inch of the carpets and floors, and polished up the kitchen cabinets. We took down all the curtains to maximize the light. Major upgrades were not an option, but we replaced the bathroom hardware with snazzier items.

Painting was the grueling part -- and I don't mean the trips to Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW). Neutral colors are the safe option, but white walls creep me out, and I argued that others must hate them, too. I caved on the hallways, painting them a sand color. I chose light, modern colors for all the rooms. My only big mistake was the master bedroom color, which was supposed to be “Bird's Egg Blue,” but turned out a shocking shade that my niece dubbed “Smurf Blue.”

Outside, we hacked down evergreens that blocked the light, trimmed out-of-control bushes, and heaped mulch around plant beds. A couple of bags of grass patch revived muddy ground along the front path. Petunias and fast-growing impatiens made the front of the house look pretty within a couple of weeks.

Finally, I got my own furniture out of storage and spread it around the house for a comfortable and uncluttered look. My furniture isn’t “Pottery Barn cute,” which real estate agents adore. It’s more “ Brooklyn flea market,” but at least it was cheerful.