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Home improvements that really add value before you sell

Take advantage of the predictable weather, but be smart about painting in the heat, too. Like any outdoor DIY project during the summer, start early in the day and take a break when it gets too warm. If you have a child moving into college dorms this fall, start a list of what they might need. Half of what you want in your suitcase – or dorm room – won’t fit. Make a list, refine it, set a budget and keep an eye out for good deals. Use this guide for decorating small spaces to get you started.

People have started to see home-improvement as blueprints for how their spaces should look, creating millions of identical homes that have been drained of any personality. For years, I worshipped these shows, and I became a believer in the power of open-concept floor …