Simple tips to boost the value of your home

If you are looking to sell your house, it's a red hot market with median prices at an all-time high.

But a few simple changes can really increase the value of your home.

One expert's tips worked worked for a local family.

The family is eager to sell their four-bedroom home in Mt. Holly, New Jersey so they can move closer to mom Heather's job in Philadelphia.

Initially listing it for $325,000, they've already dropped the price twice. And so far, not one bite.

Enter home design expert Christine Lemieux.

Step one is to make a grand entrance. It can boost your home's value by as much as 17%.

"Think about the exterior of your space. That's the first impression the buyer's gonna get," said Christine.

Next, for step two Christine says to think neutral.

Spending just $200 on paint and primer can make a huge difference.

Christine said to get rid of dark or vibrant colors.

"White paint goes such a long way where you're allowing people to picture themselves in your space," she adds.

Step three is to declutter and depersonalize.

Christine says too many family photos and house plants make it harder for buyers to imagine themselves at home.

Investing just $100 in storage bins helped the area around the fireplace look less of a cluttered mess and more open.

And an independent real estate agent agreed.

"Based on the before and after, I think people will be willing to spend about $10 - $15,000 more. They did a good job," said Sylvia Boyer, Real Estate Agent, RE/MAX