Article written by contributor Suzie Wilson:

If you are selling your house, chances are you are going to have a bit of financial strain throughout the months following. Moving is expensive. The American Moving & Storage Association estimates the average cost of an intrastate move to be about $1,170 while the average move between states costs $5,630. That’s just the baseline price, too. Those numbers don’t include hidden costs like motel rooms, replacing broken items and storage units.

Since you know money will be tight following the move, it really helps to cut down on costs where you can. If you are putting your home on the market, your real estate agent will advise you to update your home in a way that makes it more appealing to potential buyers, which can ultimately help your home sell much faster. While some homeowners hire stagers and other professionals to do these updates for them, you can save money by improving your home DIY style. You can save even more if you keep a few shopping tips in mind: hardware and home improvement stores including Lowes and Home Depot offer coupon codes, cash-back opportunities and promo codes for rewards.

These budget-friendly home projects will make your home appealing to buyers so you can sell it faster without spending too much.

Clear, Clean, and Organize

The best thing you can do for your house to ensure it sells doesn’t have to cost you a nickel. In fact, you may lose one or two errant nickels in the process of organizing and cleaning— but don’t worry, you’ll more than make up for it by not hiring a housekeeper. Clearing out old clothes, boxes, furniture, decorations and everything else that clutters up your house will give it that model home look buyers want to see.

Give yourself several days — if not weeks — to really declutter, clean and organize your home. Start by going through all the stuff you know you don’t want to make room that allows you to see the rest in better light. It’s not always easy to get rid of things, but if you are having a hard time with an item just remember that getting rid of it now means you don’t have to pack it once the house actually sells. Don’t just clear out what people can see on the surface, either. Your home’s storage features are some of its strongest selling points. The more your clear out of closets, shelves and cubbies, the better you highlight how much it can hold. Maybe leave a few things in there for scale, but everything else should either be donated, stored offsite, or trashed.

Improve Curb Appeal

Your home’s curb appeal is its first impression to potential buyers. That’s why real estate agents always suggest you work on your lawn and garden as a way to draw people inside. Keep your lawn trimmed, your flower beds weeded and mulch fresh so your house really shines among the rest. Other ways to improve curb appeal:

• Slapping a coat of paint on your front door and trim is a cheap and easy way to create some interest that makes them want to look beyond the facade.
• Does your house have a small yard? Create the illusion of a garden by adding plants and flowers to the front porch.
• Don’t be “that house” with the tiny address numbers no one can see. Upgrade your house numbers to something big, bold and memorable.

Bring the Outside Indoors

Houseplants are having a huge moment now in interior design. Placing a few strategically placed green things around the house is a great way to make it look staged without over-decorated. Furthermore, indoor plants help purify air so your home smells better and people breathe easier once they cross the threshold. Start by placing some Peace Lilies on the dining room table and work your way up to adding bamboo by the front door.

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Moving is expensive. Don’t waste your hard-earned money paying home stagers to do what you can do yourself. Give yourself a few weeks to clean, declutter, and organize your home before putting it on the market. Upgrade your curb appeal with a fresh coat of paint and new porch details that catch the eye. Finally, make the indoors more appealing by strategically placing houseplants that filter the air while creating a popular aesthetic.