If you plan on selling your home, research shows that minor repairs and inexpensive replacements are worth the time, effort and money you put into them. The good news is that most of these investments not only pay for themselves, but can return dividends! So before putting a “For Sale” sign in your yard, tackle these upgrades to maximize your home’s market value.

According to surveys by Realtor.com, the top updates and upgrades to your home before selling are your kitchen and bathrooms. If you are not planning a complete renovation of either, then smaller and more inexpensive improvements can pay off nicely. In your kitchen and/or bathrooms, consider updating your look with new faucets, counters and new hardware for the cabinets. For a bathroom, consider adding wallpaper to create an accent wall.  In the kitchen, install a new backsplash, then regrout your tile for a fresh new look.

The number one piece of advice from Realtors is to freshen up your home by repainting every room. You want your home to appeal to the largest number of buyers, so as you’re looking over color swatches for each room, remember to keep it neutral. The buyer can add all the color and splash they want after the sale. Don’t forget to clean or repaint the baseboards, too! Be sure to choose high gloss to guard against scuffs and add maximum shine. 

In order to paint you will need to remove most of the furniture from the room. This is also a good time to think about de-cluttering. Carefully select what items to move back into a room, with an eye toward creating more space with less furniture. This will allow the buyer to visualize how their furniture might look in this room and imagine how they will decorate. Pack up the rest of the room, including personal items and knick knacks and move them to a storage unit or another location offsite. You’ll also have the added bonus of having those things neatly boxed and ready for your move after the sale!

Another inexpensive upgrade sellers with some DIY skills and comfort working with electricity can make is replacing old or dated light fixtures and ceiling fans. While shopping for those items, also think about replacing your old light switches with newer, smart home-enabled switches.  If you haven’t worked with electricity before, it’s best to hire a licensed electrician. . Safety first!

Curb appeal is real! Stand on the sidewalk and look at your home from the view of a potential buyer. Think about upgrading any dated outdoor lighting fixtures, pressure wash the outside, and clean the windows and gutters. There are also plenty of low-cost landscaping ideas that can create a  “wow factor,” and research shows landscaping upgrades have one of the highest rates of returns! Consider repainting or replacing your front door to create a welcoming gateway to your home. Finally, update the numeral signs (for your street address) on your house to instantly give it a modern look and bring the value up!We are here to help guide you on your home selling journey! Our years of experience will help us identify which projects to tackle that will generate the greatest return on your investment. We are constantly monitoring the latest trends in home improvements and the value they create.. We wish you all the best for a wonderful, healthy and prosperous 2022!