Selling your home is a stressful process, and sometimes the thought of making improvements or repairs before listing your property is a daunting endeavor. “When preparing a home for sale, time and cost constraints often determine what actually can be accomplished,” says broker Andrea Saturno-Sanjana of Coldwell Banker Warburg.
Rather than invest tons of money and time in an effort to get top dollar for your home, here are some quick and easy things experts say you can do to ensure great offers from buyers.
- Andrea Saturno-Sanjana is an associate real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York.
- Mary Hall Mayer is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York.
- Parisa Afkhami is a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York.
- Bryson Taggart is a third-generation Realtor and senior development manager at Opendoor in Phoenix, Arizona.
- Michael Gifford is CEO and co-founder of home equity firm Splitero in California.
Curb Appeal Updates
Your home might be perfect inside, but a buyer won’t step foot inside unless the outside matches. “Curb appeal is extremely important as it is the first impression buyers will have of the home both when driving around the neighborhood and in photos posted online,” says Saturno-Sanjana. “Some multiple listing services require that the lead photo be an exterior shot of the front of the home.”
1. Landscaping Improvements
For most buyers, ensuring the grass is cut is enough to make for a nice exterior, but with a little more effort, you can make even more money. Agent Mary Hall Mayer of Coldwell Banker Warburg suggests trimming bushes and weeding flower beds.
You can also make DIY improvements with new mulch or gravel and new planted or potted plants, Saturno-Sanjana says. “For grander homes, a thoughtful design from a landscaper or landscape architect can pay dividends in the long run in terms of higher sales price, fewer days on the market, or both,” she adds.
2. Driveway Fixes
Have a chipped, cracked, or peeling driveway? Agent Parisa Afkhami of Coldwell Banker Warburg suggests having those concerns fixed, as driveway repairs can be inconvenient after a buyer moves into a property.
3. Fresh Paint
Your front door will likely be featured prominently in listing photos and certainly once a buyer visits the property in person.
“Consider updating the front door with a bold yet neutral color or adding new hardware to create a more inviting entry. Small upgrades like new house numbers and outdoor lighting can also make the home feel warm and welcoming, day or night,” says Bryson Taggart, a third-generation Realtor and senior development manager at Opendoor Brokerage.
4. Update Doors
Faulty or old doors should be addressed as well. “There is much data from the construction and remodeling industry regarding the return on investment (ROI) for specific projects that ranks replacing garage and entry doors at the top of the list,” Saturno-Sanjana says.
5. Cleaning and Decluttering
As with the inside of your home, a neat and clean yard and outdoor spaces is key. Mayer suggests keeping the lawn raked, mowed and edged in between major landscaping updates.
Power washing is also an affordable way to give your home some sparkle. Taggart suggests hitting the “driveway, front walkway, and siding for a cleaner look.”
Remove piles of bricks, forgotten projects, and kids’ toys, and stage outdoor areas such as a porch or patio just like you would your living room.
Staging Your Home
Staging your home, whether professionally or with a DIY approach, is one of the easiest ways to get a top offer.
1. Decluttering
The first step in staging your home is to remove personal effects such as photographs, art, and knick-knacks so a buyer can envision themselves living in the space. “Declutter and remove all personal items, especially personal photographs; buyers get distracted looking at your photographs instead of focusing on the property,” Mayer says.
2. Paying Professional Stagers
Professional stagers will loan you their furniture to maximize the appeal of any space while keeping the aesthetic attractive to the largest demographic of buyers.
“Staging a home for sale is crucial because it allows potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the space, making the property more attractive, and often boosting its value,” says Michael Gifford, CEO and co-founder of Splitero. “Staged homes typically sell more quickly and at higher prices by highlighting the home’s best features while downplaying imperfections.”
3. Deep Cleaning
Whether you opt for staging or not, one of the best ways to impress a buyer is to have your home cleaned thoroughly.
Mayer says that’s one of the reasons an older ranch home she viewed with a client sold quickly. She said the home’s yard and pool were beautifully landscaped but noted the interior and all of the furnishings were dated. The saving grace? The home was clean.
“Everything was immaculate. The garage was so organized and clean, wall-to-wall carpets had no stains, and every closet was beautifully arranged,” she said. “You knew that with a yard like that and the care given to the interior, the house might need updating and redecorating, but that the roof, boiler, and hot water tank would be in good order. As such, there were six offers on the home in the first afternoon.”
Making Improvements
Some projects are more in depth, but they ensure top dollar for your home.
1. Replacing Lighting
Warm lighting is favored by buyers, and improved lighting overall will show your home best.“A super easy project I recommend that will instantly make your home more inviting is changing out your lighting to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) or LEDs,” Gifford says. “Not only does it save you money, but they’re also more environmentally friendly.”
2. Adding Smart Technology
Adding smart home features, or at least highlighting them in listings, is an easy way to get top dollar.
“Today’s market trends highlight the importance of features that provide year-round comfort and functionality,” Taggart explains. “Energy-efficient upgrades, such as smart thermostats, are particularly appealing to ‘anytime buyers’—a group that makes up 26% of buyers and sellers. This group values homes that suit their needs regardless of the season, making energy-efficient and low-maintenance features highly attractive.”
Smart thermostats, security systems, smart lighting features, and even water leak detectors are ideal.
3. Renovating Kitchens and Bathrooms
While these improvements are far from easy or inexpensive, kitchen and bathroom renovations consistently rank highest in terms of their return on investment for sellers.
“The highest return on investment always comes from the kitchen and bathrooms,” Mayer says. “They’re the most disruptive and expensive to renovate. Plus, the crew usually has to move through the house to get to them. Another added value is a finished basement.”
When choosing paint colors and finishes, keep in mind that you want to appeal to a broad scope of buyers.
“Opting for neutral, timeless finishes in both spaces ensures broad appeal, helping the upgrades resonate with a wide range of buyers and boosting the home’s marketability and resale value,” Taggart says.
Can’t afford to do a full renovation? Try a facelift. “A minor remodel can include new hardware, countertops, cabinet faces, appliances and flooring, and fresh paint,” Gifford says.
Similarly, a few upgrades will improve your bathroom dramatically. “For bathrooms, regrouting, tub reglazing, and updating the light fixture over the vanity may do the trick,” Saturno-Sanjana says.
