9 Updates Worth Making to Sell Your Home

If you're thinking of selling your home anytime soon, you may be looking around thinking about what all needs to be done first. It's definitely a seller's market and has been for a while, so should you just take advantage of that fact and sell as is? Maybe not.

Let's take a look at the updates worth making to ensure you aren't leaving money on the table when you sell but aren't knocking yourself out for pennies either.

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This is probably the most obvious update on this list, as it's the first thing many people think of when they consider what their home might need to get ready for its close-up. A fresh coat of paint really can make a big difference in the feel of a home, especially if it's been a while.

Light, neutral colors are best, as they're least likely to be objectionable to any potential buyers and will make it easiest for them to picture their belongings in the home. Hiring pros to paint an entire home is likely to run you a few thousand dollars, but you can save a great deal by DIY-ing it.

There are plenty of articles and videos available online to quickly get you up to speed on making it as professional-looking as possible.

ALSO READ: 5 Reasons to Sell a Home As-Is

Both online and in person, the outside of a home is the first thing people see. And you want them to immediately think of how much they would love to pull up to that house every day. That’s why curb appeal is so important.

Update and tidy up the landscaping if needed, take care of any driveway or sidewalk cracks, get a new mailbox or exterior lighting fixtures if needed, and make sure the outside of the home looks its best.

That might mean painting the house, painting or buying a new front door, or purchasing new porch furniture, planters, or a lovely welcome mat.

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune overhauling it before you sell.

You may have to repair or replace the cabinets if they aren't in good shape, but otherwise, a little paint or stain and some new hardware can go a long way and shouldn't set you back too much. Add an attractive backsplash and replace any worn-out appliances, and that may be all you need to be in good shape here.

ALSO READ: How to Finance a Kitchen Remodel

An outdated bathroom can be a turnoff. And, unlike in the kitchen, where you're most likely dealing with a considerable amount of counter space, a bathroom countertop upgrade shouldn't be a huge investment. The same is likely true of the generally limited cabinet space in a bathroom.

Fixtures and hardware can go a long way here, too. It may also be worth updating more cosmetic items you get to take with you when you move. That might mean making sure the shower curtain, rugs, and towels all look nice and fresh and coordinate well with one another.

Floors take a lot of abuse. So, if you haven't updated yours in quite a while, now's probably a good time. You may be able to get away with cleaning carpets or refinishing wood floors, but if the wear is too great, it may be worth replacing the flooring entirely to give your home a fresh, clean feel.

And like with paint, neutral is the way to go. You don't want potential buyers trying to figure out how to make the colors and patterns of their belongings work with bold flooring.

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One of the uncomfortable things about selling a home is that people will likely be opening closets and pantries to see what kind of storage space they would have to work with. But you can work this to your advantage by upgrading all your closet and storage systems to make the best use of that space possible.

It should be a fairly low-cost update, and potential buyers are sure to get excited at the thought of being able to store their stuff so easily.

ALSO READ: Self-Storage in 2022: What to Expect

Lighting can have a big impact on the look and feel of a home, and you'll want to make sure to put yours in the best light possible. A good place to start is by making sure no heavy drapery or other window treatments will obscure the natural light people love to see streaming in.

And if you have any of those corkscrew fluorescents that make your lovely home look like a convenience store at 2 a.m., you'll want to replace those with softer incandescent or LED bulbs.

Outdated lighting fixtures like canned recessed lighting should probably be replaced by something more attractive, too, like a pendant or chandelier or LEDs if there are several.

Look around and see what's seen better days. Patch any holes or cracks, do something about that weird noise the A/C makes, and repair or replace the roof if needed.

Even little things that appear to be in disrepair can be red flags to potential buyers who might wonder whether the home has not been well maintained in other ways that are hard to see, even if that's not the case.

And, of course, less obvious things will be found on inspection. So, items like leaky faucets and warped windows that don't close quite right are probably worth addressing.

ALSO READ: Here's What the Average American Spends on Home Maintenance

This one may seem obvious, but sometimes, people are so used to seeing a bit of stuff piled up here and there that they don't really think that much about it. Likewise, they may not have looked closely enough at certain out-of-the-way things, like windows or the tops of cabinets, to realize that they aren't as clean as they could be.

You'll want your home to have a deep clean before you list. It may also be worth putting some stuff in storage to help give your home as much of an airy, uncluttered feel as possible.

If you're getting ready to sell, you're busy with a ton of other things, too. From packing and preparing to move to making arrangements for your new life in a new location, you have your hands full right now. The last thing you need to do is spend a bunch of time on home upgrades that aren't going to pay off big.

Stick to the items on this list as needed, and rest assured that you're getting the best possible return for your efforts.

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