Home Updates Before Selling

One of the most frequent questions I get from prospective home sellers is what updates they should do to their home before listing. It’s a great question, as you don’t want put a ton of money into a house you’re about to sell, but you also want to get the most out of the sale.

In order to do this, you need to appeal to as many prospective buyers as possible. You want to catch people’s attention through your listing photos and get them through the door for showings.

This post could easily be super long debating the pros and cons of so many different upgrades and projects, so I’m going to keep it really simple and focus on some easy and inexpensive cosmetic DIY fixes that home owners can tackle themselves before listing.

Patch holes in the walls and paint. Get rid of vibrant accent walls, and stick to a neutral color (whites and grays) that will make your home look bright and clean. Don’t forget to touch up the trim too.

Replace dated light fixtures and ceiling fans. There are actually a lot of affordable options and install is not that difficult. Make sure all light bulbs are working as well.

Update hardware - door knobs, faucets, drawer pulls, etc.

And lastly, while this one requires a little more effort...painting builder’s grade honey oak cabinets and adding new hardware to the doors and drawers can TRANSFORM a dated kitchen or bathroom and attract a lot of potential buyers who want something a little more move-in ready.