Cash News
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A reader wants to know which cosmetic updates are worth the time and money when preparing to sell their house.
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The Yahoo Finance panel of Realtors recommended subtle, affordable changes that make a good first impression on the buyer, such as deep cleaning the home or improving its curb appeal.
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“Ask a Realtor” is a monthly column. To submit a question to our panel of Realtors, fill out this Google Form.
Dear Realtors,
If I’m looking to do some cosmetic updates to my home before selling, what kind of updates would you recommend? In our last house, we replaced all the lighting fixtures before we sold it to help make the house look more updated. When I looked back at our house years later, when the person we sold it to relisted it, I noticed they had switched one of the light fixtures back to an older style!
What kinds of updates do you think have the biggest payoff or make the best impression on a buyer?
Thanks,
Profit-seeking Penny Pincher
Little Rock, Arkansas
Dear Penny Pincher,
Updating your home before selling is tricky. You don’t always know what home buyers are looking for, your budget might be limited, and you don’t want to waste money on unnecessary updates that won’t attract buyers. However, our panel of Realtors has experience helping people sell and buy houses — meaning they understand sellers’ struggles and know what buyers are looking for.
“Striking the right balance between updating a home for the market and leaving room for buyers to make their own changes is key,” said Kathleen Myers, Realtor with RE/MAX in Portland, Ore. “Home design and renovations are highly personal. I always advise my clients not to go overboard with updates before listing.”
So, how do you know which home improvements are too much or too little and how to hit that Goldilocks effect of “just right?” Here are our Realtors’ tips.
Remember — you can’t please everybody
“Regarding your previous experience: It’s interesting that the new owners changed the lighting back! This highlights that you can’t really please everyone,” said Rosa Galarza, Realtor with eXp Realty in Nashville. “Focus on making your home appealing to the majority of buyers. Neutrally styled, functional updates are usually the best approach.”
You might be tempted to fully remodel a room before listing your house. But remember, your taste won’t match the needs or wants of every single buyer. So, it’s usually best to keep things as simple as possible.
Dig deeper: Selling your house — How to prepare and make the sale
Kadesha Thomas, a Realtor with Sotheby’s International Realty in Connecticut, has her staging accreditation. “Staging” refers to cleaning, organizing, and preparing your home before listing it. It is a crucial step in the selling process, both for taking pictures to post online and for open houses and viewings.
“The first upgrade I always recommend is brand new light bulbs throughout the entire house,” Thomas said. “A lot of homeowners live with warm lighting, but in photographs, it can make your house look outdated and dim. If you go throughout your home and change all of your lightbulbs to cool white or daylight white … your home will immediately look brighter, larger, and updated.”
Changing your lightbulbs — it can’t get much simpler, can it?
Make subtle updates to the main rooms
All of our Realtors highlighted the importance of making your kitchen look nice. No, you don’t have to pay for a full kitchen remodel. For staging purposes, Thomas recommended adding new kitchen curtains and hand towels. Galarza emphasized refacing or painting your cabinets instead of paying the money to replace them — and if you paint them a neutral color, such as white or gray, the look could appeal to more people.
Myers emphasized the importance of a deep clean all over the house.
“Getting your home ready to sell doesn’t require major renovations — cleanliness is the most important factor in making a strong first impression,” Myers said. “A deep, thorough cleaning, along with minor repairs, assures buyers that the home has been well cared for. Buyers are naturally drawn to homes that feel fresh, well-maintained, and move-in ready.”
She recommended washing windows and even the insides of kitchen and bathroom drawers in case buyers open them when touring the house. She also listed cleaning your kitchen and bathroom walls and floors, scrubbing your appliances, and updating the caulking around your sinks and bathtub.
Again, buying some new towels and taking a day or two to deep-clean the house — manageable and affordable.
Read more: How to sell your house fast
Our panel had several budget-friendly suggestions for making your house look nice on the outside.
Barbara Lowery, a Realtor with the DeBoor Group in Indianapolis, recommended focusing on your landscaping to make the yard look nice for pictures and make a nice first impression when potential buyers pull up to the house. She also suggested replacing your front door. “It’s one of the first things a buyer sees,” she pointed out.
Replacing your front door can be a great move, especially if it’s old and in rough shape. But if it’s out of your budget, there are other options. Blake Blahut, Realtor with Realty ONE Group Inspiration in Florida, said one of his favorite subtle ways to improve a home before selling is to give the front door a fresh coat of paint and a more modern door handle.
“Don’t overlook your front door and porch — buyers form their first impression while waiting for their agent to retrieve the key from the lockbox,” Myers said.
If you want to appeal to more buyers, it could be as straightforward as changing your lightbulbs, cleaning the house, adding a fresh coat of paint here and there, and doing some yard work. These improvements may take time, but you won’t spend money unnecessarily on changes that ultimately don’t matter to the buyer.
Learn more: How much does it cost to sell your house?