As a smart seller, you want your home in tip-top shape — but you don't want to eat into your profits by overspending on home improvements. You won't be around to enjoy them anyway. The key is to focus on the most important repairs to make before selling a house so that every dollar you spend supports a higher asking price.
"Smaller and less expensive updates in combination with good staging will have a great return," says Colorado Springs real estate agent Susanna Haynie. But how do you know what things to do before putting your house on the market? Prioritize these updates — and consider letting the rest go.
#1 The Most Important Repair to Make Before Selling: Fix Damaged Flooring
Scratched-up wood flooring; ratty, outdated carpeting; and tired linoleum make your home feel sad. Buyers might take one step inside and scratch the property from their list. Want to know how to increase the value of your home? Install new flooring.
"Replace what's worn out," says Haynie. "Buyers don't want to deal with replacing carpet, and giving an allowance is generally not attractive enough. Spring for new, neutral carpeting or flooring."
If your home already has refinishing does the job. Expect to spend about $3,400 on the project — and recoup 147% of the cost, according to the National Association of REALTORS®' most recent "Remodeling Impact Report."
Consider swapping any old flooring for new hardwood. This project costs about $5,500, but you could recoup 118% of that at resale. If that's not in the budget, any flooring update makes an enormous difference.
#2 Fix Water Stains
You've learned to live with the results of a long-fixed plumbing snafu, but for buyers, a water stain suggests the potential for a dozen pesky problems hidden beneath the surface. That's why this is one of the things to do before putting your house on the market. "No buyer wants to buy a money pit," says Haynie.
First, make sure the problem is fixed: Bring in a plumber to look for leaky piping or poor yard drainage if your basement is damp. Installing a French drain to divert rainwater from your foundation may cost as little as $500 or as much as $2,800 to $6,500. Fixing a small water line leak costs about $190, and repairing a main water line leak, $340 to $1,500, according to Angi.
As for the repair work, replacing a water-stained ceiling and repairing drywall costs an average $500 to $2,500, HomeGuide says.
All are cheaper than a lost sale.
#3 Repair Torn Window Screens
So super inexpensive — and even DIY-able. You can purchase a window screen frame repair kit from a home improvement store for $20 or less.
Considering the simplicity of this repair, making the fix is always worth it — and so are other small but highly visible issues. When you're debating how to increase the value of your home, fix any small problems, snags, or ugly spots that might make buyers scrunch up their brows.
#4 Update Grout
Is your grout yellowing or cracked? Buyers will notice. New grout, on the other hand, can make old floors look like they came straight from the showroom.
"The best return-on-investment projects before selling a home involve making a home look like new," says Shelton Wilder, a real estate agent based in Malibu, Calif. She recently sold a home above asking price after a complete regrout.
Here's another small fix with a big impact: Simple bathroom regrouting costs about $10 to $25 per square foot, according to Angi. If you're handy, you can save by DIYing it.
#5 Resuscitate a Dying Lawn
Nothing says, “This one's gonna take some work" like a brown, patchy, weedy lawn.
Fixing the problem doesn't cost a ton of money — and you'll get it all back (and then some!) once you sell. Hiring a lawn care service to apply fertilizer and weed control will cost about $65 to $170, according to Lawn Love.
#6 Erase Pet Damage
Did your (sort of) darling kitten scratch your bedroom door? Fix the damage before listing your home. Otherwise, buyers may consider the scuffs a canary in the coal mine.
”If you have pet damage, buyers will [then] look for pet stains on the floor," says Haynie.
Fixing small holes costs $50 and $100. If the holes are larger, you should call in the pros. Replacing pet-damaged carpeting or hardwood may be a bigger job — but it's worth the cash.
#7 Revive an Outdated Kitchen
A full kitchen renovation is rarely worth it when it comes time to sell — even though buyers love a fresh look. "Kitchens are still one of the most important features for buyers," says Haynie.
The problem is, this $45,000 upgrade isn't something that buyers will pay you back for. Sellers recoup about 75% of a full-on kitchen renovation. If you're updating the space just for your sale, focus on low-cost, high-impact projects instead.
"Updating the kitchen doesn't need to be expensive," says Wilder. "Painting wood cabinets, updating hardware, or installing new countertops or appliances could be enough."
Setting up your home for selling success doesn't have to be expensive. Focus on the most important repairs to make before selling a house by picking projects that do more than look pretty. Choose updates that get your home in selling shape and justify a higher asking price.
Related: Sell A Home: Step-By-Step