How to Prioritize Pre-Sale Home Renovations

As you look around your house, thinking about how to help it appeal to potential buyers, you start to notice every little detail: the chipped paint in the living room, that old backsplash in the kitchen, and the home’s aging windows. 

You feel the urge to update and repair everything. 

But overhauling your home before a sale is a massive undertaking that won’t likely pay off in the end. Not all repairs and renovations are worth doing. The trick is getting your property market-ready by strategically prioritizing work. 

This guide will walk you through how to prioritize pre-sale renovations, focusing on what will attract buyers and boost your property's value. 

1. Start with the “musts”

Unless a buyer is looking for a fixer-upper, you can assume they don’t want to do much fixing. So repairs should top your renovation priority list, as should upgrades to any other aspects of the home that impede its functionality.

Discover what work your home needs by having it inspected. An inspection is a great idea, anyway, because most buyers will want to see the results of one before they purchase a home. And if you wait until the last minute to do an inspection, an unforeseen issue could surface, causing the buyer to drop their offer price or ask for “contingencies:” repairs that you must make before completing the sale. 

With inspection results in hand, you’ll know whether tackling water damage, a mold issue, or roof repairs should make your list of “musts.”   

2. Move on to “smart choices”

Once you’ve tackled serious issues that could have driven down your selling price, move on to renovations that make your home more attractive to buyers. Here are a few ways to decide what’s a priority in this phase. 

Talk to your real estate agent 

Real estate agents know the local market and buyers’ mindsets, and they are an excellent resource for insights on what home improvements are worth making. Invite your realtor to take a look at your property and give feedback. You may believe it’s a priority to pour money into revamping your kitchen, but an agent can reassure you that homebuyers will find it appealing as-is. They might suggest repainting your home or putting a new garage door, instead.

Research high-ROI renovations 

Not all renovations pay off when you sell your home, so it’s wise to do high return on investment (ROI) ones. Cost versus value lists can provide data on how much you’ll stand to make with certain upgrades. For example, updating a garage or front door pays out in big returns, but remodeling your kitchen won’t.

And other, more extreme upgrades, like adding a pool can actually deter buyers, as they view this feature as a safety risk and maintenance headache. The same goes for transforming small spaces (like closets) into “functional” ones. A buyer might just view this remodel as a cramped update they prefer to revert. 

Tick off budget-friendly DIY upgrades

If you have a bit of cash on hand and a couple of free weekends, you can make small but impactful changes to your home. These upgrades are worth prioritizing because they’re easy to do; not doing them is like leaving money on the table.

• Repaint: Give your home’s interiors a fresh coat of paint and make the space look instantly cleaner. Take this opportunity to cover up bold color schemes with neutral ones that’ll appeal to buyers. 

• Revamp dated details: Swapping out old light fixtures and hardware (like cabinet knobs) for contemporary ones gives your spaces a quick refresh. Update these features in your kitchens, baths, and anywhere else your home looks stuck in the past. 

• Boost curb appeal: Curb appeal is your home’s first impression, and you can make it strong by doing landscaping and upgrading outdoor areas. Plant shrubs or trees and consider adding flowerboxes under your windows or installing tasteful gardens around walkways and under trees. And get your home’s facade looking great by repainting your front door and styling outdoor living spaces, like porches and patios, with inviting furniture. 

3. End on “wants” 

If you’re on a budget or a schedule, there are certain renovations that you’ll only be able to make if funds and time remain. Put the upgrades that give your home polish but won’t necessarily be key selling points at the bottom of your list. If you can’t pull off these renovations—no problem. If you can’t perform them all the way, find a middle ground. 

For example, you might want to remodel a bathroom, but this is an expensive undertaking (and a buyer might not even like the style you choose). Instead, consider minor upgrades like repainting cabinets or swapping out the mirror and staging your bathroom with fresh towels, accessories, and candles. 

The essentials: priorities for any list

While the following few tasks don’t have to be the first on your list, they should be on it somewhere. These essentials improve the aesthetic appeal of any home.

• Deep clean: Even if you make no renovations or repairs, you can boost your home’s chances of appealing to buyers by cleaning and organizing spaces. Wipe down even the most hidden corners of the property, keep the bathroom and kitchen sparkling, and de-clutter frequently. 

• Depersonalize: Depersonalize your home and turn it into a space where buyers can envision themselves living. Take down the majority of your family photos and get a head start on packing by boxing up nostalgia, nicknacks, and those personalized coffee mugs. As a bonus, you’ll be decluttering, making spaces more open and easier to clean.  

• Create a welcoming environment: Prepare for open houses by freshening up spaces (i.e. fluffing pillows and lighting a couple of candles) and staging. Staging means swapping out your decor for items (like linens and art) that’ll appeal to a wide range of prospective buyers. Even if you just stage a few essential spaces, like the kitchen, living room, and baths, you’ll help your home look less “lived in” and more like a property a buyer could imprint their preferences upon. 

  

Finance home renovations and add value

Sure, you can try to sell your house as-is. But if you stand to earn top dollar by doing a few strategic home renovations, why not make this wise investment?

Not having liquid funds for renovations can feel like a setback, but you can finance upgrades with a zero-interest closing line of credit (CLoC). This unique financial product is available to homeowners working with Titus partner agents, who are the best in the game. Learn how it works here.