Home Renovation Checklist to Maximize a Sale

Househunting, paperwork, packing: home sellers have a lot on their to-do list. 

And those items are only the start. Before putting your home on the market, you’ll likely want to do some renovations to attract viewers and boost the sale value. 

But before you get out the paint roller or start tearing out your kitchen backsplash, make a plan. Not every renovation is worth the investment and you can maximize your time and funds by being strategic. 

Use this guide to create a home renovation checklist that helps up your property’s value and boost its appeal without breaking the bank. 

Get professional advice on what needs to be done 

Your house doesn’t need a complete renovation to go to market, which is good news if you hope to sell quickly. 

Start your renovation journey by doing a walkthrough with your real estate agent. This professional is an expert on what aesthetic touches resonate with local homebuyers, so their opinion is golden. Realtors can also steer you away from expensive renovations that don’t pay out by garnering more buyer interest or boosting your home’s value.

You’ll also want to get your home inspected (a step that a future buyer will want you to have taken anyway). You’ll gain insights about essential repairs, code requirements, and other upgrades you should put on the top of your list. If you need a recommendation for a reliable inspector, lean on your agent.

With your agent’s and the inspector’s recommendations in hand, you can make a strategic list of refreshes your home needs.

Start moving yourself out

Potential buyers want to be able to imagine themselves in your home, and they might have trouble doing so if the space is very personalized. Realtors believe that depersonalizing a property (to an extent) can help others envision themselves in this move-in-ready space.

There are a few ways to “remove” yourself from your home. The first is by neutralizing any bold or specific aesthetic imprints you may have made on the space. For example, it would be wise to forgo those neon green bedroom walls for a neutral, universally-pleasing paint color. 

Another way to depersonalize your place is by literally removing personal items, like family photos, art, and nostalgia. You don’t have to pull everything off the shelves (in fact, some experts believe a few homey touches can be inviting), but whatever you remove can go into storage—giving you a head start on packing. 

Depersonalizing comes with an additional perk: your home becomes more “bare-bones,” and you can strategically move around furniture to maximize space or stage rooms with decor that attracts buyers—instead of reflecting your preferences.

Prioritize the highest ROI renovations 

Yes, it’s smart to tackle high-priority repairs and code violations that come up in an inspection and could present drawbacks for potential buyers. But what should be next on your list? Prioritizing high-ROI (return on investment) renovations is a solid start. 

Check out a recent cost-versus-value report to identify the wisest investments. Here are a few common ones: 

• Garage door replacement: This upgrade puts a fresh face on your home and corrects any functional issues an old garage door may have had. 

• Front door replacement: This update also improves your home’s exterior and can have secondary benefits like better energy efficiency, security, or ease of use. 

• Minor kitchen remodels: Repainting cabinets, putting in a new backsplash, and installing Energy Star appliances can constitute just enough of a kitchen upgrade to attract a buyer. Completely overhauling the space or putting in luxury finishes is a less promising gamble as this process can be very expensive and the next owner could tear out your work if it’s not to their liking.

• Siding replacement: If your home has new siding, getting it power-washed or painted might be enough to get it market-ready. But consider replacing older siding with fresh vinyl or fiber cement pieces to give buyers a perk. 

DIY your way to market 

After you’ve made necessary repairs, gotten your home up to code, and made high-ROI upgrades, give your property a DIY boost—no renovation contractor needed. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 

• Landscape: Keeping your lawn, trees, and outdoor spaces updated, clean, and trim improves curb appeal—your home’s first impression. Great landscaping is a factor that draws viewers and even ups the value of your home. 

• Deep clean: Put on your rubber gloves and clean up years of grime no potential buyer wants to see. This step needs its own checklist as a deep clean should consider every nook and cranny of your home. Remove buildup from faucets, sanitize countertops, clean out closets, scrub grout, and so on.

• Repaint: While you’ll want to get professional help repainting exteriors, you can refresh interior walls on your own. Freshly painted walls can help unify and neutralize the home’s aesthetics (think: painting over that neon green hue with a laid-back beige) and give spaces a cleaner look. 

• Install new fixtures: Old lighting fixtures, drawer knobs, and door handles can make your home look dated. Install new hardware on your own with just a few simple tools and a little time. Replace lights with modern options (consider “smart” or efficient models for an additional selling point) if you have the know-how, or call an electrician for support. 

• Organize: Even if you’ve depersonalized, deep-cleaned, and de-cluttered your home, some items you need for daily life likely remain in the space. Keep them as organized as possible. Put kitchenware behind cabinet doors, store toys and books on shelves, and hide knickknacks (like your toothbrush or nightstand items) in drawers. 

• Stage: Prepare your home for showings by home staging. Replace old linens (like sheets and bath towels) with new ones, put out coffee table books, flowers, and candles, and make the space look inviting with throws and pillows. If you want to go all out, swap outdated furniture for contemporary rented models. 

Keep your property in viewing shape 

You’ve put a lot of effort (and cash) into getting your property looking its best. Keep it that way by maintaining spaces in pristine condition while your home is on the market. 

Stay organized by making area-based checklists. For example, create a list for landscaping tasks (like trimming the grass or keeping kids’ toys off the lawn). Make another for the bathrooms, bedrooms, the kitchen, and other key areas of the home, like living spaces. Focus the lists around reducing clutter, cleaning surfaces, and finishing touches (like fluffing pillows, lighting candles, and putting out fresh flowers for showings). 

Renovation sells. Your agent can help you afford it. 

Strategic renovations boost the sale price of a home. No matter how attractive that point is, making home improvements may seem out of the question if you don’t have the funds. But you can gain access to an exclusive financing option for repairs and cosmetic upgrades with Titus.

Work with a Titus-affiliated agent and get a zero-interest closing line of credit (CLoC). Titus partners with only the top agents in the industry, who boast above-average sell-through rates and a proven track record. Find out how to team up with a great agent and maximize your sale here.