First impressions are critical when looking to sell a home, but it can be hard to parse the list of maintenance, repair, and renovation projects that you've been putting off and figure out which are actually going to improve the value and curb appeal of your home. Establishing a budget and prioritizing the repairs for that budget is crucial, and the savviest sellers will order these projects in terms of their cost-value ratio. Fortunately, there are a few common home improvements that reliably offer a great return on your investment. How important each of these improvements will depend on the budget and the state of your home — but here are five renovations every homeowner should consider before putting a house on the market.
Landscaping
The lawn is going to be the first thing that prospective new buyers see — and a good landscaping job can lure the stranger walking down the street into an open house or strengthen your financial position while in the midst of a negotiation. Your financial situation will determine how much you can do here, but landscaping can be as simple as spending an afternoon in the yard with a lawnmower and trimmers.
Kitchen Appliances
The kitchen is one of the two rooms that prospective buyers prioritize the most, and the appliances that are front and center in that room can leave a very strong initial impression about a home's age and value. Even if you can only really afford to replace an appliance or two, having a gleaming brand-new refrigerator front and center can help eclipse any existing flaws in your kitchen space.
Hardwood Flooring
While housing trends may come and go, hardwood flooring will never go out of style. But that doesn't mean that they don't age. Replacing all of your floors with new hardwoods is ideal, as it creates a more seamless sense of flow to a home. However, it's easy to go overboard if you don't reign in your budget. Installing, replacing, or even just cleaning the hardwoods in your home can boost your appeal for anyone who steps inside.
Light Fixtures
Good lighting can really change the atmosphere of a room entirely, and upgrading your light fixtures is a far more economical choice than trying to tear down walls to add new windows. A brand-new chandelier can anchor an entire dining room, but it's important to make sure that there's consistency between the design and materials of your fixtures in a given room.
Paint
A new coat of paint really can breathe new life into a home, and it's an especially appealing choice because it's one of the cheapest home improvement choices you can make. But since lighting and the environment can have a major effect on how certain paints look, it may be worth your while to spend a little extra on the services of a professional painter or consultant.
