What updates are worth making before listing your home?

Not all home updates are created equal. Some significantly boost the value of your home and offer a high return on investment (ROI). Here are the top five updates that usually provide the highest ROI:

1. Minor Kitchen Remodel

No matter where you how big your home, or how many people you have over, inevitably everyone ends up in the kitchen. It's the heart of the home. Which is why, a first impression that is inviting, is so important. Minor remodels include: replacing countertops with granite or quartz, updating cabinets (rather than replacing them), installing modern fixtures and appliances, and adding a new backsplash.

A minor kitchen remodel, provides an ROI of around 81% (source: Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report 2023)

2. Bathroom Remodel

No one wants to walk into a home and think about the things that happen in someone else's bathroom. So fresh and clean are key to making the best impression. Simple updates like new tile, modern fixtures, updated vanities, and fresh paint can go a long way to making a bathroom feel brand new.

A midrange bathroom remodel can provide an ROI of 70-75%  (source: Remodeling Magazine’s Cost vs. Value Report 2023)

3. Curb Appeal (Landscaping, Front Door)

You've heard it before, first impressions matter. What your house looks like when someone drives by or what the photo looks like online play a significant role in getting potential buyers in the door. So, how do you put your best face forward? Appearances should be tidy and welcoming, with a bit of cheer. Curb appeal improvements: Basic landscaping (mowed lawn, fresh mulch, trimmed bushes), seasonal flowers (in the ground or in pots), a new welcome mat, and maybe something to sit on (somethign that says - take a load off, stay a while). Updating the front door with a new coat of paint or replacing it all together, also doesn't hurt!

Landscaping can yield an ROI of around 100% or more. Updating the front door can be as high as 150% (Source: Remodeling Magazine)

4. Fresh Paint (Interior & Exterior)

Nothing makes a house feel cleaner and less "lived in" than a fresh coat of paint. Both inside and outside. Neutral colors make it easier for buyers to see themselves (and their stuff) in the space. Interior painting can provide an average ROI of 107% and exterior painting gets you around 55%. (source: Kind Home Solutions)

5. New Flooring

Replacing worn-out carpet with hardwood or luxury vinyl plank (LVP), or refinishing the hardwood floors that you already have can make a huge difference. These flooring updates are highly appealing to potential buyers and can make your home feel more modern and polished. It's also not a project that buyers want to take on after moving in.

Refinishing hardwood floors is the home improvement project with the highest ROI (147%), followed by new wood flooring (118%) (Source: National Association of Realtors)