Best Home Improvements Before Selling House: What Realtors Should Recommend

When a homeowner is preparing to list, they often ask their agent: “What should I fix before selling?” As a realtor, your answer can directly impact how quickly the home sells and at what price. Knowing the best home improvements before selling house gives you a major advantage. By guiding clients toward upgrades that maximize ROI, you position yourself as both a trusted advisor and a savvy marketer.

Why Best Home Improvements Before Selling House Matter

Not every project is worth the investment. A kitchen gut renovation may wow buyers but rarely recoups 100% of the cost. On the other hand, a fresh coat of neutral paint can completely transform the feel of a home for minimal expense.

When you can confidently recommend budget-friendly, high-ROI projects, you build trust, attract more sellers, and stand out in a competitive market. This trust directly fuels your closings, especially when paired with a strong online presence and a high-converting realtor website like those we build at Digital Dream Homes.

The Top ROI Home Improvements Realtors Should Recommend

Here’s a breakdown of the smartest projects for sellers, backed by data and real-world results.

1. Fresh Paint Throughout

ROI: 100% or more in most markets
Why it works: Paint instantly brightens spaces, makes a home feel newer, and creates a neutral canvas buyers can picture themselves in.
Pro tip: Suggest warm neutrals like beige, greige, or soft white. Skip trendy colors that could turn buyers away.

Scenario: A realtor in Chicago recommends repainting a seller’s bright purple living room. The $1,200 paint job helps the home receive three offers in the first weekend.

2. Curb Appeal Boost

First impressions matter, and buyers form opinions before stepping inside.

ROI: Up to 238% for lawn care according to HomeLight’s survey
Smart upgrades:
- Power wash exterior surfaces
- Fresh mulch and trimmed landscaping
- A new front door or painted existing one
- Updated house numbers and mailbox

Scenario: One Florida realtor added $10K in perceived value with just $1,500 of landscaping and exterior touch-ups.

3. Minor Kitchen Updates

Buyers love kitchens, but sellers rarely recoup full renovation costs. Focus on high-impact, low-cost changes:

Replacing cabinet hardware
Swapping out light fixtures
Refinishing or painting cabinets
Installing new faucets or backsplash

ROI: 70–80% depending on the scope.

4. Bathroom Refreshes

Like kitchens, bathrooms sell homes. Instead of full remodels, recommend:

Regrouting tile
Installing new mirrors and lighting
Replacing showerheads
Painting vanities

A modest $3,000 refresh can return over $10,000 in perceived value.

5. Flooring Updates

Nothing turns off buyers faster than dirty carpet or mismatched flooring.

Replace worn carpet with luxury vinyl plank (durable and affordable)
Consider refinishing hardwoods for maximum impact
Keep flooring consistent to make the home feel larger

6. Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Buyers appreciate homes that save money on utilities.

Install a smart thermostat
Replace outdated light bulbs with LEDs
Seal windows and doors to improve efficiency

Stat: 46% of buyers say energy-efficient features are a top priority (NAR).

7. Decluttering and Staging

Sometimes the best home improvements before selling house aren’t “improvements” at all but presentation.

Encourage sellers to remove excess furniture
Stage rooms with neutral décor to highlight space and flow
Offer digital staging for vacant homes

Example: A Colorado agent sold a staged property 30% faster than comparable unstaged homes in the same neighborhood.

What Realtors Gain by Knowing This

By guiding homeowners toward these strategic projects, you:

Build trust with sellers who feel confident in your advice
Create marketing opportunities (before-and-after photos for your social media)
Position yourself as a local market authority who knows what works
Increase the likelihood of faster closings and higher commissions

And when you amplify that expertise with a professional online presence, your impact multiplies. If you haven’t already, check out our guide on the Best Free Tools for Realtors to help position yourself as the go-to agent in your market.

How to Share Home Improvement Advice Online

Once you know the best ROI projects, the next step is marketing your expertise. Here’s how:

Create blog posts showcasing before-and-after results (if you don’t have a blog yet, see our post on Real Estate SEO Best Practices).
Post reels or TikToks walking through quick updates (paint, lighting, landscaping).
Leverage your email list to share seasonal tips (check out our post on Email Marketing for Real Estate Agents for inspiration).
Use a high-performing website to showcase your authority. Need ideas? See our breakdown of the Best Website Layout for Realtors.

Internal Links for Realtors Who Want More

If you found this helpful, you’ll also want to read:

These resources show you how to use your expertise on home improvements as part of a bigger strategy to win more listings and grow your brand.

Conclusion: Best Home Improvements Before Selling House

When clients ask about the best home improvements before selling house, you now have a clear, ROI-driven list to recommend. From paint and curb appeal to kitchens, baths, and staging, these upgrades not only increase home value but also boost your reputation as a trusted advisor.

Ready to turn that expertise into more listings and closings? At Digital Dream Homes, we specialize in building luxury websites that highlight your authority, capture seller leads, and convert visitors into clients.

Book a free consultation today and let us help you transform your online presence into a lead-generating machine.

Matt Pieczarka

Matt is the founder and CEO of Digital Dream Homes. He loves building websites and working with his clients personally to achieve a common goal. He is currently working on building a CRM that integrates the top two most visited platforms on the planet (Facebook and Google) with lead generation and websites.