Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Hacks & How-to's

4 home improvement projects to do right now if you want to sell this spring

Veronica Sparks
By

Home renovation projects make your standard of living better, but they also increase the value of your home. If you’re planning on selling a house this spring, you may be thinking about making some updates to boost your asking price. Here’s how to sell your house at a premium by completing these four simple home improvement projects that will get you the most out of your sale.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Minor bathroom updates

Remodeling the bathroom is one of the best ways to increase your home’s value. If you’re not able to do a complete remodel before spring, there are some minor updates you can do to your bathroom. These small upgrades can get you a 70.1% return on investment (ROI), according to Zillow.

  • Ceramic tiling
  • Chrome sink and shower fixtures
  • New vanity countertop
  • New white toilet
Recommended Videos

New or updated flooring

You don’t necessarily have to replace your existing flooring if it’s fairly new, but you should take some steps to help it look its best.

  • Deep clean all carpets to get them looking and smelling fresh
  • Buff hard floors to get them shining
  • Refinish hardwood floors to make them look new
  • Repair any cracks or nicks in ceramic or natural stone floors

If your carpet or hard floors look worn, dated, or excessively damaged, replacing them is a project that should be on your list before selling. Zillow says homes with new herringbone parquet flooring sell at a 5% premium above the listed price.

Smart technology

Particularly among Gen X and Millennial buyers, smart technology is a big demand. In fact, 41%-47% of buyers in these generations list smart home features as among the most important features they’re looking for in the search for a new home. You don’t need to go all out with every smart gadget on the market to sell your home, but installing some simple devices or opting for smart versions of an appliance you were going to replace anyway can go a long way.

Smart lighting

Smart lightbulbs make life more convenient, and they are an inexpensive way to modernize your home before selling. It’s even more value-boosting to opt for a full smart lighting system, like Phillips Hue. According to Zillow research, homes that mentioned “smart lighting” on the listing sold seven days faster than initially expected.

Smart thermostat

An energy-efficient heating and cooling system is better for the environment and saves a lot of cash on monthly energy bills. Prospective home buyers are aware of the benefits of smart thermostats. That’s why installing goes a long way in making your home sell for more. Buyers will be willing to pay a premium for a home they know will save them money, thus increasing your property value. Smart thermostats are compatible with most existing HVAC systems, making them a simple installation that takes only a day.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Boosted curb appeal

Curb appeal refers to the initial good impression that your home’s exterior provides. The outside of the house is the first thing prospective buyers see on the online listing, and it’s the first thing they scan when they pull up for a viewing. Having an exterior that is clean, fresh, and in good condition is imperative to selling your home at a premium. While you don’t necessarily have to do a full landscaping renovation or replace the siding on your home, there are a couple of minor updates you can make to the outside that will boost your home value.

Landscaping

You don’t have to plant rows of trees or create a beautiful garden overnight, but make sure your lawn and plant life are looking fresh, clean, and healthy.

  • Mow the lawn
  • Get rid of weeds
  • Edge and mulch
  • Trim bushes
  • Plant some colorful flowers

Exterior painting

It’s a big project, but putting a fresh coat of paint on your exterior will do wonders for your home’s value and curb appeal. In fact, 77% of Zillow agents advise that sellers paint the exterior of their home. If you’ve got paint that’s peeling, cracked, discolored, or simply outdated, you should consider painting it before selling to get the most out of your home’s sale.

Even smaller exterior paint projects go a long way in improving your home’s curb appeal. Touching up peeling trim or even giving the front door a fresh coat of paint gives a clean, new look to the outside of your home. A black front door, for example, sold at premiums of $6,000 above asking price.

Clean with a pressure washer

If your home’s exterior paint is fairly new or it’s in acceptable condition, a quick run with a pressure washer will make it sparkle. While you’re at it, be sure to wash down walkways, patios, and the driveway to make your home look pristine for the most curb appeal.

If you’re selling your home and looking around at everything you wish you could do to boost your property value, don’t get overwhelmed. You can keep your updates cheap and easy with these four simple home improvement projects. A full renovation isn’t necessary when you can simply make the small updates that matter most to your home value.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Veronica Sparks
Veronica Sparks
Contributor
Veronica Sparks is a writer from Milwaukee, Wisconsin who loves writing about gardening, home décor, and DIY life. She’s…
Moving out? Get your security deposit back quickly with these simple tips
These tips for renters will help you save money
Couple packing moving boxes together

Moving out of an apartment is already a hectic event. But when you’re trying to get your security deposit back from your landlord, that stress only grows. After all, that’s a large chunk of change you’re owed—and one that would be much better off in your savings account or going toward decking out your new place. Whether your landlord has been slow to return your deposit or you’re just anxious to get your money back, here are a few tips for renters to get your security deposit back in full without a fuss.

Review your lease
When you decide to move out, one of the first things you should do is re-read your lease. This document lays out all the terms and conditions for ending your lease, giving your landlord notice about your move, and getting your deposit back. Oftentimes, your lease will also let you know how many days your landlord has to return the security deposit (usually 30-60 days after move-out) and any other move-out requirements. You may be required to return your keys, clean the property, and revert any alterations you made to their original condition before your deposit is returned.
Give your landlord proper notice
Giving proper notice before moving out is crucial to getting your full security deposit back. If you don’t give enough notice, you may be required to pay an extra month’s rent—even if you’re not living there. Not only will you have to give your landlord more money, but you may also have to wait longer to get your deposit back.

Read more
We all love Costco samples, but doing these 6 things will make everyone hate you
How to make the most of your Costco shopping trip without being a jerk
Costco store exterior shot

There are a lot of reasons to love shopping at Costco — the prices, the breadth of products, the cheap food court — but the Costco samples are definitely at the top of the list. Who doesn’t love free, delicious food? Not only is it a great mid-shop snack, but it gives you the opportunity to try items before you buy in bulk.

Of course, the samples come with their problems, too — congested aisles, long lines, and poor etiquette. One Costco sampler recently took to the r/Costco subreddit to offer up some do’s and don’ts when checking out the Costco samples — and fellow workers and shoppers joined in.

Read more
Working from home is why house prices are so insane right now: Study
why house prices are so high sold with family

Over the course of the past couple of years, we’ve gotten used to a new normal — and a large part of that pandemic lifestyle (one that seems likely to stay) is the shift toward remote work. But while we were all rearranging our dining rooms into makeshift offices and learning how to navigate issues over Zoom with colleagues, there’s been another major change that remote work just might be responsible for: the housing market. It’s been a seller’s market for a long time, causing headaches for would-be buyers in search of that perfect home. Now, new research indicates that remote work accounts for more than half of the increases in housing prices we’ve seen since the pandemic began.

What effect has remote work had on house prices?
According to a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, written by researchers from the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the University of California, San Diego, national house prices have increased 23.8% since late 2019, which is the fastest growth rate on record.

Read more