If you’re prepping your home for sale—especially in a buyer’s market—you want to make improvements that attract offers without breaking the bank. Below are strategic, budget‑friendly updates that Kassidy recommends for most sellers. We have some easy items below but tackle high priority projects first! If your house is in desperate need of a new driveway or a bathroom update, don’t default to the suggestions below. Focus on the projects that really need your attention. Here are some common and easy updates anyone can do to improve their resale value.
1. Paint Walls White & Old Cabinets
- Grey and beige is out, fresh white walls and greige doors/trim is on trend
- If your old cabinets need a refresh – paint them! Two tone is in with a green or navy on the lowers and white uppers or open shelving
- A fresh coat of paint can brighten up a space and cover years of wear and tear
2. Update Kitchen & Bath Fixtures
- It’s easy to swap out old drawer pulls, faucets, door knobs, and light fixtures—right now matte black is on trend and will give your house a modern feel
- It’s important to give a cohesive, refreshed feel – gold are in, but they come in many different tones and it can be hard to match all the hardware
- We like Delta plumbing fixtures, the Amazon plumbing fixtures tend to break and cause leaks
3. Upgrade Flooring with Vinyl Plank (LVP)
- Old carpet that is stained or worn is a deal killer!
- LVP is durable, water-resistant, and budget-friendly alternative you can do instead of replacing carpet with more carpet
- At $2-3 per square foot, it is an equivalent price to carpet
- Hard-surface flooring often fetches a premium – we love the light wide oak planks that are 6-8 inches wide with quiet wood grain and no knots
- Check out HydroShield, Camden Fields available for same day pick up at Floor & Decor for only $2.19/sf.
- If you are doing stairs – make sure to find a product with matching trends
4. Update Window Coverings
- Outdated blinds or heavy drapes can date a home
- Remove old, dirty blinds or curtains and let the light shine into the home
- If your screens are damaged, label them and remove them for showing and photos
- Have your windows professionally cleaned before you list, you won’t believe how much brighter and cleaner your home will look with these changes
5. Focus on Curb Appeal
Your home’s exterior is the first impression buyers get—both in photos and during showings. Buyers are usually stopped at the front door waiting for their realtor to open the lockbox and they will notice! Small, inexpensive updates can have a major impact:
- Clean the door and screen and swept the front porch area
- Paint the front door – we love a fresh pop of color, our favorite is green
- Tidy landscaping: weed, trim bushes, and plant seasonal flowers.
- Add fresh mulch to give the exterior a refresh
- Upgrade house numbers, mailbox, or exterior lighting for instant curbside charm.
- Setup your sprinkler system to water extra – we want the grass to be green and glorious
- This also means you’ll need regular mowing and weeding while your home is on the market
Tip: Schedule Photos While the City is Green
In Denver, the grass and trees are only green May through August, but we sell homes all year around! If you’re thinking about selling, especially this Winter or next Spring, now is the time to schedule professional exterior photos. Capturing your home while the lawn is vibrant and flowers are in bloom ensures that your listing will stand out, especially months from now when the competition has leafless trees, brown grass, or a blanket of snow covering the glorious outdoor oasis. You can take exteriors yourself, just use the wide angle feature on your phone and get as many exterior photos of those blooming flowers as you can before summer ends.
The Takeaway
You don’t need a full renovation to make a meaningful impact. By focusing on neutral paint, a mini kitchen refresh, modern black hardware, durable flooring, brightening up your windows, some sweat equity outside, and some amateur photos – you’ll set your home apart from the competition in the market that is rapidly shifting in buyer’s favor.
Need help prioritizing updates?
Contact us for a free planning session. We’ll help you decide which projects will deliver the most ROI and get your home market-ready with confidence.