Sell your house fast? Without breaking the bank?
If you want to get the highest possible price for your home, then you need to make strategic improvements.
The right upgrades will increase your asking price. Done right, you can sell your house fast without blowing your renovation budget.
But before you pick up a hammer, you need to know which projects will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
In this article, I’m going to break down the simple upgrades that will help you get the most value for your home.
We’re Covering:
- Why Simple Upgrades Matter When Selling
- The Best High-ROI Home Improvements
- Which Projects to Avoid
Why Simple Upgrades Matter When Selling
Most homeowners will do some amount of sprucing up before putting their home on the market.
Sprucing is the key here. The goal isn’t to do an expensive, gut-renovation of every room. The goal is to spend as little as possible to make the biggest difference.
The home improvement projects that do this focus on exterior curb appeal, minor kitchen and bath updates, and creating outdoor living space. Major overhauls and ultra-personalized custom work are a waste of your money.
Home improvements are one of the best ways to increase your home value. But it pays to be strategic. Some projects cost thousands and barely move the needle. Others cost a few thousand and can literally double your return.
Smart homeowners know this. When they’re preparing to sell their home, they focus on the things that matter most to buyers. After all, if you want to sell your house fast, you need to think like a buyer.
Ask yourself: when you see a for-sale home, what do you look at first? What makes you feel good about a property? What makes you click the “Save” button and return later?
Buyers always form an opinion of a home in seconds, so first impressions are everything. And the most successful home upgrades tend to be exterior projects that boost curb appeal and grab attention.
If you need to sell your house fast, without making any repairs at all, companies that focus on purchasing houses as-is can provide an alternative option.
But if you have time and the budget to make improvements, the data suggests it’s worth it.
The Leading High-ROI Home Improvements
If you’re looking to make improvements that will help you sell your house fast, these are the ones to consider.
Replace Your Garage Door
Garage door replacement is the single best home improvement for home value.
According to Remodeling, a garage door replacement delivers 194% ROI. In other words, you get nearly double the money you spend right back. The average cost is $4,500, so you’ll see about an $8,750 bump in value.
A new garage door instantly updates the exterior of your home. It also signals to buyers that the property has been well-maintained. A dingy, dented old garage door makes people worry about what else they might find.
This is a project you can complete in a day, and it has an instant impact.
Install a New Entry Door
Another exterior project that gives an exceptional ROI is the front door replacement.
Steel entry doors recoup 188% at resale, and the average cost is just $2,355. Buyers love the security and durability that metal doors provide.
Buyers form their first opinion of a home the second they open the front gate. A new front door that’s fresh and modern tells them that this is a home that’s been well-maintained.
The right entry door will improve curb appeal, add energy efficiency, and give buyers the “wow” factor they’re searching for.
Add Manufactured Stone Veneer
If you want to add a lot of visual appeal without doing a whole siding replacement, manufactured stone veneer is the answer.
By adding manufactured stone veneer along the lower third of your home’s exterior, you can achieve a 153% return on investment. The project will cost you about $11,287.
Stone veneer gives your home architectural interest and makes it look upscale and premium. It’s a durable, weather-resistant material that adds instant curb appeal. It also gives your property that premium high-end look that commands a higher asking price.
Refresh Your Kitchen (The Smart Way)
You’ve probably heard the kitchen remodel hype by now.
Kitchen overhauls are the second-biggest home improvement in terms of average cost. And unfortunately, the results are disappointing. For every $150,000 you spend on a full kitchen overhaul, you can only expect to recoup 34% of that investment. A $150,000 improvement that only pays back $51,000 is a terrible deal.
Instead of gutting the kitchen, do a minor kitchen remodel.
Paint or reface cabinets, replace hardware and fixtures, update countertops, and add a new backsplash. A minor kitchen remodel runs about $27,492 and delivers a 96% return on investment.
Buyers love minor kitchen updates that make the space look fresh and modern without being overly personalized.
Update Your Bathroom
The bathroom is the second-most scrutinized room in any home.
A midrange bathroom remodel averages $25,000 and recoups 74% at resale. It includes replacing all fixtures, updating the vanity, new tile, and overall functionality.
Buyers look for bathrooms that are clean, modern, and spa-like. Simple updates like a new vanity, fresh paint, modern fixtures, and good lighting will work wonders.
Don’t Forget Outdoor Living Space
With the pandemic pushing so many people into outdoor living, this should come as no surprise.
Adding a wood deck returns 45% to 55% of your investment, and the cost runs from $3,600 to $7,200. You’ll likely break even or see a positive return.
Builders are adding porches to 68% of new homes because they know it’s what people want. Outdoor space is a high priority, and buyers will fight over a property that gives them room to relax and entertain.
Create that space with a deck, or even a patio or screened-in porch.
Which Projects to Avoid
If you want to sell your house fast, you should know which home improvements to avoid.
Skip the Swimming Pool
Pools are expensive to build and maintain. They also drastically limit your buyer pool, because many buyers see pools as safety hazards. Unless you live in an area where pools are a high-value amenity, you should skip this one.
Avoid Over-Personalized Renovations
Ultra-customized luxury items like wine cellars, built-ins, and high-end designer appliances rarely pay for themselves. Buyers don’t have the same taste as you do, and you’ll end up leaving money on the table.
Don’t Do Major Remodels Right Before Selling
Full gut renovations of kitchens and baths are incredibly expensive and have a terrible return. Cosmetic improvements will freshen the space without spending thousands on custom work.
The rule is, don’t do any renovations that are overly specific to your personal tastes.
Bringing It All Together
I’ve talked a lot about home improvements that give you the biggest bang for your buck. I want to close with this takeaway:
Boosting your home value doesn’t require a renovation budget in the six figures. In fact, the highest-ROI improvements tend to be simple, affordable projects that focus on exterior curb appeal and basic functional upgrades.
Focus on exterior upgrades, then minor kitchen and bath updates to make the interior feel fresh.
Sell your house fast without spending money on renovations that don’t pay off.
Quick recap:
- Replace your garage door for 194% ROI
- Install a new steel entry door for 188% ROI
- Add manufactured stone veneer for curb appeal
- Do minor kitchen updates, not major remodels
- Refresh bathrooms with midrange improvements
- Add outdoor living space with deck or patio