Now that half of the country’s adults are vaccinated, life is beginning to get back to normal. With that in mind, many people are starting to think about listing their homes for sale. Since we have been spending so much time in our homes, it can be hard to see what projects need to be done to get the best price for your home. Here are a few you should think about:

  • Declutter – this may seem like a no brainer, but getting clutter out of your home helps it look cleaner as well as larger. If there are piles of papers and boxes all around, people may make assumptions about what else you may find (think the show Hoarders).
  • De-personalize – potential buyers want to be able to picture themselves living in your home and if you have too many family pictures and awards for your kids achievements on display, they can have a hard time with that.
  • Exterior Paint – if you are like many of us, we haven’t been paying much attention to the exterior of our homes so you may have sun fading, cracking or peeling paint. A refresh of the exterior paint can make your home stand out and will be a great first impression helping a buyer have confidence that you have taken care of small tasks as well as large when maintaining your home.
  • Interior Paint – If you have wild colors, selling a home is the time to refresh your palette. Go for neutrals, white, grey, beige, as they will help a buyer envision themselves in your space instead of trying to imagine who you are.
  • Yard maintenance – just like the paint on a home, the tidiness of the yard including sidewalks and paths in addition to plants, can make a big difference for the first impression of a home. The yard can also be a great selling point for the photos online. Well trimmed grass and hedges, colorful flowers, and eye-catching design can set you apart from the competition.
  • Carpet upgrades – many buyers don’t like carpet and you can get more return on your investment with wood floors. Besides, carpets can carry stains and odors which can make a buyer turn right around and leave your home before putting in an offer.
  • Upgrading dated fixtures – a vintage fridge can show quirky style, but a shell shaped sink from the 1970’s can be a major turn off for a buyer. Upgrading bathrooms, kitchens, or even hardware on cabinets to bring it into this century can help your home value tremendously. Not every home is meant to look like a luxury hotel, but it should look like the owners take good care of the home and replace anything not working or dated. These are the most costly items on this list, but they can make a great return on your investment. Getting a contractor to do a job in a timely fashion right now could be tricky as many are scheduling months out.

There are many things you can and should do to make sure you increase your home value whether you are staying in the home to enjoy them or if you are getting ready to list your house for sale. In our current hot market, you may only need to do the cheapest items on our list, but it’s worth thinking about the pricier items as they make get you your money back and then some if you get an offer above list price.