Essential Upgrades to Make Before Selling Your Home

Last Updated: February 13, 2024Categories: General tipsTags: , 2.8 min read

A home is not just where you live; in fact, for a number of people it’s one of their biggest and most important investments. If the market is right and you’re planning a move, you’re naturally going to want to make sure that you are getting the most out of the sale of your home. That’s why many homeowners try to make smart renovations before listing their home in order to bring up its value on the market.

Essential Upgrades to Make Before Selling Your Home

Here are three essential ways that you can improve the look and functionality of your home before selling it.

1. Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important because of the cost savings it can produce for homeowners. For example, if you upgrade your windows and doors to newer models that come with weather stripping, then you can significantly reduce the amount of air leaking in and out of your home. In the summer that means you can keep your home cool with air conditioning and warm in the winter with your heating system without making them work overtime because of potential drafts.

Installing ENERGY STAR qualified windows and doors can produce measurable savings. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing single-pane windows can save you $126 to $465 a year. These savings are an enticing bonus for home buyers and it’s definitely a feature that will bring up the value of your home.

2. Freshen up Your Home’s Exterior

First impressions do count and the outside of your home is the first thing that a person will see before even entering it. If the front yard or exterior of your home is dingy, unkept, or dirty, then that could leave a damaging impression on potential buyers before they even get a chance to take a look inside.



The simplest and most cost-effective thing you can do to improve the outside look of your home is to wash your exterior walls and windows in order to remove the built-up dirt and debris. Next, make sure that your front yard is tidy and rubbish-free. Trim existing bushes or trees, and consider planting seasonal flowers to add a splash of colour and charm.

3. Add a Fresh Coat of Paint to the Interior

A fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your home. Especially if it’s been a while, old paint can lose its vibrancy and may even look out-dated if it’s a colour that’s not trending.

When choosing paint colours before selling your home it’s generally best to stick with white or neutral colours. There are two reasons for this: 1) because white reflects light and will make your rooms look brighter and 2) white or neutral colours are the least likely colours to offend a buyer’s sense of taste. For example, if a buyer enters a room that’s walls are painted mustard, and they hate the colour yellow, then their impression of the room will be ruined and it will be hard for them to envision the space in a positive way.

By following these three essential tips, your home will look great in the listing photos and attract more buyers. You’ll also increase the value of your home by being able to add more features in the listing.


Share This Tip With Your Friends!

About the author

Handyman tips logo

The Handyman Tips Team is a group of authors that provides tips on the Handyman Tips website. The Handyman Tips team consists of real handymen, contractors, carpenters, woodworkers, and experts in home repairs, appliance repairs, and landscaping. The team is always there for visitors to the Handyman Tips website. If you can’t find the answer to your question on the Handyman Tips website, one of them will reply to you almost immediately if you contact them through the Ask the Handyman page!

Leave A Comment