20 Home Improvement Projects to Tackle Before Listing Your Home

First impressions are everything. In the months leading up to listing your home for sale, put in a little sweat equity to create killer curb appeal. Prune the bushes, power wash the driveway and never underestimate the impact of a fresh coat of paint on the shutters, siding or doors. Replace your old mailbox and house numbers or give them a facelift with spray paint.

Honesty hour: How long has it been since you washed your windows inside and out? There’s no wrong answer here and zero judgment, but if you plan to list your house, power washing your windows may make all the difference. Replacing windows is a financial investment that many homeowners and potential buyers want to avoid, if possible. With that said, if your windows lack condensation or any signs of damage, a weekend power wash will leave the glass panes gleaming, instantly energizing your home’s façade and appealing to buyers.

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it 100 times: Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. With that said, the more updated these spaces are, the more you stand to profit from your home sale. The good news? You can transform your kitchen without knocking down walls or draining your bank account. Paint your existing cupboards for a crisp, clean finish. Or, take it a step further and reface them with new cabinet doors and fresh hardware for a contemporary, updated appeal that buyers are looking for.

Interior design trends come and go, and nothing will date your kitchen or bathroom like the “it” backsplash of 2013. Up the appeal in your kitchen by replacing the once-popular glossy hexagons with a classic, enduring subway tile. The timeless backsplash comes in all price points and materials and is easy to install with our step-by-step guide in the link below.

While it’s easy to overlook your garage as you prepare your house, giving it some TLC will only add to your home’s appeal on the market. Take stock of your garage and consider what improvements would make it an attraction for buyers. Some projects to consider before listing are epoxying the floors, installing built-in storage, creating a drop-zone by the door or splurging on new garage doors to up the curb appeal (and insulation!) for your home.

Let’s face it, the last thing a new homeowner wants to do is spend their weekend working on the run-down fence. Our advice? Pretty up your home’s perimeter prior to putting it on the market. Revive your fence with a few coats of paint or a fresh stain to match your deck and lend your outdoor space a polished, finished look.

Give prospective buyers something to look forward to in the primary ensuite. Upgrade your trusty (read: old) showerhead with an eye-catching contemporary option in a classic black, polished nickel, chrome or brass finish. And yes, bonus points are up for grabs if said showerhead features spa-worthy massage settings.

There are few (design) ailments that a fresh coat of paint cannot cure, and your exterior is no exception. If your home looks a bit lackluster, drab or dated from the driveway, pull out your pails and brushes and breathe new life into your exterior with a much-needed paint job. While painting your home’s exterior is not a quick afternoon project, it works wonders for reinstating original charm or lending your home an updated look to appeal to contemporary buyers.

Safety, security and energy efficiency are major selling points for all homebuyers. Install an integrated security system on doors and windows and update your thermostat to appeal to buyers and modernize your home.

Sell buyers the dream of what their long, sunny summer afternoons could look like by creating a welcoming outdoor space. Whether you create an alfresco dining space on your patio, build a fire pit in the backyard or outfit your deck with chic lounge furniture, maximizing your outdoor space will open buyers’ eyes to the possibilities your house offers and may just entice them to make an offer.

Sometimes the smallest changes make the largest impact on a design. Case in point? Light switches. Replace your old, yellowed wall switches with contemporary, dimmable options as seen here. Choose a crisp white backplate that disappears into your airy walls or up the ante with a brass, nickel or matte black backplate to complement the light fixtures in the space.

Preparing a home for the market is all about appealing to the masses. You may be obsessed with that bold statement wall in your master bedroom, but ruby red isn’t for everyone. Use a soft, neutral hue to give the people what they want: a blank slate. Soft shades of white, beige and gray are popular picks because they appear fresh and clean. Bonus: Light, neutral paint colors create the illusion of a larger space.

Light fixtures are the jewelry of the home, so make sure yours are prepared to dazzle prospective buyers. Toss the dated flush mounts and bid adieu to the glossy brass chandelier from 1987. Replace them with pretty, Pinterest-worthy pendants like the ones pictured in this cozy kitchen.

No one wants to come home to a pet-stained carpet or dingy floor, so replace any worn-out or dated flooring throughout your home. A dark-stained hardwood will always be a beautiful choice, but there are also many budget-friendly laminate options and carpets that will make a huge impact. Prioritize high-traffic entertaining spaces such as the living room or kitchen when allotting your flooring budget.

If you haven’t already removed that unsightly popcorn ceiling, make it a priority before putting your home on the market. We know nobody wants to spend their Saturday afternoon scraping the ceiling, but the removal process is relatively simple, and it's so worth it. So roll up your sleeves and remove it yourself so that there’s one less “daunting project” that could deter potential buyers from making an offer.

Give your closet a new look by installing a custom storage system. Showy built-in shelves give this walk-in a wow-factor that buyers will think about long after they've left their viewing. Re-create this space by adding built-in units in your closet or by fastening a series of floating shelves along the walls.

If your bathroom tile has seen better days (like in the 1970s) put in some sweat equity and replace them with a set of crisp, white tiles. The classic subway tiles in this airy, white and gray bathroom give the space a bright and clean appearance that buyers would love to call their own.

Enhance your home by installing crown molding and baseboards throughout. This simple, subtle update yields huge impact because it adds a polished touch that gives a space a high-end look.

Give your bathrooms a facelift in one afternoon by swapping out old faucets, replacing mirrors and installing new cabinet hardware. Replacing these accents will give your bathrooms a modern boost that will turn buyers’ heads. Pro tip: Select classic finishes like nickel or brushed brass for an upgrade that will last them years.