Seller Resources

Make These Home Improvements Before You Sell

Want to Sell Quickly and for Top Dollar?

Getting ready to sell your Minneapolis home soon? While you may think spending thousands of dollars on upgrades is the best way to increase your home's value, that's not always the case. In fact, even making the smallest improvements can have a major impact on your final sale price.

Increasing your home's value means impressing buyers, and to do that, you'll need your property to look more like a model home than your current residence. A winning combination of curb appeal, home staging, and decluttering can take your space to the next level—and it's actually easier than you might think. Here are a few home improvements that will pay off the most when you sell.

7 Home Ways to Boost Your Home's Value

Ready for a successful sale? Here are some of the top upgrades you should add to your home before you list.

Focus on Curb Appeal

Even though most buyers search for listings online, many still drive by homes that are on the market to see them in person before scheduling a tour. You want your home to look its best in-person and on a screen, so make sure you don't overlook landscaping or curb appeal.

Not sure where to start? Consider putting down fresh mulch or sod, adding a pot of flowers to your entryway, and edging the grass if you have a large yard. Don't forget to sweep your walkways, repair any cracks, and make sure your paint and siding are looking fantastic.

Change Out Your Fixtures

If you have outdated cabinet pulls or mismatching finishes on your light switches, light fixtures, or bathroom faucets, it could be time to upgrade your hardware. This small home improvement will bring your home into the new decade—and it doesn't cost much at all.

Matte black, brushed nickel, and brass are all popular yet neutral finishes that will impress even the most discerning buyers. When in doubt, just make sure that everything matches and is free of damage!

Repaint in Neutral Tones

You might love your brightly colored accent wall...but a buyer might not. In order to attract more attention to your listing and make it appealing to a wide variety of buyers, consider repainting in neutral colors like beige, grey, or white. These tones go with everything, and they can also make your home appear larger.

Even if your walls are already painted in more subdued tones, there's nothing wrong with adding a fresh coat of paint if you notice any stains, scuffs, or damage.

Replace or Deep Clean Your Carpets

If you have carpeting in your home, make sure that it looks like new. Your flooring can make or break a sale, and the last thing that buyers want to see is old and stained carpet. If your carpeting is extremely worn, it might be worth replacing it entirely.

Steaming your carpet is the easiest way to remove any stubborn stains, and you can even do it yourself. However, there are also carpet cleaning companies that will do all the hard work for you!

Depersonalize Your Living Space

Remember, buyers need to be able to picture themselves living in your home. It's best to put any personal photos, heirlooms, and pet toys out of sight.

Buyers will be looking in every square inch of your home (especially your closets!), so it might be best to rent a storage unit or put any larger pieces up in your attic until you move. If you have any staging questions, just reach out to your agent for more advice—they'd be happy to help you out.

Replace Damaged Siding

If your home has siding that has been damaged in a storm or looks worn, replace it before you decide to sell. Brand new siding will freshen up the entire exterior of your home, making it look like new.

This might also be a great time to powerwash your siding if you haven't already! Getting rid of any built up grime can take decades off of your home's appearance.

Keep Up with What's Selling

Take a look at some recently sold homes in your neighborhood. What features do they all tend to have? If top-of-the-line appliances, quartz countertops, and custom cabinets are the norm, you may want to make those more expensive upgrades to get a better price for your home. However, if you notice more outdated fixtures and features, you might want to hold off on major changes.

If you need a little guidance, our neighborhood sold reports are a good place to start. There's no better way to find out exactly what homes have been selling for in your Minneapolis community.

Take Your Next Steps!

Ready to see how much your home is worth? Jumpstart the home selling process with our complimentary home valuation, and give us a call when you're ready to list. We'd be happy to answer any questions you might have, give you some staging tips, or just offer our real estate expertise.