Sellers ask me all the time what they should fix before listing. Here’s the honest list.
Worth it, almost always
- Fresh, neutral paint
- Deep clean and decluttering. Buyers can’t see past your stuff
- Fixing anything an inspector will flag: leaks, outlets, railings
- Good light: bulbs, open blinds, professional photos
Usually not worth it
- A full kitchen or bath remodel right before listing
- Swapping out functional appliances for fancier ones
- Projects you won’t finish before the photos
The biggest factor of all
Price. A well-prepped home that’s overpriced still sits. In Bloomfield recently, we priced my sellers’ home based on the real comps, launched it clean, and it sold for $11,000 over the list price. No renovation required.
Curious what your home would sell for? Get a real valuation, not an algorithm’s guess.