Powerful Tips: Top 5 Ways to REALLY Increase Home Value

      ROI-first upgrades that appraisers and buyers notice.

When demand cools, smart, targeted updates—not gut renovations—help you sell faster and for more.

Five high-impact, budget-sensible projects that make listings shine in slower markets, plus practical tips to avoid over-spending.

5 Home Improvements to Consider Before Selling in a Softening Market

By Ryan Rendon · Updated · Category: Selling Tips

Key takeaways:
  • Floors first: Cohesive, clean hard surfaces set the tone at the door.
  • Kitchen mini-makeover: Hardware, lighting, paint, and efficient appliances beat full renos.
  • Primary bath polish: Modern fixtures and storage add spa-like appeal.
  • Fresh paint: Neutral colors make rooms feel newer, bigger, and well kept.
  • Curb appeal: Landscaping and an inviting entry drive showings and offers.

Table of contents

  1. 1) Refresh Your Flooring
  2. 2) Make Minor Kitchen Improvements
  3. 3) Upgrade the Primary Bathroom
  4. 4) Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint
  5. 5) Boost Curb Appeal
  6. Final Tips
  7. FAQs

1) Refresh Your Flooring

Why it matters: Buyers judge a home the second they step inside. Tired carpet or mismatched surfaces undercut value.

Prioritize high-traffic areas with continuous hard surfaces (natural wood, quality LVP, or laminate). If full replacement isn’t feasible, schedule professional carpet cleaning and odor removal. Aim for a cohesive look across main living spaces.

Pro tip: Use transition strips sparingly—continuous runs photograph better and feel larger.

2) Make Minor Kitchen Improvements

Why it matters: Kitchens sell houses, but full remodels rarely pencil in softer markets.

  • Swap dated hardware and add a tasteful backsplash.
  • Paint or refinish cabinet fronts for a clean, modern look.
  • Update lighting (warm, bright task + dimmable ambient).
  • Replace tired appliances with mid-tier, energy-efficient models.
Pro tip: Keep finishes neutral and consistent with the rest of the home to avoid “one nice room” syndrome.

3) Upgrade the Primary Bathroom

Why it matters: A fresh, functional primary bath signals care and comfort.

  • Install modern fixtures (rain/handheld combo, widespread faucets).
  • Add a dual-sink vanity and smarter storage.
  • Consider frameless glass or a freestanding tub if the layout allows.

Stay light, bright, and neutral; use mirrors and glass to visually expand the space.

4) Apply a Fresh Coat of Paint

Why it matters: Paint delivers top ROI, covers wear, and unifies spaces.

Choose a soft, warm-neutral palette for main areas and trim. Prioritize entries, living rooms, kitchens, and halls. Avoid bold accent walls that can narrow your buyer pool. Disclose any known defects even if painted over.

5) Boost Curb Appeal

Why it matters: Online thumbnails and drive-bys start outside.

  • Edge and mulch beds; prune shrubs; refresh lawn or xeriscape where appropriate.
  • Clean/repair gutters, walkways, and driveway.
  • Repaint or replace the front door; add tasteful pots/lighting.
Pro tip: Schedule photos right after landscaping and exterior cleaning for maximum pop.

Final Tips

In a softening market, chase market fit, not perfection. Keep projects scoped to buyer expectations for your price band, and avoid over-customizing. When in doubt, prioritize cleanliness, light, function, and cohesion—and price to the moment.

Sources

  • Regional MLS photo performance insights and DOM patterns (verify current).
  • Manufacturer specs for energy-efficient appliances and lighting (ENERGY STAR®).
  • Paint manufacturer LRV guides for neutral interior palettes.

FAQs

Which project should I do first on a tight budget?

Paint and flooring typically move the needle most for the least cost, especially in main living areas.

Is a full kitchen remodel worth it before selling?

Usually no in softer markets; targeted updates (hardware, paint, lighting, backsplash) are safer and faster.

How do I pick paint colors that appeal to buyers?

Warm neutrals with high LRV read brighter in photos and pair well with most finishes and furnishings.

Getting ready to list?

I’ll help you choose the right projects for your price band and timeline—so you don’t overspend.

Talk with Ryan
Transcript
If you're thinking about selling your home in this declining 2023 real estate market, there are five improvements you should think about making prior to putting your home on the market. What's going on, guys? Brian Wren in here is your favorite real estate agent right here in the heart of the Texas Hill Country. In today's video, we're discussing five improvements you should consider making. If you are thinking about putting your home on the market this year, if you haven't done so already, make sure you like this video, but also subscribe to the channel and hit that little bell. So you can get notified anytime. I push out videos just like this one. Now, before we get started on this list, I do want to make one thing clear. This list is based on the things you can do to improve your home, to sell it for top dollar, but also for a short amount of time. One thing you do want to be careful for in markets like this declining market, shifting market is putting too much work into the property, spending too much money, because in declining markets like this, you may not get that money back. Not every renovation and project is going to add value to your home. So what you want to do is focus on this current trends and functionality to help increase value for your home. Okay, so this brings us to number five on the list which is interior flooring. So this will be one of the first things that a buyer will notice when they look at your home. When they're stepping through that threshold of the front door, they're typically looking down to see where they're stepping. And they're immediately going to notice the condition of your floors and what type of floors that you have. And from my experience, one things I've noticed that buyers will immediately be turned off on is mess. These scuffed up, worn down floors so. And if they smell bad. So if anything, what you want to do is make sure that you at least clean those floors, if not professionally clean them. And according to what we know, boise.com buyers want hard surface flooring where it makes sense, like in high traffic areas. Look to update to natural wood or manufacturer plank vinyl or laminate. On top of continuing the light, new home refresh hard surfaces are worth the investment. Replacing old carpet with new laminate will more than pay for itself. And if you don't have the money to do this, like I said with the old carpet, one thing you can do, like I just mentioned, is having a professional carpet cleaning company come in professionally and clean it and get out all those stains if possible. And this brings us to number four, which is minor kitchen improvements. So it is no secret that the kitchen is is often considered the heart of the home, and is a one of the most important rooms to potential buyers. It's also a space where people spend a lot of time, and they want it to both be functional and esthetically pleasing by making minor improvements to your kitchen. You can make it more appealing to potential buyers and increase its perceived value. Some examples of minor kitchen improvements include replacing outdated appliances, installing new cabinet hardware, adding a fresh coat of paint, new backsplash and updating lighting fixtures. And these improvements do not necessarily have to be expensive, but they can give a big impact on the overall feel and impression of the kitchen. So in my opinion, by making the kitchen the heart of the home more functional and more appealing, you're going to be able to sell the house faster and also for a higher price than you would otherwise. Number three on the list is bathroom upgrades, especially the primary bathroom. According to home light.com, buyers are looking for bathrooms that feel like a spa experience, features that will make a bathroom pop in 2023 include. Rain shower heads, gotta love them double sink vanities, extra storage, soaking tubs, and anything else that contributes to a spa like experience at home. According to this survey done by Home Light, the bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the home, so a lot of these potential buyers are looking for functionality and something that's up to date to these times that meets their needs. So by making some of these simple upgrades, you're going to create a more attractive and appealing bathroom, ultimately contributing to the overall value of the home. But at this point, I do want to make this point once again. You have to be very careful in markets like this. I have shifted more into this buyer market because if you put too much money into the house, you ultimately may see yourself in trouble and not get that money back. Having a spacious bathroom adds to the luxurious experience. In a bathroom. Buyers are wanting more spacious bathrooms than they have had before. Look for ways to create the illusion of more space by adding mirrors or reworking the floor plan. If you have more funds for a renovation, consider adding more square footage to the bathroom, but be careful of that can be extremely costly. Okay guys, I want to hear from you. What have you thought of these upgrades you could do to your house before selling? I want to hear from you. Let me know down in the comments below. This brings us to number two in the list, which is a fresh paint job. Okay, so painting your house before putting on a market can increase the value for a few different reasons. Number one, it helps improve the appearance. A fresh coat of paint can make a house look cleaner and more appealing to potential buyers. It will maintain and visually appealing house is likely to attract more offers and higher bids. Number two, it can help increase the perceived value by painting your house. You can make it look more valuable than it actually is. This is because a new paint job can make a house look newer and better maintain, which can lead buyers to believe that it's worth more. And the third reason is addressing the wear and tear from over the years. Paint your House can help address any signs of wear and tear, such as scuff marks, chips, or cracks in the walls. This can give the impression that the house is well cared for, and reduce any concerns that buyers may have about potential maintenance cost. But I also do want to make this statement. If you know of any defects of your home, you absolutely want to disclose those on the seller's disclosure form. Failing to do so can really get you in trouble. But overall, pin your house can be a very cost effective way to help increase your home's value. However, you definitely want to make sure to pick a neutral color, not something that's really trendy and bright, because that could potentially steer a lot of buyers off. Okay, so this brings us to number one on the list. And in my opinion, the most important provement you can make to your home. And that is landscaping and curb appeal. So it is my professional opinion again, that this is one of the most important aspects to preparing your house for the market, because it is the first thing that buyers will see once they pull up your home. It's the first impression I and deconstruction accommodates. The very first thing that every buyer will notice is the condition of the property's exterior. Therefore, it is very important to make sure that your property looks perfect both inside and outside. Any property with a nasty, broken, or bad appearance will not attract buyers easily and will definitely not get good resale value. If you're looking to give an instant hike in your property value and do not want to spend a lot of money, then putting a fresh coat of paint is a wise option to go with some other ways to increase your home's curb appeal are to keeping the lawn well manicured and free from clutter, adding colorful plants and flowers to the landscaping, cleaning or replacing the roof and gutters, repairing or painting the driveway and walkway, and upgrading the front porch or entryway. By investing in these upgrades is going to increase your chances of selling your home quickly, but also for top dollar. So putting in the effort to make these upgrades to the curb appeal or the other four items we discussed today may well be worth it if you have found value. Anything we have discussed today, make sure you like this video, but also subscribe to the channel and hit that little bell so you can get notified anytime I put out videos just like this one. If you're thinking about moving to the Texas Hill Country, make sure you watch my next video, which is the top five Hill Country towns to move to in 2023. We'll see you in the next video. My.