Engel & Völkers advisors share their top five home improvements that add real value — without draining your wallet. Discover how strategic updates in curb appeal, cleaning, painting, and more can help you sell faster and for a higher price.

Want to sell your home faster and for more money — without breaking the bank? Strategic, cost-effective upgrades can make all the difference.

According to affiliated real estate advisors from across Engel & Völkers Americas, the smartest pre-sale home improvements aren’t full-scale renovations. They’re focused, high-ROI projects that increase a property’s appeal while keeping your bottom line in check.

We spoke with three real estate professionals in the Engel & Völkers Americas network — Dan DiStefano, advisor, Engel & Völkers Boston; Dawn Hadley, advisor, Engel & Völkers South Shore; and Inna Muravin, license partner, Engel & Völkers Cleveland — who shared the five pre-sale home improvements that yield the best results in their markets. 

1. Curb Appeal/Landscaping

Curb appeal is particularly important in the spring and summer months, explained Muravin, whose expansive market includes eight suburban Cleveland counties in northeast Ohio. “Simple things like power washing, weeding, mulching, cutting the grass, and removing cobwebs and green algae can significantly enhance a home's appeal,” she said. “These basic improvements can make a house feel ‘move-in’ ready."

Grounds should be well-maintained, with professionally landscaped shrubbery and foundational plantings, said Hadley, whose market is a handful of towns approximately 30 miles south of Boston. Her general rule? “If it’s overgrown, remove it, and mulch needs to be fresh,” she said.

Unlike Muravin and Hadley, who primarily handle single-family homes, DiStefano’s market is overwhelmingly condominiums in several of Boston’s best-known neighborhoods: the Back Bay, South End, South Boston, Dorchester, and the North End. When it comes to outdoor space, DiStefano suggests his home sellers redo grout as needed on concrete surfaces and replace flooring on decks or patios as needed.

“Little things can make all the difference,” he said. “A lot of first-time condo buyers can see that home improvements add up really quickly. Many of them don’t want to have to do a lot of work.” 

2. Painting

Muravin advises her clients “to focus on ensuring trim is in good condition and walls are clean and free of damage. Bold wall colors might be acceptable if they’re well-maintained, but I generally recommend neutral colors to appeal to a wider range of homebuyers.”

Hadley offers clients this painting advice: “If you can’t afford to paint your entire house, at least paint the front door if it’s not already in good condition. And consider pressure washing the exterior.”

DiStefano also advises his clients to use neutral colors (“Stay away from yellows and reds”), particularly in rooms that people spend the most time in: kitchens, living rooms, and primary bedrooms. 

3. Professional Cleaning

In Muravin's market, professional cleaning often yields a better return than, say, a bathroom remodel. “Professionally cleaned homes stand out in my market,” she said. “A deep cleaning includes attention to trim, baseboards, windows, light switches, doors, and overall cleanliness to create a positive first impression.”

Hadley said she routinely asks home sellers how much they have to invest in the sale of their home before she markets it. “If they say, ‘We have $3,000,’ then we’ll get your yard cleaned up and the interior professionally cleaned from top to bottom, attic to basement, including carpeting and floors.

“If they have $20,000,” she added, “I’ll say let’s look at replacing your water heater if it’s older than eight years, having your roof redone if it’s older than 15 years, any other major mechanical or structural things like decks, chimneys, garage doors, moisture or mold issues. The unsexy things. If we can show that the home’s been well-maintained, we’re going to get a better price for it.”

4. Staging and Decluttering Interior Spaces

Muravin said she guides home sellers to rearrange their existing furniture to showcase their homes effectively.

“Full professional staging with furniture rental exists in my market,” she explained, “but the cost, potentially $3,000 to $8,000, is often a deterrent with historically lower average home prices here. I focus on low-cost guidance to maximize profits for my clients, and decluttering can create a fresh look.”

Added Hadley, “Drawers and closets need to be emptied to a degree because interested home buyers will be opening them up. You need to show that there’s space here for other people to move in and not have your home overflowing and stuffed. It needs to be inviting.”

5. Kitchen/Bathroom “Refreshes”

In Muravin’s market, which she described as “conservative,” a kitchen refresh is the most impactful, cost-effective home improvement for home sellers. “It typically involves painting cabinetry and potentially updating countertops to granite or quartz,” she said.

Hadley said she suggests an easy, low-cost improvement to her clients: upgrading knobs on kitchen and bathroom cabinets.

For his part, DiStefano advises clients that upgrading sconces, a ceiling fan, and bathroom vanity lights could cost $1,000. “What I like to tell my clients,” he said, “is you don’t have to spend $50,000 to $100,000 on a kitchen and bathroom remodel to sell your property for top dollar.” 

The key takeaways from these Engel & Völkers Americas real estate professionals? When preparing to sell your home, resist the temptation to go all-in on renovations. The key is to invest wisely. Focus on updates that appeal to a wide range of buyers and offer the best return on your investment.Prioritizing the home improvements described by these Engel & Völkers Americas real estate professionals will help attract serious home buyers, increase your home or condo's value, and likely increase its sale price.