The Home Improvement Projects Spring Sellers Should Tackle Now (And What To Skip)

Abstract

Sellers gearing up for the spring home shopping season need to roll up their sleeves now and spruce up their homes if they want to attract a shrinking pool of buyers. New research commissioned by Zillow and conducted by The Harris Poll finds a majority of recent sellers take on at least two home improvement projects to prepare their home for sale, while Thumbtack data finds they can invest about $5,400 on average when hiring a professional to complete the most common projects. The survey finds that sellers who sold their home within the past two years most commonly completed interior painting, carpet cleaning and landscaping before listing their home for sale. "These projects can instantly boost a home's online curb appeal," said Amanda Pendleton, Zillow's home trends expert. "An inviting outdoor space, clean floors and a fresh coat of paint - particularly in the right color - can deliver a powerful signal to potential buyers that a home is well-maintained and contemporary. While sellers may be reluctant to shell out for these projects up front, those improvements can ultimately pay off, either by helping a home sell faster or for more money." Nearly 3 in 4 recent sellers believe the improvement projects they completed to prepare their home for sale helped their home sell. "Thumbtack research finds a well-maintained home can sell for about 10% more than a similar home in average condition. Buyers are making life's biggest investment, and they want the peace of mind that they're investing in a home that was well cared for." When considering which projects to skip, only 11% of recent sellers thought appliance repair or replacement, and roof repair, maintenance or cleaning helped sell their home. One-quarter of sellers who made at least one home improvement before listing their home for sale say it took longer than expected.