There are about a million online suggestions and hacks to help you boost your home’s value when you’re getting it ready for the market. But what if you don’t have time to do all the research or jump through frustrating hoops to get the most out of your home?
Well, this is a conversation we have with homeowners all the time. And the good news is that you don’t need a full remodel, a huge budget, or personal contracting experience to really push the needle. A handful of simple, smart updates can increase your home’s appeal, help it sell faster, and make it a lot nicer to live in until that day comes.
Let me walk you through the five moves I recommend most often when friends ask me, “What should I do first?”
1. Start With a Fresh Coat of Paint
If you’re only going to do one thing on this list to increase your home’s value, grab a paint brush.
You’d be shocked how impactful a fresh coat of paint is. A few hours of work makes a room feel cleaner, brighter, and better cared for. And that goes double for your whole house. Buyers may not realize the paint is new, but they’ll notice the difference the second they walk in. And as much as I love choosing custom colors for my living spaces, I usually suggest light, neutral colors when you’re getting those walls ready to sell. Think soft whites, light greige, or gentle beige. They make the most of a room’s light, make a space feel larger, and work with almost any style of furniture… really letting the buyer imagine their own furniture in there.
Fresh paint also does wonders for trim, doors, and scuffed-up baseboards. When those are dingy, everything looks tired. But crisp and clean trim gives everything a new-house feel.
And don’t worry. You don’t have to paint every room at once. Start with the main living areas and hallway. The spaces people see first… and remember most.
Because first impressions inside matter just as much as the outside.
2. Tune Up That Curb Appeal
But what about that curb appeal? (Or “street appeal,” as some of my clients like to say.) It’s simply one of the fastest ways to boost home value, just because everyone judges the house from the street before they even take a step inside.
Here’s our go-to curb appeal checklist:
-
Lawn and garden. Mow the lawn, trim bushes away from windows, and edge the paths. Fill bare spots in the grass. Add a few flower beds or pots near the entry—nothing fancy, just healthy and tidy.
-
Clean surfaces. Pressure-wash the driveway, front walk, porch, and siding if needed. Years of dirt can make a house look older than it is.
-
Entry details. A freshly painted front door, updated house numbers, and a modern mailbox or door hardware go a long way. Small details, big effect.
-
Outdoor lighting. Add solar or low-voltage lights along the walkway and near the front door. It makes your home feel warm, safe, and welcoming at night.
A good friend and colleague of mine always says, “Buyers fall in love in the first 30 seconds—from the curb to the front door.” And while curb appeal isn’t all that matters, that initial impression is seriously important. Make those 30 seconds count.
3. Kitchen & Bathroom Touchups: Small Spaces, Big Impact
Here’s something a lot of folks don’t realize. Kitchens and bathrooms sell houses. But that doesn’t mean you need a full gut renovation to increase your home’s value. In most homes, simple updates to these two spaces give homeowners the best bang for their buck.
In the kitchen, I usually suggest:
-
Swapping old cabinet hardware for modern handles and pulls
-
Painting dated cabinets instead of replacing them
-
Updating one or two light fixtures to something simple and current
-
Clearing clutter off the counters so the space looks bigger and more functional
In the bathroom, focus on:
-
New faucets, showerheads, and towel bars
-
A fresh, framed mirror instead of a builder-grade sheet of glass
-
Regrouting or resealing around the tub, shower, and sink
-
Light, neutral paint to brighten up small bathrooms
These small changes help your kitchen and bath look newer and better cared for, which directly boosts your home’s value in buyers’ minds. They don’t see “old house with projects.” They see “move‑in ready.”
4. Outdoor Living Space: Bring Your Home’s Feel Outside
One of the easiest ways to add value quickly is to treat your backyard or side yard as an extension of your living room. Luxury-quality outdoor living spaces are in high demand. It makes the exterior of your home an extension of your home’s comfort and style. People want a place to relax, cook, and entertain outside.
For your updated outdoor space, you don’t need a huge yard or a big budget. Just start simple:
-
Define a “room” outdoors. Lay down a weather-resistant rug, add a couple of chairs and a small table, or set up a basic dining set on a patio or deck.
-
Add soft lighting. String lights, lanterns, or solar path lights make the space feel cozy at night. They’re also a subtle way to boost your overall curb appeal and home value.
-
Include a focal point. A fire pit, a large planter, or even a simple bench against a fence can anchor the space and make it feel intentional.
-
Connect it to the house. Make sure the path from the back door to the seating area is clean, safe, and welcoming. A few stepping stones or a simple gravel path does the trick.
When buyers stand in a well-set-up outdoor living space, they start to picture summer evenings, barbecues, and quiet mornings with coffee. That emotional picture is powerful. And yes, it translates into real value.
5. Fix the Small Stuff & Increase Energy Efficiency
My last (but always relevant) home-boosting tip may not be glamorous, but it ALWAYS makes a difference to buyers. Yep, I’m talking about basic maintenance and energy efficiency. You wouldn’t want to buy a car with squeaky wheels… it’s the same for a home. Those little things add up quickly as a buyer walks through the home.
First, take on these little repairs:
-
Squeaky hinges, loose doorknobs, and sticky locks
-
Cracks in drywall, chipped caulk around tubs and sinks
-
Burned‑out bulbs, missing switch plates, rattling vents
Individually, these all feel minor. Together, they tell the buyer, “This home hasn’t been maintained.” But when you fix them, the opposite becomes true. The house feels solid and cared for.
Then layer in some simple energy‑efficient upgrades:
-
Replace old bulbs with warm LED bulbs throughout the home
-
Seal drafts around windows and doors with weatherstripping or caulk
-
Add heavier curtains or blinds in key rooms to help keep heat or cool in
-
Consider a smart thermostat if your budget allows
Lower utility bills are a selling point, and buyers pay attention when a home feels warm in winter and cool in summer without obvious drafts. They may not see the caulk, but they feel the comfort… and that matters.
Boosting your home value isn’t an all-or-nothing effort. Start with just two or three of these five moves. Fresh paint, better curb appeal, kitchen and bath touch‑ups, an inviting outdoor living space, and basic repairs plus energy‑efficient tweaks… it all makes a real difference. Not just in how buyers react, but in how you feel in your own home.
And that’s the sweet spot: boosting your home’s value quickly while actually enjoying the place in the meantime.
