If you're thinking about selling your home in Knoxville, one of the first questions you may have is:
“What should I do to the house before I put it on the market?”
It's a great question—and my answer isn't usually, “Start remodeling!”
After nearly 20 years in real estate, I've seen homeowners spend thousands of dollars preparing a house for sale only to discover that some of those improvements didn't increase the selling price enough to justify the expense.
The goal before listing isn't to make your home perfect.
The goal is to spend money where buyers will notice it and where it has the best chance of helping you sell faster and for more money.
And before you start writing checks to contractors, painters or flooring companies, talk to your Realtor. Sometimes the best improvement is one you don't make.
Here are five updates I commonly recommend Knoxville-area homeowners consider before listing.
1. Freshen Up the Paint
Few improvements can transform a house as quickly—or relatively inexpensively—as fresh paint.
Scuffed walls, bold colors and years of everyday wear can make a home feel more dated than it really is.
A fresh coat of neutral paint can immediately make rooms feel:
- Cleaner
- Brighter
- Larger
- More updated
- Move-in ready
When you're selling, you're no longer decorating for yourself. You're trying to appeal to the largest possible group of buyers.
That doesn't mean everything needs to be stark white. Warm whites, soft greiges and other light neutrals can create a clean backdrop that allows buyers to imagine their furniture and belongings in the home.
My tip: Don't automatically paint the entire house. Sometimes touching up the main living areas, entryway and most noticeable rooms is enough.
2. Improve Your Curb Appeal
I tell sellers this all the time:
The buyer starts forming an opinion before they ever walk through the front door.
And in East Tennessee, where we have beautiful trees, mature landscaping and plenty of vegetation, landscaping can get away from us quickly!
You don't necessarily need to spend thousands on professional landscaping.
Start with the basics.
Trim overgrown bushes. Remove dead plants and limbs. Pull weeds. Add fresh mulch. Pressure wash dirty concrete. Clean the gutters. Wash the exterior if needed. Make sure the porch looks inviting.
And don't forget the front door.
A freshly painted or cleaned front door, updated porch light and a simple new welcome mat can completely change a buyer's first impression.
You want buyers pulling into the driveway and thinking:
“This house has been taken care of.”
That's exactly the feeling we want before they walk inside.
3. Refresh the Kitchen—Don't Necessarily Remodel It
You've probably heard that kitchens sell homes.
They certainly matter.
But that does not mean you should spend $50,000 remodeling your kitchen three months before putting your home on the market.
In many cases, I'd rather see a seller make a few strategic updates.
Consider things like:
- Replacing dated cabinet hardware
- Updating an old faucet
- Replacing dated light fixtures
- Changing old pendant lights
- Repairing damaged cabinets
- Updating an obviously dated backsplash
- Decluttering countertops
Sometimes simply removing everything from the counters except a few attractive pieces makes a kitchen look considerably larger in listing photos.
Painting cabinets can also make a dramatic difference, but this is one I'd discuss before doing it. Depending on your home's price point, neighborhood and current finishes, it may or may not be worth the expense.
4. Give the Bathrooms a Mini Makeover
Bathrooms are another area where buyers pay close attention.
But again, we're talking about a refresh—not necessarily a renovation.
You may be amazed at what a few hundred dollars and a little elbow grease can accomplish.
Fresh caulk around tubs and showers can make an enormous difference. Replace stained or damaged grout where necessary. Update an old mirror or light fixture. Replace a dated faucet. Repair a dripping fixture.
Then clean, clean, clean.
For showings and professional photography, remove personal products from the countertops and shower. Add fresh towels and keep the space simple.
You want the bathroom to feel clean, bright and well maintained.
Buyers don't need it to look like a luxury hotel.
They just don't want to immediately start calculating how much money they'll have to spend after closing.
5. Address Your Flooring
Flooring is one of the largest visual surfaces in your home, so buyers notice it immediately.
If your carpet is dirty but otherwise in good condition, professional cleaning may be all you need.
If it's badly stained, damaged or extremely worn, replacement may make sense.
Hardwood floors may benefit from refinishing—but don't automatically assume they need it.
And if you're considering replacing flooring throughout the house with LVP or another product specifically for the sale, talk to your Realtor before making that investment.
Depending on your price range and neighborhood, buyers may prefer the opportunity to choose their own flooring.
Sometimes offering a flooring allowance or simply pricing the home appropriately makes more financial sense than spending thousands before listing.
BONUS: Don't Forget the Little Repairs
This may actually be more important than some cosmetic improvements.
That loose doorknob you've ignored for two years?
The dripping faucet?
The door that won't close properly?
The missing outlet cover?
The light bulb that's been burned out forever?
You've lived with those things so long that you probably don't even notice them anymore.
Buyers do.
One little repair isn't usually a problem. But when buyers see five, ten or fifteen little maintenance items, they may start wondering:
“What else hasn't been maintained?”
That's when small problems can create a much bigger perception problem.
Before You Spend $10,000 Preparing Your Home—Call Me
This is probably the most important advice I can give you.
Please don't assume you need to renovate your house before calling a Realtor.
I'd much rather walk through your home before you start spending money.
We can make three lists:
DO THIS: Improvements likely to help your sale.
MAYBE: Improvements we'll consider based on cost and potential return.
DON'T BOTHER: Things buyers probably won't pay you enough extra for to justify the expense.
Sometimes I'll recommend painting.
Sometimes I'll recommend new carpet.
Sometimes I'll walk into a house and tell the seller:
“Don't spend another dime.”
Every house is different.
And every Knoxville-area neighborhood and price range is different.
What makes financial sense for a $350,000 home in one area may be completely different from what I'd recommend for a $900,000 home in Farragut or a retirement property in Tellico Village.
The Bottom Line: Prepare Strategically, Not Emotionally
When you're getting ready to sell, it's easy to start looking around your house and seeing everything you could change.
But we're not preparing the house for you to live there another ten years.
We're preparing it for the market.
The best pre-listing improvements usually aren't the biggest or most expensive. They're the ones that remove buyer objections, improve first impressions and help your home compete with the other properties buyers are considering.
If you're thinking about selling your home in the Knoxville area—even if you're six months or a year away—I'd be happy to walk through it with you.
Let's figure out what you should do, what you shouldn't do and where your money will have the biggest impact before you put that For Sale sign in the yard.
Angie Cody | LPT Realty
My Expertise, Your Profit.
Serving Knoxville and surrounding East Tennessee communities, including Farragut, Hardin Valley, Maryville, Oak Ridge, Lenoir City, Loudon, Tellico Village and surrounding areas.
