Week 5: Enhance your home with upgrades and curb appeal
Once your home is clean and any necessary repairs are taken care of, it’s time to focus on the finishing touches that can make it more appealing to buyers. However, if you’re working with a limited timeline, you’ll want to prioritize projects that make the biggest impact since not every upgrade will give you a good return on your investment.
Your agent can advise what renovations are most effective in your local market, but here are some updates that tend to offer a strong return on investment across the country:
Landscaping
According to Angi, the average cost of professional landscaping is $3,600. The exact price depends on the yard size, materials and labor, type of landscaping, and project complexity. A well-kept, attractive yard can boost curb appeal and offer an average ROI of up to 200% or higher.
Garage door replacement
The garage door is another big part of curb appeal and can serve as an understated but effective eye-catcher for buyers. According to the 2025 Cost vs. Value Report, homeowners can get back 268% of their investment when replacing a garage door. If you don’t want to pay to replace your garage door, consider cleaning, repairing, and applying a fresh coat of paint to your existing garage door.
Front door replacement
Your front door is your buyer’s first chance to interact with your home up close and personal. If it’s rundown or the lock jams, they might question how well you’ve taken care of the rest of the property. Replacing the front door costs $2,435 but can recoup 216% of that investment.
New house numbers
Sometimes small details can have a big impact. You probably don’t think about your home numbers all that much, but a set of modern, clean home numbers is an affordable way to make a statement.
Neutral paint
According to HomeLight, a fresh coat of paint can add $12,130 to the value of a typical median-priced home. When painting your home, choose a neutral tone to appeal to the largest pool of buyers.
Attic insulation
The biggest electricity consumers in a home are heating and cooling systems. You can improve your home’s energy efficiency and attract buyers by insulating your attic for $1 to $3 per square foot.
