How to Make Your Home Worth More Before You Sell

Paint is the Highest-ROI Improvement You Can Make

A fresh coat of paint throughout the main living areas costs $3,000 to $6,000 for a typical detached home (hiring a professional painter) and can add $10,000 to $25,000 in perceived value. Stick with neutral tones -- warm whites, light greys, and soft greiges are what buyers respond to right now. That bold red accent wall in the living room or the dark purple bedroom? It needs to go. Buyers walk into a colourful room and immediately start calculating painting costs in their head, and they always overestimate.

Paint the trim and baseboards too if they're scuffed. Clean, bright trim makes an entire room feel newer.

Update the Kitchen (But Don't Gut It)

A full kitchen renovation can cost $40,000 to $80,000, and you'll rarely get all of that back. Instead, focus on the cosmetic updates that make the biggest visual impact. Paint or reface the cabinets (budget $3,000 to $8,000). Replace the hardware with modern pulls ($200 to $500). Install a new backsplash ($1,000 to $2,500). If the countertops are laminate, consider quartz -- it costs $3,000 to $6,000 installed and immediately elevates the look of the entire kitchen.

Don't replace appliances unless they're visibly damaged or mismatched. Most buyers are going to look at the cabinet fronts, the countertops, and the overall cleanliness -- not whether the dishwasher is 3 years old or 5.

Fix the Bathrooms Without Going Overboard

Replace dated vanities with modern floating ones ($400 to $1,200 each at Home Depot orDERA). Swap out old light fixtures for contemporary LED options ($100 to $300 each). Re-caulk the tub and shower -- old, mouldy caulking is one of the first things buyers notice and it costs $20 to fix yourself. If the tile is outdated but in good condition, leave it. Re-grouting costs $200 to $500 and can make old tile look fresh again.

Curb Appeal Sells Houses

Buyers make their first judgment before they walk through the front door. Power wash the driveway, walkways, and siding ($200 to $400 to hire someone). Add fresh mulch to the garden beds ($100 to $300). Plant seasonal flowers in pots by the front door. Paint the front door a fresh, welcoming colour. Replace the house numbers and mailbox if they're dated. These small touches might cost $500 to $1,000 total, but they set the tone for the entire showing.

In White Rock and South Surrey, where many homes compete on ocean views and outdoor living, a well-maintained yard and clean patio can be the difference between an offer and a pass. If you have a deck, sand and re-stain it -- $500 to $1,500 depending on size.

Declutter Like You Mean It

This one costs almost nothing and it's the most effective thing you can do. Remove 30% to 50% of your furniture and belongings. Rent a storage unit for $100 to $200/month. Clear off all countertops, remove family photos, and pack away anything that makes the space feel personal rather than aspirational. Buyers need to imagine their life in the home, and they can't do that when your stuff is everywhere.

I've had listings where the only change we made was aggressive decluttering and professional staging, and the home sold for $30,000 more than the comparable next door that was still full of the owner's furniture.

What NOT to Spend Money On

Swimming pools. They rarely add value in the Lower Mainland. Our swimming season is short and many buyers see a pool as a maintenance headache, not a feature. If you already have one, make sure it's clean and functional, but don't install one to sell.

High-end finishes in a mid-range neighbourhood. If your home is in a neighbourhood where the average sale price is $1 million, spending $100,000 on a gourmet kitchen won't get you to $1.1 million. You'll over-improve for the area and never recoup the cost.

Converting a bedroom into an office or gym. Buyers want bedrooms. A 4-bedroom home is worth more than a 3-bedroom home with a home gym. Keep all bedrooms as bedrooms.