Selling a house is an expensive undertaking. Beyond the typical expenses, such as real estate commissions and closing costs, you may have to shell out for professional home staging, recurring cleaning services, or even a pre-listing home inspection. In many cases, these costs are recouped when you sell your home, but getting to that point…
If major home improvements, such as replacing garage doors or remodeling the kitchen, are out of budget, there are other, more affordable upgrades you can make to help your home sell quickly and potentially for more money. In this case, we’ve defined “affordable” as projects costing less than $500, although prices may vary depending on where you live.
To find out which value-adding upgrades realtors recommend, we spoke to Abbey Drummond of Windermere Real Estate in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Dani Rosenthal of Wheeler Steffen Sotheby’s International Realty in Lake Arrowhead, California. Here are their tips.
1. Touch Up Exterior Paint
Peeling paint is a telltale sign of deferred maintenance. But instead of repainting your entire house, which could cost thousands of dollars, Rosenthal recommends touching up any areas where the paint is coming off. “To me, that’s number one because it sets the tone when you walk into a house,” she says.
Both realtors we spoke to also advise repainting the front door a compelling accent color. “The exact color will depend on the house, but a contrasting color is always a good choice — you want something that stands out,” Rosenthal says.
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2. Boost Your Curb Appeal
Curb appeal can increase a home’s value by 7% to 14%, according to a study from the University of Texas at Arlington. Drummond says you can add visual appeal to your home’s exterior through simple, inexpensive refreshes. “Anything from fresh mulch, updated house numbers, a new mailbox, or a bold front door color improves the curb appeal,” she explains. “Buyers form their first impressions before they even step inside, so you have to make [curb appeal] count.”
3. Update Light Fixtures
Lighting trends come and go — that shiny brass chandelier may have been on trend when you purchased it in the ’90s, but now, it makes your house feel outdated. “I’m a huge advocate for updating light fixtures,” Drummond says. “They go a long way, especially if the existing ones all kind of look the same.” If you never replaced the builder-grade lighting that came with your home, or your design choices harken back to another century, consider upgrading and differentiating your fixtures.
“There are tons of affordable, stylish light fixtures available online through retailers like Wayfair and Amazon,” Rosenthal says. “Modernizing light fixtures enhances the visual appeal of the house and improves buyers’ perceptions of it.”
4. Neutralize Any Bold Colors
You might love your bedroom’s purple accent wall, but to a buyer, it’s yet another project for them to tackle after moving in. And that may turn some home shoppers away, especially those looking for a turnkey property. “It’s important to repaint any bold colors in the house,” Drummond notes. “This helps buyers visualize the home as their own and creates a clean, cohesive look.” Choose a light neutral paint color, such as white, beige, or greige, that serves as a versatile backdrop.
Drummond also advises “touching up any scuffed walls, trim, or baseboards” before sticking a for-sale sign in the yard. Sellers often overlook this project (it’s easy to become blind to a chip in the doorframe you see every day), but these small touch-ups show pride of ownership.
5. Clean Up the Exterior
“Exterior cleanup, whether it’s power washing your house to remove cobwebs or dust, or hiring a professional window washing service, really helps with presentation,” Rosenthal says. “The goal is always to provide a clean and well-maintained look.”
Beyond the obvious tasks such as mowing the lawn, cleaning gutters, and removing your garden gnome collection, Rosenthal suggests incorporating greenery: “We always add fresh plants, especially native or low-maintenance plants. Even potted plants in front of a garage or a front entryway help add color and life.”
6. Swap Cabinet Hardware
“Modern cabinet pulls and knobs can make even an older kitchen or bathroom feel refreshed,” Drummond says. Before listing, head to your local home improvement store for some new hardware. (Tip: Make sure the new hardware fits the cabinet’s existing holes. You may want to bring your old hardware with you to compare the sizing.) Choose a widely appealing style — or two, if you’re combining knobs and pulls — that complements the room’s aesthetic. Since mixing metals isn’t for everyone, stick to one finish for a cohesive design. “This simple swap adds a touch of style and makes [the space] look more expensive for a minimal investment,” Drummond adds.
7. Get a New Kitchen Faucet
The average U.S. kitchen remodel in 2025 costs almost $27,000, according to Angi, an online platform connecting homeowners with service professionals. Instead of blowing your home improvement budget on replacing tile countertops or painting honey oak cabinets, opt for a stylish yet practical plumbing fixture. “Upgrading a kitchen sink faucet creates a fresh look in a possibly otherwise dated space,” Rosenthal says. “Kitchen updates can be so expensive, and adding fresh elements helps with perception.”
8. Replace All Light Switch Plates
Here’s an upgrade many sellers fail to consider: “Replace all light switch plates, smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide detectors if any of them don’t look brand-new,” Drummond says. “Oftentimes, they will be a little yellowish, or just not match the color of the walls, and that makes them look old.” Wall plates often cost less than $1 each, and replacing them requires only a screwdriver. Basic fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are priced at around $20 each, and go a long way in making your home’s safety features appear up-to-date.
9. Invest in GFCI Electrical Outlets
GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) electrical outlets are required in bathrooms, garages, crawl spaces, basements, laundry rooms, exteriors, and other areas where water is present. “If any water hits them, they automatically turn off to prevent electrocution or fire,” Rosenthal explains. In 2023, the National Electrical Code (NEC) was expanded, requiring all kitchen receptacles to have GFCI protection, too. This means that many older homes aren’t in compliance.
“This is something that gets called out in almost every inspection,” Rosenthal says. “If any electrical outlets are within 6 feet of water, they’re supposed to be GFCI. Thankfully, it only costs around $90 to update an outlet.”
10. Refresh the Flooring
“This upgrade might cost a bit more than $500, but it’s either refinish hardwood floors, replace carpet, or deep-clean carpet,” Drummond says. Tackling one or all of these home improvement projects can significantly improve your home’s appearance, but the out-of-pocket expenses can be prohibitive for some sellers.
Angi pegs the cost of refinishing hardwood flooring at $3 to $8 per square foot, and carpet replacement costs at $3 to $11 per square foot. Depending on how much of each flooring type you have throughout your home, those costs can add up quickly — but the returns on that investment are major.
“Flooring is such a major focal point for buyers, and if refinishing or replacing it is out of the budget, then even a professional deep clean makes a big difference to prospective buyers,” Drummond says. The average price of a professional carpet cleaning will only set you back around $180, according to data from Angi, but the impact on your home’s cleanliness — not to mention the smell — can’t be overstated.
