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Selling your Home? 7 Improvements that Add Value for Resale

Ryan FitzgeraldRyan Fitzgerald
Feb 18, 2025 10 min read
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Selling your Home? 7 Improvements that Add Value for Resale
Chapters
01
Cleaning your Home Before Listing it For Sale
02
Landscaping Adds to Your Home's Value
03
Painting Your Home 
04
Adding a Deck 
05
Remodeling Rooms 
06
Bathroom Addition
07
Energy Efficient Improvements

Home Improvements to Increase Value for Resale

Are you preparing your home for sale and wondering what home improvements add the most value? Here are seven ways to increase your home's value for resale! 

There are ways in which you can force equity back into your home and make it more appealing to buyers. Just be careful not to overdo it and improve your house outside of the neighborhood price range. This is especially true when deciding to list a rental property for sale

The tips we will discuss in the article are low-cost ways to net more money on the sale of your home. If you're preparing your home for sale, you'll want to ask questions and be sure to pay attention to the tips in this article that will help you maximize the return on your investment. 

Here are seven home improvements if you are selling your home

1. Cleaning your Home Before Listing it For Sale

Would you think this is obvious? To some, this tip needs to be stressed. The two main factors a seller has control over when listing their home for sale are price and condition. Cleaning your home is the lowest cost way to ensure that you influence the condition of your home.

By cleaning your home before you list it for sale, you are improving its condition. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes when selling your house. Would you rather buy a home that is messy or a home that is clean?

Too often, I show buyers homes that are not clean, and it amazes me that people don't realize they need to clean to help the property sell and that the listing agent wouldn't assist their sellers by advising them to keep the house spotless. 

Many buyers will walk in and out in a matter of seconds if the house is not clean. Hiring a cleaning team once a week or maintaining the cleanliness of your home yourself is extremely inexpensive when you consider the return on investment.

By cleaning your home and ensuring it's spotless, you give yourself the best opportunity to sell and increase its value. This will ensure you're doing what it takes to get the highest amount on the sale of your home and increase your chances of selling it.

vacuuming and cleaning home with dog

2. Landscaping Adds to Your Home's Value

Homes with serious curb appeal make great first impressions. Your kids should help when selling your home. A well-landscaped home will improve the home's condition, directly influencing the home's price. Landscape lighting is sure to help increase the value of your home as well! You'll immediately create an emotional response by ensuring your home looks great when potential buyers pull up.

Are you looking for landscaping inspiration? Check out the types of grass you should plant in Raleigh.

There are a lot of different things you can do to improve your landscaping. Mowing your lawn and cleaning the yard are two great places to start. You want to be wary of the neighborhood price range since that is one of the first things buyer's agents will look at. If you are already on the high end of the price range, investing 20 grand into your outdoor space doesn't make sense.

When you invest money into your landscaping, gather expert opinions from as many real estate professionals as possible.

Imagine you're going on a first date. Are you more likely to be excited about the date with someone who shows up looking nice or disheveled?

The same goes for real estate. Pretend like your home is going on a date, and the landscaping is the outfit you're dressing it in. The clothes matter, and so do the colors.

One experience I had when listing a home for sale in Raleigh was an investment in landscaping. It took a few shrubs to add a lot of privacy to the neighborhood, making the home much more appealing.

planting flowers and updating landscaping at home

3. Painting Your Home 

A great way to improve the value of your home is by adding a fresh coat of paint. Both the interior and exterior add a great look for buyers. The smell is another benefit that registers with the sensory cortex inside the brain of buyers. It registers as 'new'.

Painting your home to improve its value is a low-cost way to increase the return on the sale. It's one of the first things you should consider when selling. If you paint your home's exterior, you'll want to make sure you keep it a neutral color. In a recent real estate survey, 40 percent of buyers liked a house with a white exterior.

If you want a home improvement tip to help you make more money online, consider a fresh coat of paint. Many real estate industry professionals highly recommend it, and painting with a neutral color is a favorite of many buyers.

Did you know that the number one most recommended and beneficial tip is a fresh coat of paint? This tip is affordable and raises the property value significantly. Some people's websites claim a fresh coat of paint can add anywhere from a 100-500% return on investment.

4. Adding a Deck 

There are a few seasons a year where you may want to add key features. One of these key features would be a deck or outdoor patio. Seasonality allows you to succeed more with an addition like this if you plan to sell during the spring/summer and even the fall here in Raleigh.

Adding a deck/outdoor patio does several things. It adds value by giving you an outdoor living space. Something other homes you're competing against may not have.

One of the first additions to my house in Downtown Raleigh was an outdoor living space because I enjoy being outside. The outdoor living space ran me $2,450 ($2,950 - $500 discount), and my conservative guess is it added $5,000 to the price of my house. One of my current real estate clients helped me build the deck.

When building an outdoor living space to add value to your home, you'll want to be careful of a few things. Like the other tips, you do not want to price your home outside of its neighborhood value, so consult a top local Real Estate Agent for advice.

Secondly, you will want privacy in your outdoor living space. If you feel like everyone can see you, you're a lot less likely to use the deck.

Lastly, you will want to be sure the patio you design is not too small or too big. The right-sized patio will maximize the return on your investment and give you a great opportunity to sell your home for more money. Overall, any home addition like a patio, finished attic, or basement will have a high ROI. 

Know your local neighborhoods and real estate markets. Homes for sale in Cary often come with great outdoor living spaces that improve their value.

At the very least, an outdoor living space will make your home more desirable and allow you to recoup the cost. The neighborhood will dictate whether or not a patio makes sense. 

a deck addition can help add value for your resale

5. Remodeling Rooms 

You can do several different remodeling projects to add value to your home before selling it—some of the remodeling that Real Estate Agents will recommend involves addressing the house's weaknesses. You want to put yourself in the mind of your buyers and understand that they're also looking at your neighbor's house for sale.

It's typical remodels will happen in the focal rooms, including the kitchen, bathrooms, and even the family room, especially if you want to make your home handicap accessible. Sometimes, a remodel will include adding a bathroom to the master suite. Many homes in Raleigh already have that, which could cause a weakness you will want to address if the quoted price from your contractor is right.

Homes with an open floor plan have the advantage of increased home value. To increase your home's value, we recommend remodeling the kitchen, family area, and bathrooms. 

The most important parts of any home are the kitchen and the family area, mainly because a lot of time is spent in these two rooms. When you are entertaining guests, they are most likely to be in your kitchen and family room while inside the house. Adding a fireplace or new appliances can significantly boost your home's value. 

One thing to be wary of is pricing your home outside of the neighborhood. Don't go crazy with your remodels if it doesn't make sense for your area. You wouldn't want to start adding square footage to your home if you're already in the higher price range.

6. Bathroom Addition

Adding a bathroom can add serious convenience for your buyers. Other than the kitchen, the bathrooms have become important to buyers, especially the location inside the home. A bathroom addition can increase your home value between 10 and 40%, depending on the quality, size, and type of updates. 

A few things to be careful of when doing a bathroom addition is to know where the plumbing is. This is probably the main factor in determining what the cost is going to be to add a bath. You don't want a plumber spending hours inside of your home working on pipes, or your bill will run up fast.

Also, don't go crazy on your home compared to your neighbor's. Know the value of your neighborhood and where your home stands when compared to others. Listen to your local experts and determine if a bathroom addition makes sense for your home sale.

If you cannot afford a new bathroom, the best thing to do is give your current baths a facelift with paint and freshen them up in any way possible. It will certainly help the home show better.

beautiful bathroom addition with walk in shower

7. Energy Efficient Improvements

Remodeling for energy efficiency can make a big difference in resale value as more and more people are asking for clean power sources and green features in their homes. It is not just a great choice for luxury homes. From solar panel installation to HVAC conversion, which involves changing a fossil-fuel-burning furnace to an electric heat pump, there are plenty of ways to lower monthly utility bills and increase the overall sustainability of your home

solar panels are a good energy efficient improvement to your home

Home Improvements - Final Thoughts 

The first three tips can be executed at a relatively low cost, and it makes sense for every home. Cleaning is 100% the best thing you can do to sell your home because it's not only the cheapest, it's the most important. It shows buyers a sense of pride in caring for their home compared to others who are left a mess.

If you have kids or pets and are trying to sell your home, cleaning may be more difficult, but it is still an absolute must. Mowing the lawn and painting the house are two other ways to guarantee your home is ready to impress buyers. Pretend like your home is going on a date. How would you want it to look if it was meeting someone for the first time?

Buyers care more about the kitchen and bathrooms than anything else inside the home. Personally, I would much prefer a great family room, and this also seems to be the general opinion among most of my clients.

Consult with your local Real Estate Agents and Contractors to determine if an outdoor patio, a remodel, or an additional bathroom is the right move for you. When you're preparing to sell your home, it also makes. sense to consult with a local mortgage lender if you plan to buy.

If you want sure-fire ways to improve your home's value when you list it for sale or host an open house, here they are. These home improvements will surely please buyers and benefit you in the long run, especially in a low inventory market. If you're considering remodeling your home to improve its value, be careful not to overspend.

WRITTEN BY
Ryan Fitzgerald
Ryan Fitzgerald
Realtor

Ryan Fitzgerald is a top Realtor®, founder and owner of Raleigh Realty, one of the Triangle’s fastest-growing and most innovative real estate brokerages. Driven by a mission to be the best—not the biggest—brokerage in Raleigh, Ryan has built Raleigh Realty into a firm known for its cutting-edge marketing, high-performing agents, and culture rooted in collaboration, growth, and excellence.

Raleigh Realty

Under Ryan’s leadership, Raleigh Realty has become a top boutique brokerage in Raleigh-Durham, serving clients across Wake County and the surrounding areas. Raleigh Realty stands apart for its:

  • Top-Tier Agents – Every Realtor on the team is hand-selected for their skill, professionalism, and client-first approach. Raleigh Realty isn’t about quantity—it’s about quality.

  • Award-Winning Website – RaleighRealty.com is consistently ranked among the best real estate websites with incredible user experience, cutting-edge IDX technology, and hyper-local guides that help buyers and sellers navigate the market.

  • Inbound Lead Generation – With a strong focus on SEO and digital marketing, the brokerage generates a steady flow of organic leads, giving agents the opportunity to grow thriving businesses.

  • Supportive Culture – Ryan emphasizes mentorship, accountability, and autonomy—no micromanaging, just the right systems and tools for agents to succeed.

  • Community Focus – From neighborhood spotlights to relocation guides, Raleigh Realty is committed to being a resource for both buyers and sellers as they make one of life’s biggest decisions.

The firm continues to expand its reach, with the goal of 100 agents and $1 billion in annual sales volume by 2030—all while staying true to its boutique, client-centered values.

Awards & Recognition

Ryan already has notable public credentials and prestige:

  • He has been featured in outlets such as Forbes, Wall Street Journal, U.S. News, among others (as mentioned on the site).

  • Realtor Magazine named him a “Top 30 Under 30” in the country (as noted on his Raleigh Realty page).

  • Raleigh Realty is widely acknowledged in the local real estate community for its digital prowess and thought leadership.

  • The company is consistently ranked among the top real estate firms in Raleigh and is known for having one of the highest-traffic real estate websites in the region.

Community Involvement & Giving Back

Ryan’s leadership extends far beyond the closing table. He has built Raleigh Realty to be a company that actively gives back to the community and invests in making Raleigh a better place to live.

  • The Green Chair Project – Ryan and Raleigh Realty proudly support The Green Chair Project, a local nonprofit that provides essential furnishings and household items to families transitioning out of homelessness, crisis, or disaster. By partnering with this organization, Ryan helps ensure families have the comfort and dignity of a furnished home.

  • Food Donations & Drives – Raleigh Realty regularly organizes and contributes to food donation efforts, partnering with local pantries and organizations to help fight food insecurity across Wake County. These efforts bring agents, clients, and neighbors together to support those in need.

  • Local Events & Client Appreciation – Raleigh Realty hosts family-friendly gatherings such as pumpkin patch outings, coffee + donut socials, and seasonal celebrations designed to strengthen neighborhood bonds.

  • Supporting Schools & Youth Programs – Ryan partners with local schools and youth organizations to provide resources, sponsorships, and mentorship opportunities, ensuring that the next generation has access to growth and guidance.

  • Small Business Advocacy – Raleigh Realty proudly highlights and partners with local small businesses, amplifying their visibility and reinforcing Raleigh’s reputation as a vibrant place to live and work.

For Ryan, success is measured not just in sales, but in the lasting relationships and community impact Raleigh Realty leaves behind.

AgentLoft – Powering the Next Generation of Realtors

Ryan is also the visionary behind AgentLoft, a SaaS platform designed to help Realtors nationwide build their brand and generate leads. AgentLoft websites combine IDX technology, SEO expertise, and AI integration to give agents the competitive edge they need.

Personal Mission

As a proud father to his daughter Emma, Ryan’s mission is bigger than business. He’s dedicated to building a brokerage and a platform that create opportunity and stability for families, clients, and agents alike. His approach blends entrepreneurship with empathy—ensuring that Raleigh Realty continues to grow not just in sales volume, but in reputation, trust, and impact.


👉 Whether you’re buying or selling a home, or you’re a Realtor looking for the right brokerage to grow your business, Raleigh Realty—under Ryan Fitzgerald’s leadership—offers the expertise, technology, and community-minded culture to help you succeed.

Chapters
01
Cleaning your Home Before Listing it For Sale
02
Landscaping Adds to Your Home's Value
03
Painting Your Home 
04
Adding a Deck 
05
Remodeling Rooms 
06
Bathroom Addition
07
Energy Efficient Improvements
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