Based on survey responses, HomeGain.com developed a
Prepare To Sell study with cost and expected benefit information
for lower-priced improvements. The 10 most cost-effective improvements for
sellers are listed below.
Improvement
Typical Cost
Increase Sale Price
Average Return/Gain after Costs
% Agts Who Recommend
Lighten & Brighten
$86-$110
$768-$935
769%
84%
Clean & Declutter
$305-$339
$2,093-$2,378
584%
91%
Fix Plumbing & Electical
$338-$381
$922-$1,208
196%
63%
Landscape & trim
$432-$506
$1,594-$1,839
266%
72%
Staging
$812-$1,089
$2,275-$2,841
169%
76%
Paint Interior Walls
$1,453 - $1,588
$2,342 - $2,600
63%
69%
Kitchen/Bath Upgrades
$1,545 - $2,120
$3823 - $4,885
138%
83%
Repair Flooring
$1,531 - $1,714
$2,267 - $2,589
50%
62%
Paint Exterior Walls
$2,188 - 2,381
$2,907 - $3,233
34%
57%
Replace Carpeting
$2,602 - $2,765
$3,585 - $3,900
39%
65%
* Typical home characteristics for U.S. agents responding:
3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,892 square feet, sale price of $201,798. (May 2000.)
Survey reproduced by Steve Stewart Seminars, www.steve-stewart.com