In an ever-changing housing market with evolving buyer expectations, buyers often expect new home builds or renovated properties to include the latest technical upgrades. When renovating your home in preparation to sell, take note of what can pay off financially in the long run—and what won’t.

Because you want to get top dollar for your house and property, keeping your home aesthetically up to date and ensuring your lawn leaves a great first impression are just a few simple ways to stay ahead of the house sales game.

For more ideas, we’ve compiled a list of six renovations known to pay off at sales time — and some that don’t.

1. Paint, Stain, Primp!

Home improvement projects are always a plus, not only for the financial value but for would-be buyers whowon’t have to do the work themselves. Consider the Return on Investment (ROI) for all the renovations on the house. In general, doing some updating is better than doing nothing.

Not all renovations have to cost a lot of money. For example, painting and staining outdoor woodwork and other surfaces can add value that can boost the sales price. For example, painting your front door black or slate blue could increase your home’s value by more than $6,000.

Chipped, stained exterior paint is a real turn-off for would-be buyers, negatively affecting the home’s curb appeal, so it’s something to consider addressing prior to listing your property.

Indoor painting is a simple task you can hire out or DIY. Showing off clean, freshly painted walls is a sign of pride — which can impress visitors and potential buyers. When pitching your property to out-of-town buyers, the first things they’ll see are the listing photographs. Dirty, stained, splotchy walls are not a selling point!

2. Doors and Windows

Replacing doors and windows can bring about a huge ROI. Energy-efficient doors and windows cut down on utility bills, and most window manufacturers extend warranties to the home’s new owners. Updated doors and windows also increase the home’s curb appeal.

3. Kitchen Upgrades

Older houses tend to have smaller kitchens than today’s new builds, and while tearing down walls for a more open format may not be feasible, you can update the kitchen with new flooring, cabinets that span to the ceiling, countertops, doors, and Energy Star appliances. The kitchen is one of the biggest selling points in a home — so sell it!

4. Bathrooms

Bathrooms are arguably the dirtiest part of any home. No matter how much you scrub toilets, the tub, shower, and sinks, bathroom grime builds up over time…and new owners are not keen to inherit a mess!

Replace old toilets, scummy shower doors (or curtains), toilet seats, and stained faucets. Remove old vinyl flooring and cracked tile. If there is carpeting in your bathroom, now is the time to remove it and replace it with a solid flooring option. Update light fixtures and fan vents as needed.

5. The Basement

When clean, decluttered, and dry, basements have a lot of extra value, especially when used as a bedroom, home office, TV and game room hangout, or exercise area. Invest in a dehumidifier to manage moisture problems, which can damage the structure of the house.

6. Lawn and Garden

Your lawn – picture-perfect landscaping – leaves a great first impression. You can turn that green grass to gold by maintaining your lawn – mowing, fertilizing, and removing leaves. A great-looking, easy-to-maintain yard can add as much as $20,000 to your home’s sale price. Talk about a return on your investment!

Thick, weed-free sod and well-maintained flower beds and gardens show prospective buyers that the property is cared for. However, an expansive garden that requires an experienced gardener and a ton of upkeep may be a turn-off for some people.

Nice, But Not Necessary 

And then there are those renovations that are … nice. But that’s it.

1. Having a swimming pool at the house is great for sweltering summer weather. But the cost to install one won’t necessarily pay off at sales time. If you want a pool… enjoy it for what it is while you have it. Don’t do it for resale value.
2. Outdoor kitchens are nice, too, if you entertain outdoors often. But they don’t really pay for themselves at selling time.
3. Wooden decks can cost up to $20,000 to have professionally installed — depending on the size and how fancy you want it to be. But the ROI may not be what you’re hoping for. Still, it’s your house and money… do what makes you happy. Would-be buyers may see a large, well-built deck as a plus for their standard of living.
4. High-end fixtures may fit into your décor ideas and lifestyle, but not necessarily for anyone else. Fortunately, basic fixtures come in all types of styles and price ranges.
5. Walk in closets are great if your home has ample space for it. But some people don’t want to waste space for storing clothes if they need office, home gym, or multi-use space. Bedrooms are typically more important than having extra-big storage spaces that take away from actual living areas.
6. Home theaters and the likeare generally not of interest to prospective buyers. Techie products become outdated, take up space, and are not a selling point. If buyers want that stuff in their homes, they’ll add it themselves.
7. Carpeting in every room. With so many flooring options, buyers may want to explore homes with luxury hardwood flooring or vinyl, too. Carpets are hard to keep clean, especially if pets or children are involved, and may be a turn-off for some.
8. Sunrooms cost a significant amount of money, depending on whether it’s a prefabricated add-on or something more intentionally designed for the home. If you want a sunroom, build it for you — not the sales market.

What someone will pay for in their new-to-them home depends on what they’re looking for. If you want to upgrade your current home or invest in updates prior to selling, be aware that not all updates and renovations will pay off at sales time. The bottom line? Do what you can afford and enjoy!