Highest-ROI moves before listing, in order: (1) Deep clean and declutter — professional cleaning costs $300-$500 and is the best money you can spend. (2) Neutral paint — if your walls are bold colors, repaint in agreeable gray, warm white, or greige. Cost: $800-$2,000. (3) Curb appeal — power wash the driveway, fresh mulch in beds, trim shrubs. Budget $200-$500. (4) Professional photography — NAR data shows listings with professional photos sell 32% faster and for 1-3% more.
What rarely pays off: full kitchen remodels, bathroom gut jobs, new carpet throughout. Minor repairs that always pay off: fix dripping faucets, replace burned-out bulbs, repair cracked caulk, address anything a home inspector would flag — buyers use these for negotiating leverage anyway, so fixing them first removes that leverage.