Off The MRKT

Your guide to New York real estate and more

Off The MRKT - Where New York's, Real Estate, Life Style, and Culture Converge

  • Cities
    • New York
    • Hamptons
    • Florida
    • Philadelphia
    • Connecticut
    • Submit Your Open House
  • Food & Wine
    • Wine and Spirits
    • Where To Drink and Eat
  • The Look
    • Health and Fitness
    • Travel
    • Lifestyle Guide
  • Events
    • Events Gallery
    • Submit an event
    • Calendar Listings
    • Open Houses
  • About
Screenshot of offthemrkt.com - Google Docs.jpg

5 Changes to Make to Your Home Before You Sell

November 19, 2019 by Jeremy Lindy

While there are no doubt things you’d like to change about your home, it’s a space that reflects your personality and somewhere where you feel comfortable. However, when the time comes to sell, either because of a move or because you need somewhere bigger, you may be wondering what condition your home should be in when you list it. While some home improvements are worth doing before you sell, others may not be necessary, so here are some changes to consider.

Finish Off Those DIY Jobs

While you may not have had the motivation to finish off those little DIY jobs when you were living in the house, moving out means that your home needs to look its best. If you have half-finished DIY jobs around the house, then you’re not alone. The average American has nine projects they need to complete, with painting being the most common task. A home that’s poorly maintained will put buyers off for several reasons, mostly because they can’t be sure that there aren’t any underlying issues. Commit to a weekend of DIY and whip your house into shape.

Ensure Utilities Are All Working Well

When potential buyers arrive at your home, broken air con leading to sweltering heat or flickering lights are immediately going to set off alarm bells. Usually, it’s because a small fix is needed, and you can simply buy some supplies from specialists such as Warmrooms to sort things out. In other cases, there may be an underlying issue, so it might be worth a call to the utility company.

Tidy Your Bathroom and Kitchen

Many studies have shown that kitchens and bathrooms are the most important rooms to buyers, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to remodel these rooms, as this can be a costly, lengthy process. Instead, look out for things that put off potential buyers in these rooms such as cluttered surfaces and lack of storage, and find some inexpensive solutions. Putting down some modern vinyl flooring, updating fixtures such as door handles, and painting dated tiles are all ways you can renovate these rooms on the cheap, saving your cash for a home where you’re going to live.

Work on Your Curb Appeal

Buyers often make decisions in seconds, so if the outside of your home looks a little crummy, then they’re already on a downer before they step foot inside. Curb appeal doesn’t have to cost a lot; in many cases, you can trim your hedges and do some weeding, and it’s all good. However, if you have the time, then painting your door, planting some pretty flowers, and getting your driveway resurfaced can all make the exterior look better. 

Make Sure There’s A Pleasant Scent

Smell is one of our most powerful senses, and it’s unique to us. Have you ever been to someone’s house and noticed that it just smells ‘off’? It’s not dirty, just not right. Things like pets, strong food, and powerful cleaning products can all lead to an off-putting smell, and buyers will often wonder whether they’ll be able to get rid of it.  Eliminate smells by washing things like pet bedding, and make sure the only cooking smells are the pleasant ones that realtors use, like freshly baked cookies. 

A few small, inexpensive changes to your home will make it more inviting for buyers and help you can get an offer quickly, so you can move onto the next chapter of your life. 

Related

  • 7 Easy Home Decorating Ideas Anyone Can Do

  • Designing A Home That’s Inclusive And Stylish

  • Kitchens With Picture-Perfect Views






Featured
Design Details That Elevate Luxury Real Estate
October 29, 2026
Design Details That Elevate Luxury Real Estate
October 29, 2026
Read more →
October 29, 2026
October 29, 2026
Loggia NoMad Begins Presales on a Site Once Planned for a Modular Hotel
October 29, 2026

Loggia NoMad begins presales at 842 Sixth Avenue, where plans for a modular hotel gave way to 94 condos with private loggias near Manhattan’s Flower District.

Read more →
October 29, 2026
23-bedford-front.jpg
October 28, 2026
This Greenwich Estate Has a Roller Hockey Rink in the Basement
October 28, 2026

At 23 Bedford Road, nearly 11,000 square feet of living space comes with a basement roller hockey rink, golf simulator, 800-square-foot theater and enough amenities to make leaving home optional.

Read more →
October 28, 2026
Cyndi Lauper Sings, Sophie von Haselberg Honored at Bette Midler's Hulaween
October 27, 2026
Cyndi Lauper Sings, Sophie von Haselberg Honored at Bette Midler's Hulaween
October 27, 2026

Bette Midler turned The Glasshouse into an underwater fever dream for Hulaween on Horror Reef, raising over $2 million for New York Restoration Project with Cyndi Lauper on stage and Isaac Mizrahi judging the costumes.

Read more →
October 27, 2026
unsplash-image-5sf46kgHnVg.jpg
October 27, 2026
A Tale of Two New York Markets: What Fall is Revealing
October 27, 2026

From renewed competition in some neighborhoods to greater leverage in others, fall is exposing just how divided New York’s real estate market has become.

Read more →
October 27, 2026
The Lifestyle Trends Driving Gen Z's Impact in New York
October 26, 2026
The Lifestyle Trends Driving Gen Z's Impact in New York
October 26, 2026
Read more →
October 26, 2026
1-penthouse-402-boerum-terrace.jpg
October 26, 2026
Off The MRKT's Favorite Listings of the Week
October 26, 2026

A record-setting Cobble Hill penthouse, a former eyeglass factory loft in the Financial District, and a Bushwick duplex with a patio made for Sunday mornings.

Read more →
October 26, 2026
November 19, 2019 /Jeremy Lindy
script>
  • Newer
  • Older
 
Off The MRKT Articles RSS
No results found

Follow Off The MRKT: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Contact us: Jeremy@Offthemrkt.com                                                                                           

Advertise | Off The MRKT Internship Program | Byline | Bible

Newsletter Block
This newsletter signup form needs a storage option. Edit the block and enter a storage location via the Storage tab.

Want More?

Want more awesome content like this? Sign up and get our best articles delivered straight to your inbox!

Thank you!
Our favorite listing this week is 508 West 24th Street, Unit 5th Floor, home to NBA Player Carmelo Anthony. The ten-time NBA All-Star, has listed his New York City condo. The home is the largest unit in the Cary Tamarkin designed building at 508 W 24
251 East 51st Street, Unit 2M, listed on the market as a Compass "Coming Soon," is a recently renovated, perfect pied-a-terre (and ideal one bedroom for all the rest of us). What truly sets this pad apart from the rest is the dreamy outdoor
Our last #openhouse roundup will you be checking out this #parkslope home?

#nycrealestate #brooklynrealestate #milliondollarlistings #luxuryhomes #OffTheMRKT
DNA Development announced that closings have commenced at 350 West 71st Street, the successful Upper West Side luxury conversion that seamlessly combines two historic pre-war buildings into one stunning contemporary condominium with a classic fa&cced
Our favorite listing this week is located at One West End, the sculptural glass residential tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli within Riverside Center. At $19.5 million, 29B offers 5,302 square feet of interiors space, with four bedrooms, five and
Looking to live in one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Manhattan? SoHo offers some of the most luxurious prime New York Real Estate. Known for its largest collection of incredible architecture in the entire world, SoHo is the heart of the historic
Following the unveiling of Rose Hill, one of the new residential developments in Manhattan's NoMad neighborhood that represents a modern era of Gotham-esque architecture and design by award-winning New York-based design firm CetraRuddy, legendary dev
The ethereal master bath at @theXInyc West Tower Penthouse features a custom sandblasted verde caldia floor, a carved verde scuro tub, and bronze vanities with marble tops designed by #AD100 French interior architect @pierre.yovanovitch.

Situated in