When it’s time to sell, many homeowners are willing to undertake their own DIY home-improvement projects to get top dollar for their properties, but figuring out where to spread that elbow grease can be challenging.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (BHGRE) surveyed its agents and came back with a variety of economical steps homeowners can take to add value through improvements and staging. It’s all published in BHGRE’s 2025 Home Trends Insights, which was produced with input from the Dotdash Meredith media company, owner of Better Homes & Gardens, Investopedia and The Spruce.
The kitchen is the heart of the home, according to BHGRE, and getting that heart healthy can pay dividends in a sale. Indeed, 90% of BHGRE-affiliated agents said moderate kitchen updates, like painted cabinets and new backsplashes, can add the most value to a home.
The agents’ views were backed up by data from Dotdash Meredith, which found a 56% year-over-year increase in kitchen-layout content across its publications.
Bathroom improvements made the DIY list, too. Dotdash Meredith said user searches for information about bathroom renovations increased last year, with bathroom vanities seeing a 72% annual jump in queries. New bathroom floors are also an affordable improvement with an oversized return, according to the report.
A fresh coat of paint always helps, as well, and it doesn’t even need to be a full coat. According to an Omaha, Nebraska, agent, just $100 and a day spent touching up walls and trim with the correct color can be as effective as a $10,000 professional job.
Other budget-friendly steps sellers can take include adding new fixtures, upgrading utility spaces like mudrooms, entryways and laundry rooms, and converting garages and basements into additional living areas.
Besides home improvement, proper staging is another high-return endeavor that can be accomplished without the help — or expense — of a professional.
Agents in the survey recommended giving bedrooms a “boutique hotel vibe” by replacing bedding with a new white cover and throw pillows. Adding mirrors and open curtains can add light and the perception of more space, while fresh greenery and flowers, as well as art hung at the correct height — about five feet — is a good finishing touch.
With all that said, one data point should be kept in mind when helping clients prepare for sale: Only 14% of agents surveyed felt that today’s buyers expect turnkey homes.