Warning

• According to Hanley Wood, home sellers will receive a negative return on their investment for any major home renovations, such as remodeling or adding a bathroom, purchasing new appliances, replacing windows, remodeling a kitchen or installing new windows. Remodeling projects typically offer less of a loss than new construction projects.
  
  

Maintenance

• All components of the home should be functional before the homeowner sells the property, including electrical, plumbing, damaged windows and structural issues, or buyers may walk away from a property. Home sellers should replace damaged appliances with inexpensive models. Homeowners should replace wooden entry doors to receive a positive return on their investment. According to Hanley Wood, a homeowner can switch an entry door with a steel replacement to recoup 102 percent of their cost in most areas of the U.S. as of April 2011.
  
  

Walls

• As an inexpensive do-it-yourself project, homeowners should paint the interior of their house a single neutral color, such as white or a light pastel if they have a varied or out-of style paint scheme. They may want to remove ugly wallpaper by renting a steamer and scraping the paper off with a putty knife. Home sellers should fill any small holes in walls and fix any loose drywall nails or screws.
  
  

Landscaping

• To receive a return on their home improvements, home sellers should not spend a lot of money on landscaping, but they can take steps to improve the curb appeal of their property. such as mowing the lawn regularly, sowing a couple bags of grass seed a few months before selling, unclogging gutters and purchasing a dump truck load of mulch to create flower and shrub beds around their house. If home sellers have a washed-out gravel driveway, they may want to purchase and spread a truckload of fresh gravel.
  
  

Cleanliness

• According to Sell This Home, home sellers should remove extra furniture, trinkets and memorabilia to prevent the house interior from seeming smaller. Homeowners should rent a steam cleaner if they have carpeting in their home to remove dirt and embedded stains and should have their hardwood floors buffed and polished. Before showing a property, they should disinfect and clean the entire home to create a favorable impression with potential buyers.