Real estate experts advise potential sellers to prioritize ‘sparkle’

by Dan Holland

With fall on its way, sellers are tackling everything from minor repairs to full remodels. However, local experts agree that while upgrades vary by home, the priority should be ensuring the property is pristine.

“The most important thing is to make your house sparkle. Make it clean, as that doesn’t cost a lot of money, and that goes very far,” said Suzanne Lambert of The Lambert Team/Howard Hanna in Brecksville. “Clean out your closets and get rid of clutter. That’s the cheapest and best way to sell any home.”

Patricia Kurtz, owner of Kurtz & Company/Keller Williams Chervenic Realty in Hudson, suggested other simple upgrades such as freshening up the front entry/walkway, applying fresh interior paint and washing windows.

“If there are major or minor repairs needed, those should be addressed as best you can,” Kurtz said. “Don’t think buyers will see ‘the potential,’ as they most likely will not. They will just see work that needs to be done. So, it’s best to fix up a property or price it accordingly.”

“Curb appeal from the front is very important,” said Julie Boyle of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Fairlawn. “It is a good investment to have nice, neat landscaping with trimmed trees and hedges. I tell my clients to put out a nice welcome mat along with some flowers on the front porch, which can go a long way – all of that sets the stage.”

“The overall feel of the house sets the stage for how they feel you’ve taken care of it over the years,” she continued. “If it’s nice and clean, a buyer will feel that you’ve been maintaining it and have pride in ownership, and that’s important.”

According to an August 2025 article on Zillow.com, home upgrades that offer the best return on investment include a new garage door, a steel entry door, manufactured stone veneer and fiber-cement siding. While a renovated kitchen or bathroom adds value to a home, Suzanne Lambert cautions against investing in big-ticket projects solely to increase resale value.

“Bathrooms and kitchens are always the number one thing, but you have to be careful what you spend on those rooms, as your tastes may not be your buyers’ tastes,” she said. “I would [consider] how long you plan on living in the house and what your taste is. I recommend going more neutral if doing it for resale purposes.”

“We usually don’t recommend big improvement projects unless the home is in poor condition,” added realtor John Lambert. “To tell someone to put $80,000 into updates is a hard sell, as you don’t know what other people’s tastes are. But installing new appliances and new kitchen countertops is often a good investment.”

Exterior improvements have also become popular, according to Boyle.

“The big-ticket items, like your kitchen and bath, are always important, but outdoor living space has become big in Northeast Ohio with pavilions and covered patios,” she said.

Consulting with a realtor prior to making home improvements can save a seller time and money, these market watchers said. “Often, what a seller thinks is important versus what we think is important is not always on the same page, and those upgrades may not be appealing to a potential buyer,” according to Boyle.