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What readers of this book will really want to pay attention to in this section is the importance of creating the final touches before staging a home for viewing. At my company, The JRS Realty Group, we tell people that it isn’t just important to make sure the home is clean – you also have to make it comfortable so the potential buyer can easily envision living there themselves. To do this you should consider things such as opening all curtains and blinds to let in light and keeping the home at a comfortable temperature. You’ll find many other tips and suggestions in the book.

One argument I make that may surprise the reader is the assertion that most home improvement projects are not really worth the time – at least not for the sole purpose of increasing the value of your home for sale. In fact, projects such as adding a sunroom and renovating a home office return less than half the money you put into a project:

“The return on investment (ROI) on some projects is so low, you’ll be left holding the bag for about half the cost. That makes these especially poor choices for homeowners planning to sell.”

If you’re going to take on these types of projects it should be for your own use – if you’re planning on spending a few more years in your home before you sell then it may be a good idea.

I’m not trying to suggest in this section that all home improvement projects are bad ideas if you’re planning on selling your home. Some do offer decent ROI. Good examples include replacing vinyl siding, garage door replacements, and wood deck additions. All of these are estimated to provide more than an 80% return on investment and can add to the visible appeal of your home.

There are also projects which don’t offer much of a return on investment, but still have to be done such as replacing a furnace. One of the major themes of this book is the importance of transparency when selling a home and making sure everything works as it should is part of that. Buyers simply take for granted that the furnace in your home should be in great shape, but they won’t increase their offer simply because you installed a new one recently.

One other important theme covered in section three is the need for a home inspection. I point out that a presale inspection is a good idea so you know exactly where you need to concentrate your efforts as you get ready to sell. It’s actually an investment that makes sense and the reasons why are explained in 10 key points that summarize the advantages quite succinctly. It’s also an attractive selling feature for the potential buyer as well as it suggests the seller isn’t trying to hide anything: