I had a wonderful past client couple contact me and ask me to walk through there home and help them prepare to sell it." Their first question on each suggestion was Will I get my money back on this improvement/change?" Great question! Not an easy answer! Of course, the value that a potential buyer will place on your new ceiling fans or new bathroom mirrors is hard to gauge, but they will certainly make the home more appealing to a buyer.. getting rid of dated wallpaper and new neutral paint will also create a more marketable home. Your kitchen and your master bathroom are areas that almost always make a difference in the price you will be able to ask. Buyers will look at formica counters, old mismatched appliances and stained sinks and say, "this house isn't worth the value, in time or money, of fixing it up". If you are thinking of selling, start right now, making those necessary improvements on dated or items that are in need of replacement and maintenance and the costs will be spread out over time. And, you get the added benefit of enjoying those updates for a while!