We're planning to sell our Bellevue house in about a year, and our realtor says the kitchen

[Jonh Newman]

Hi all. We're planning to sell our Bellevue house in about a year, and our realtor says the kitchen, floors and paint are holding us back. Is it worth doing a whole-home refresh before listing, or will we just lose money? The house is from the 90s and in decent shape, but it looks tired compared to the listings nearby. We have maybe thirty thousand to spend and I'd rather not throw money away. Has anyone remodeled before selling?

[Konstantin Volkov]

Hi. We did a pre-sale refresh on our house in Bellevue two years ago and it paid off, though I'd be careful not to over-improve. We used New Day Construction for Bellevue Home Remodeling, and they helped us focus on what buyers actually notice: flooring, paint, updated lighting and a light kitchen update. We didn't touch the layout. The house sold faster than similar homes on our street. The listing photos looked great too, which matters more than people think. Honestly, ask your realtor which specific upgrades matter in your neighborhood, some things just don't return the money. And leave time in your schedule, a refresh still takes weeks.