How Much Should You Spend Getting Your Naperville Home Ready to Sell?g Post
How Much Should You Spend Getting Your Naperville Home Ready to Sell?
By Amy Pearson | Naperville Realtor® with @properties Christie’s International Real Estate
If you’re getting ready to sell in Naperville, start by pricing out a short list of projects that will make your home look clean, cared for, and ready to photograph. For a well-maintained home, I’d use $500 to $1,500 as a first planning budget. If several rooms need paint or you’ll be hiring help for clean out, yard work, or minor repairs, sketch out a $2,000 to $5,000 plan and get quotes before you commit. These are example budgets. Your actual costs depend on the size of your home, the work it needs, and how much you plan to do yourself.
Where I’d spend the first $1,000
Here’s how I might split a $1,000 budget for a home in good shape: $350 for a deep clean, $250 for paint and touch-ups, $200 for small fixes, $100 for tidying the front entry, and $100 in reserve. That assumes some DIY work, such as touching up trim and clearing out closets. If you’re downsizing after years in the same home, you might shift some of that money to donation pickup or hauling.
Start with the rooms and features buyers will notice first. Clear kitchen counters, wash the windows in the main living areas, fix the loose stair rail, and tidy the path from the driveway to the front door. Decluttering, whole-home cleaning, and curb appeal were the three most common improvements agents recommended in the National Association of REALTORS®’ 2025 home staging survey.
Source · 2025 Profile of Home Staging, National Association of REALTORS®
When a bigger prep budget makes sense
A larger budget can help when several issues show up together. Picture a longtime-owned home in Eagle Chase or Indian Hill with scuffed walls, worn carpet on the stairs, and a crowded basement. Get separate quotes for painting the most visible rooms, cleaning or replacing the carpet, and clearing the basement. You can then choose the projects that make the biggest difference within your budget.
I’d look at recent sales of similar homes nearby before spending thousands on counters, cabinets, or a bathroom. Look for homes with a similar layout, size, and level of updating. If the kitchen is dated but functional, cleaning it thoroughly and pricing the home for its condition may make more sense than remodeling before you list. If you discover a leak or another significant issue, get it evaluated early so you can budget and plan around it.
Compare what you’d keep after the work
Suppose a project costs $5,000 and you expect it to add $6,000 to the sale price. The difference is $1,000 before any additional selling costs, and the higher price is still an estimate. Weigh that potential gain against the time the work will take and what happens if you list later than planned.
Walk through your home before you book the work
Take a few photos from the front walk and the doorway of each main room. Look for the things that pull your eye first, then get quotes for the jobs you’d pay someone to handle. If you’re planning to sell your Naperville home, I can walk through it with you, review recent sales nearby, and help you decide which projects are worth tackling before listing.
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Amy Pearson | Naperville Realtor®
@properties Christie’s International Real Estate
📱 708-653-8366
✉️ [email protected]
Helping homeowners buy and sell throughout Naperville, with a focus on North Naperville neighborhoods including Eagle Chase, Indian Hill, and surrounding communities.
