DIY Home Improvement Checklist
(Before You Sell Your House)

For a faster, more profitable home sale

This do-it-yourself home improvement checklist reveals some of the most common problems that should be taken care of before you place your home on the real estate market.

Be sure that your house is in the best possible condition before you present it to the public. Doing so will add value and prevent any set-backs during the sale process.

Buyers will notice most problems and may keep a detailed list to negotiate the price of your house down.

Whether its worn out carpeting, water-stained ceilings, damaged bathroom tiles and even a running toilet, most problems will be noticed by buyers.

In addition, buyers may assume that bigger and more expensive issues lurk inside the walls, the foundation and even up in the rafters.

Selling your home as-is is always an option, but if you're hoping for that ONE person looking for a “fixer-upper," dream on. Despite what you see on TV, there aren't that many people willing to take on a project like that.

So, why not aim for a higher selling price by putting forth a bit of effort to make your home more sellable in the housing market?

Diy home improvement check list

Identify your home's trouble spots

While you decluttered and cleaned your home, you most likely found areas in need of special attention.

It's a good idea to walk through every room in your house with a notepad and jot down any problems you see.

Following is a checklist of what to look out for:

• Check ceilings and walls in each room-- look for cracks and holes. Some cracks are far more serious than others and may effect the structural integrity of your home. Be sure to get a professional opinion.

• Water stains may indicate a larger plumbing issue. Don't paint over any water stains without first having it inspected by a professional. 

• Dated wallpaper or faux wood paneling... most home buyers don't want to deal with this. These issues can be dealt with yourself with some effort, but little cost. 

• For small non-structural ceiling or wall cracks and holes, try using my favorite spackling product, “DryDex.” All you need is a putty knife and light sandpaper. This product goes on pink and turns white when dry. Add a second coat if needed. After sanding and feathering out the edges and letting it dry, its ready to paint. “One Time” by Red Devil is another good spackling product.

To repair large holes in drywall, watch the excellent instructional video below by Vancouver Carpenter on how to repair a hole in drywall, using the California patch method.

Popcorn textured ceilings - In my opinion, the only thing worse than a popcorn textured ceiling is a popcorn ceiling with sparkles in it! 

Hard to believe popcorn ceilings were once popular. Thankfully, time marches on...

You have to wonder what builders were thinking when they came up with this idea? Personally, I think that popcorn texturing was used to camouflauge a bad taping and mudding job.

I rented a house years ago that had sparkly popcorn ceilings in every room. I often woke up in the morning with sparkles on my face that had drifted down during the night. 

You can remove popcorn ceiling texture yourself, but it's a very messy and unpleasant job. 

If you get the go ahead from the asbestos pros and still want to remove the popcorn texture yourself, watch the instructional video below by ronhazelton.com. Be sure to follow proper protocol by wearing protective clothing and safety glasses. 

• Inspect windows:  Do they need re-caulking? Cracked or broken window panes? Do they easily open and close? Are the edges of the window panes covered in paint? The paint can be easily removed with a flat razor blade.

• Check out baseboards:  Baseboards tend to take a beating, especially in the entry where people kick off their shoes. Are they scuffed up or cracked? How about molding and door trim? A bit of spackle, some sanding and fresh coat of paint will give your baseboards new life. Using the same color throughout will create good flow in your house.

• Access doors:  If you have an access door leading to an attic, basement or crawl space, be sure that it integrates nicely with the room. Take a look at these doors that lie flush to the wall. 

• Repaint the front door:  The front door is one place where a bold color can enhance the curb appeal of your home. Be sure to fill in any holes, dents or scratches and polish up the kickplate if you have one. 

• Mold! Check inside closets, around windows, in the basement and bathrooms for mold:  Mold is a big home sale killer. When I was a Realtor, I saw a few home showings take a bad turn when mold was spotted. You MUST take care of mold problems before putting your home on the market.

• How to clean soot from brick or stone:  Johnson "Scrubbing Bubbles" bathroom cleaner will work wonders on your sooty fireplace. Yes, it's a bit unorthodox, but it works! Spray this product on affected areas, leave on for the designated time, then scrub off using a soft scrub brush and water. Repeat if needed. Rinse with clean water. Or use TSP, trisodium phosphate, also a good masonry cleaner. You'll need gloves, eye protection and plenty of elbow grease to complete this task.

• Update an ugly brick fireplace by painting it yourself. Painting a massive or ugly fireplace in a neutral color the same paint color as the walls will make it appear less obtrusive. 

• Paint outdated brass features on a fireplace surround or screen:  Update outdated fireplace features with spray paint. Be sure to work in a well ventilated area. Protect the surrounding fireplace and floor by covering with plastic and taping off. 

Watch the video below by Ashley's Conscious Life, as she updates the brass features on her stone fireplace.

• Paint interior walls:  This is the cheapest way by far to quickly update and freshen the look of your home. Select neutral paint colors, as they appeal to more people than any other colors. 

• Update kitchen and bathroom cabinet hardware:  Updating the hardware is a great way to give a room a quick and cost effective facelift. See declutter your kitchen for instructions on how to fill old hardware holes before putting new ones on.

• Dirty walls are a red flag to home buyers: They will assume the entire house is unkempt. Easily remove grime from walls with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

• Check out sinks, showers and bathtubs:  Look for leaks and slow drains. Is a toilet running or rocking? For a rocking toilet, check bolts at the base by removing the plastic caps. Tighten by twisting the nut at the top of the bolts with a wrench, but don't over tighten, as you could break the porcelain. If that doesn't work, your floor may not be level. Place plumbing shims in any gaps beneath the toilet and floor, and seal off with a bead of silicone bath caulk. 

• Smelly garbage disposal:  The kitchen garbage disposal is a breeding ground for bacteria; Try throwing a couple lemon halves into a running disposal. If this doesn’t help, pour 1/2 cup of white vinegar down with cold running water. Still stinks? Spray with an anti-bacterial cleaner such as, “Clorox Disinfecting Bathroom Cleaner,” or Johnson “Scrubbing Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner.” As a last resort, inspect the rubber ring around the opening. This ring is a gunk collector and should be scrubbed periodically with an anti-bacterial product.

• Do you have a bathtub or toilet in need of re-caulking? Take a look at this instructional diy home improvement video for caulking tips from HomeAdditionPlus.com. 

• Ugly builder-grade mirrors - Get rid of these huge, cheap-looking mirrors in your bathroom-- most home buyers don't like them.

• Flooring - Are carpets stained or worn? You should replace old carpet, otherwise it might become a contingency in your sales contract. Same with broken tile or damaged hardwood.

• For minor floor squeaks - Shaking a little baby powder into cracks often removes squeaks.

• Are light fixtures in good working order? Do they need updating? New lighting will instantly update your home. See lighting for information on selecting the right light fixtures for each room in your home. 

• Light switch plates and outlets - Fixtures should all match for good color flow in your home. If grimy, remove and wash with dish soap. 

• Fire alarm systems - Be sure to replace the batteries in all that aren't working.

• To repair damaged tile grout in the bathroom and kitchen, take a look at the video below for diy home improvement tips on repairing these problems. Video by essortment.
  

Painting is a great way to improve the appearance of concrete basement or garage floors. Watch the instructive video below by ppgprofessional below for directions on how to properly clean, prep and paint concrete floors.

These are just a few basic do-it-yourself home improvement solutions that will keep home buyers from negotiating the price of your home down. For home exterior tips, see curb appeal.

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Last updated 01-22-2025