Thinking about renovating before you sell? Not every improvement raises resale value enough to justify the expense. In this video, Katherine names three updates to think twice about before spending thousands preparing your home for sale.
1. Full luxury kitchen remodels. The 2025 Cost vs. Value Report estimated that an upscale kitchen remodel in the Los Angeles market recovers only about 36% of its cost at resale. Smaller updates such as painting cabinets, replacing hardware, or upgrading dated fixtures can be more cost-effective.
2. Replacing things that already work. New flooring, cabinets, or fixtures make a home look newer, but buyers will not necessarily pay enough extra to cover them. Compare your home's condition with the similar homes it will compete against.
3. Highly personalized finishes. Bold tile, unusual layouts, and very customized design choices may appeal to you but not to most buyers. Choose improvements that fit the home and what buyers in your neighborhood expect.
What to focus on instead: cleaning, decluttering, necessary repairs, fresh paint where it helps, and targeted cosmetic improvements. The goal is not a brand-new home; it is smart improvements that help your property compete without overspending.
Thinking about selling in Orange County? Reach out — Katherine is happy to talk through which updates are actually worth making before you spend the money.
Sources: 2025 Cost vs. Value Report (Journal of Light Construction / Zonda); National Association of REALTORS® home staging research. Renovation costs and resale returns vary by property, location, condition, and market; the figures are regional estimates, not guaranteed returns. The companion article on this site covers the five improvements that do tend to pay off.