Most people know that a key step in preparing your home for sale is to repair, remodel, and renovate in order to make the house more appealing or more valuable. But be careful! Here are some common mistakes people make as they go through that process.

Go for Broad Appeal

Remodeling is an exciting project, and sometimes we may want to let our creative side run a little wild – as we would when doing any kind of project. But you need to remember: this renovation is not for you. It’s actually for people who will likely be complete strangers, of no relation to you whatsoever. You need to stick to remodeling in a way that appeals broadly to many people – both aesthetically and functionally. Stick to simple, clean lines and colors. White, beige, and similar neutral colors can work well with light and are generally pleasant to most. When in doubt, make it simpler or more minimalist (without making it a modernist art show).

Don’t Overdo It

Similar to the previous point, make sure that your efforts are spent in ways that will be meaningful. There might be renovations that are simple, aesthetically pleasing, and practical, but at the end of the day really just do not do anything as far as adding value to the house. Adding a pool is often too niche to really add value to your home. And while some may appreciate it, it’s an expensive and time-consuming project without any guarantee of good ROI. Keep renovations reasonable. Stick only to larger projects that are likely to add value or smaller projects that improve interior appeal.

Budget and Plan

You need to figure out just exactly what kinds of renovations you are going to do, to what extent, for what purpose, if they will add value, and where to find the materials long before you buy anything. Don’t go rushing off to get started only to find you’ve stretched yourself thin. You need to balance between larger, more invasive renovations that will improve the value of the home and smaller, more aesthetically intentional renovations that will help people feel at home during an open house. Once you’ve prepared everything – then you can move forward with confidence.

If you’re not careful, it really can be all too easy to make crucial mistakes when renovating. And this is the sale of your home! If you botch this, you could find yourself with some serious financial damage. So, make sure to plan ahead and remodel with restraint.

Check out this article on how to protect yourself during a home improvement project !