From curb appeal to a $400 deep clean, here's what we recommend to sellers who want to get the most out of every dollar before listing.

What do you need to do to get top dollar for your home? It's one of the most common questions we get at Made4More Realty. We sell a house on average every three days, which means we're constantly in and out of buyers' and sellers' homes. And without fail, sellers ask us the same thing: how do I net the most money possible? What should I focus on, and what should I skip?

The honest answer is that it depends on your situation. If you have a beautiful home with recently updated kitchens and bathrooms and no deferred maintenance, our recommendations will look very different from those if you're working with a leaking pool or a kitchen that hasn't been touched since Truman was in office.

That said, there are some tangible steps you can take if you're considering making a move. Here's what we recommend.

1. Start with curb appeal. First impressions matter more than most sellers realize. Make sure the lawn looks great. Unique landscaping is fine, as long as it's clean and tidy. Nobody wants to walk up and see a yard full of dead bushes or piles of leaves.

And pay attention to the front door, because when we walk up to a house, we can usually tell what the rest of the home looks like just from that one detail. Is the wood worn? Is the paint peeling? Is the door cracked? A great front door can do wonders for getting you top dollar.

2. Then focus on kitchens and bathrooms. These are the rooms with the highest ROI, especially when deferred maintenance has occurred. The more outdated the space is, the greater the impact when you update it. You don't always need a full remodel, but addressing the kitchen and bathrooms is almost always money well spent.

3. Don't overlook the garage door. This one ties back to curb appeal. A faded, cracked, or dented garage door drags down the look of the entire front of the home. Replacing it is one of the more affordable larger upgrades, and it pays off in how buyers perceive the property the moment they pull up.

4. Get your home professionally deep cleaned. Maybe you're saying, "Johnny, I can't remodel my kitchen or replace my garage door. What can I actually do?" Our number one recommendation: have the home professionally deep cleaned. Depending on the size, it might cost $400 to $700, but it's the best money you'll spend getting your home ready to list. Pair that with staging, and you're in great shape.

Staging is non-negotiable if you can swing it. Look at new home builders. They stage every model home for a reason. Walk onto a car lot and notice that every car is clean, polished, and presented to sell. It all comes down to presentation. A clean, staged home photographs better, shows better in 3D tours, and sells for more money.

So to recap: if you want a customized plan, call our team, and we'll come out and walk through your home with you. But if you want to tackle this on your own, focus on the kitchens, bathrooms, yards, front doors, and garages. And no matter what, make sure your home is clean and tidy before it hits the market.

If you have any questions or want help putting together a plan that fits your home and your budget, reach out to Made4More Realty. Call us at 855-935-MORE (855-935-6673), email [email protected], or visit made4morerealty.com/blog. With Made4More Realty, you can expect more, and you always get more.