How Sellers Can Create Move-in Ready Homes

Move-in readiness is in the eye of the buyer, who could view a seller’s house as good to go, a cry for help, or somewhere in between. Certain characteristics help buyers — even those with high expectations caused by high prices — see houses as move-in ready homes. The challenge for sellers? Making changes that have the most impact without causing a drastic bump in the asking price.

What Are Move-In Ready Homes?

TV shows and social media are “pummeling buyers with ideas about the way a home should look and what they need to have,” says Karen Kostiw, a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Warburg in New York. “The expectations are much higher. Buyers are working one or two jobs. They’re very busy. They want to move in and think, ‘Maybe a little painting, and that’s that.’”

The goal is for the home “to be functional and look presentable,” Kostiw says.

Buyers Close the Door to Reno Projects

Repeat buyers dominate the market and have less need to compromise when making an offer than first-time buyers do, because their equity allows them to handle higher prices. Even so, repeat and first-time buyers are more likely to compromise on the price of a home than its condition, according to the NAR “2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers.”

First-time buyers who compromised on price and condition:

• Price: 37%
• Condition: 26%

Repeat buyers who compromised on price and condition:

• Price: 28%
• Condition: 23%

When a home looks as if it will need renovation, buyers are saying, “Reno? No.” “Everyone’s busy; they don’t want to tackle projects,” says Jennifer Scates, broker at Jennifer Scates Group at Wallace Real Estate in Knoxville, Tenn. “They don’t want to deal with contractors. They’ve spent money on a house. They just want to be.”

Agents Can Help With Contractors

Coldwell Banker offers a program called Revitalize, which pays for necessary home repairs so that sellers don’t have to spend out of pocket. “We can line up the contractors in order to make those various repairs, including staging, so that we can get a higher ROI for the seller,” Kostiw explains. The repair fees are paid from sales proceeds at closing.

Concierge services like Curbio help agents and their clients renovate homes before listing, to expedite home sales at an optimal price. The funds for the upgrades come from seller proceeds. Revive Real Estate offers supported renovations with in-network contractors, design support, and oversight, and a pay-later plan.

Agents can help without a formal program. “I have a list of contractors, so I can have that readily available for sellers,” Scates says. “We check for areas that will be on the buyer’s radar,” such as the roof, electrical issues, smoke alarms, foundation cracks, and drainage issues, she adds.

Pro Tips to Get Move-in Ready

Experts advise sellers to consider these updates before listing their homes:

1. Make cosmetic improvements that photograph well: Focus on cosmetic updates that will help your home photograph well: neutral paint, updated lighting fixtures, new hardware on cabinets and doors, and landscaping and pressure washing outside, Scates says. Those upgrades cost relatively little but can dramatically affect buyer perception.
2. Hire pro cleaners: Have your home professionally cleaned, Scates advises. Buyers will notice things you may not see, like clutter and dust on ceiling fans and baseboards. “Buyers open up ovens and really look at showers and shower doors.”
3. Gather documentation of updates: Have documents available that prove the repairs you’ve made, Scates recommends. That includes repair or replacement of your roof, HVAC, water heater, or window or foundation work. Include anything that adds value: a sprinkler system, a deck, or pool maintenance. In addition, collect warranties on replacement appliances or smoke detectors.
4. Landscape for curb appeal: Sprucing up landscaping is essential, Scates says. Curb appeal forms a first impression, and if the outside looks unkempt, buyers will wonder about the inside.
5. Schedule a preinspection: Hire a preinspection to flag problems and talk to your agent about actions to take. “It lets the buyer know sellers have already taken care of these things. It gives everybody peace of mind during the due diligence period.”
6. Think small: The NAR “Remodeling Impact Report” found the “highest cost recovery projects were a new front door or a closet renovation,” says Lautz. “A new door is going to help with energy efficiency, curb appeal, and safety within the home. Windows are high on that list too.”

Focus on Priority Projects

Sellers can’t always fix everything, but Kostiw says these projects will make a house look fresh and habitable to buyers:

1. Cabinets: If you’re painting cabinets, choose the color carefully. Kostiw worked with a seller who needed to replace green cabinets, because “they aren’t inviting in photos. We aimed for cabinets that were more visually appealing and corresponded more to current trends and tastes.”
2. Lighting: “Sellers can buy light fixtures on the cheaper side so that they’ll look a little more ‘today.’ They’re brighter, and they bring some life.”
3. Caulking: Make sure everything in the bathroom looks caulked, clean, and pristine.
4. Wooden floor repair or update: If wooden floors need to be redone, you can do that modestly. Sellers can hire someone to rebuff the floors, and sometimes they’ll look much better.
5. Electrical: The electrical system may need to be upgraded to comply with state and local laws.
6. Updates of obsolete rooms: When a kitchen looks like a flashback to the 1970s, buyers won’t see the house as being even close to move-in condition.

Move-in ready homes will be the winners in the upcoming season, Scates says. “They’ll show better, attract more offers, sell faster, and require fewer concessions.”

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