Upgrading your Home to Sell - things to consider

Things to Consider When Upgrading Your Sanibel or Captiva Island Home for Sale

Sanibel Island is undoubtedly a popular vacation destination. More and more people are looking to move to the area closer to the beaches more permanently. If you’ve already got property and are looking to sell your home on Sanibel Island, now is the perfect time to do so!

When you’re considering adding your property to the many other Sanibel Island homes for sale, you’ll want to make your home stand apart from the rest. 


You might have considered making some upgrades to your home before adding it to our Sanibel Island real estate featured listings. Before you do that, though, it’s best to make a game plan. It can be easy to become overwhelmed by all the potential projects you can take to make your home as appealing as possible to prospective buyers. Here, we’ve compiled your ultimate guide for upgrading your home to help steer you in the right direction.

You’ve Decided to Sell Your Home,

Now What?

Choosing to sell your home is a huge decision in and of itself. Now, you have to make a choice about what you’re going to upgrade and how you’re going to do it. The process doesn’t have to be as scary and overwhelming as it might seem. Just stick to these simple tips, and you’ll find that a bit of action can make a huge difference!

Select David as Your Real Estate Agent

The first step in your journey will be to find an experienced and reliable Sanibel and Captiva Island real estate agent. Since you’re reading this article, you’re already well on your way to completing this step! 

David Schuldenfrei CRS, GRI, is one of the area’s most knowledgeable real estate agents. He has served as the President of the Sanibel and Captiva Association of Realtors for four separate years. He is an active member of both the Florida Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. He’s been involved in the real estate industry since the 1970s and has indeed seen it all! Enlisting David as your real estate agent ensures you’re in capable hands for getting your home sold quickly and at a fair price.

Upgrade Your Curb Appeal

The first thing that prospective buyers will see when they come upon your listing is the outside of your home. That’s why it’s essential to improve your curb appeal! This is one step that makes a world of difference, even if you don’t do a total overhaul of your yard. You can often repaint your front door, pressure wash, and adding patio furniture where people can imagine sitting to enjoy the Sanibel Island weather. Sometimes these simple upgrades can be enough to turn heads!

Upgrade Other Areas of the Home If Needed

Of course, the inside of your home does matter as well. Now is the time to address any issues you may have been neglecting. When you live in a home, it’s easy to ignore the holes in the wall from where you hung a picture or the squeaky door heading to your laundry room. For a buyer, however, these things matter. Take the time to make these minor repairs around your home, and it will undoubtedly pay off in the long run. One thing to keep in mind: kitchens are the main focus of most homes. So if your kitchen is looking particularly outdated, it might be worth it to invest a bit of money into upgrades.

Declutter Your Space

Having a cluttered space can spell disaster when you’re welcoming prospective buyers into your home. If your place is cluttered, your home might look smaller than it actually is, and a buyer might not think there’s enough room for all their things. This sentiment is especially true when it comes to your storage spaces, such as closets and cupboards. Storage space is a huge selling point for many, so you want to show that your home has plenty of it. Plus, decluttering your home will make it easier to move! 

Repaint Walls to Neutral Tones

Perhaps you’ve got a room in your home that you painted your favorite bright color, adding a bit of your own personality to the space. However, when your home goes on the market, it’s time to tone things down a bit. Having vibrant colors in your space can limit your buyer market, but more neutral tones tend to appeal to everyone. Taking one day to repaint a room can truly make or break the situation for a potential buyer, so it’s definitely worth the time and energy to make the change!

Depersonalize the Home

On that same note, you’ll want to depersonalize your home before you start welcoming buyers in or taking pictures for your listing. It makes it hard for a buyer to picture what their own lives might look like in the space if all they can see is pictures of your family, personalized mementos, and knickknacks. You want your home to essentially become a blank canvas so that potential buyers can see themselves living there without your influence to sway them.

Deep Clean

Most of us only do a solid deep clean once a year during spring cleaning (if we’re lucky and have the time!). But having a truly clean space can make a huge difference for a potential buyer. These days, most home buyers are looking for houses to immediately move in and start their next adventure. If your home is dirty, though, they’ll only see all the work they’ll have to do before they move in. Take the time to give your home the deep clean it deserves, so you can put your best foot forward when your home becomes Sanibel Island real estate.

Consider Staging the Home

Finally, think about staging your home to make the best impression on potential buyers. You can add some native plants to bring new life into the space. Or invest in small, nonpersonal items like a simple rug, mirror, or even a new furniture piece for your living room. You can either complete this step on your own or work with your real estate agent to find a professional. These staging services will bring in the perfect pieces to help your home truly stand out, and that investment can reflect itself in your final selling price!

There are tons of properties out there as Sanibel Island real estate, for sale, but your home is something special to you. Giving it the love it deserves by investing in some upgrades can help you sell your house faster, and you can potentially get more money for it. When visitors are in town soaking up the sun, enjoying the best Sanibel Ialnd restaurants, and falling in love with this incredible destination, you’ll be able to provide the perfect place for them to call home for good! David Schuldenfrei would be happy to help you get your home Sanibel Island real estate listed and sold. Contact us today to get started!