SEATTLE and SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Homeowners across the country have been inspired to roll up their sleeves and jump into home improvement projects that could pay off when it comes time to sell. After all, Zillow research¹ finds 81 percent of people say they're spending more time at home compared to last year.  If you are getting your home ready to hit the market, you will want to make that time and effort count.

Zillow partnered with Thumbtack to help sellers better estimate the costs of five manageable projects they should consider before listing their home for sale. 

Zillow research finds nearly half (43%) of all homeowners say finding DIY time was difficult or very difficult, which may explain why the same percentage of homeowners say they have unfinished home improvement projects.

If you can find the time or hire a pro to complete these projects, it could help boost your bottom line as sale prices climb and homes are selling at their fastest pace in more than two years.  Zillow data finds those who make at least one improvement are more likely to sell their home above their list price than sellers who don't make any improvements -- 23% versus 17%, respectively.²

"There are small things anyone can do to present their home in a better light," said Sue Cohn Darmon, a Zillow Premier Agent in Connecticut with William Pitt Sotheby's International Realty. "First impressions go a long way, especially since buyers are now spending more time searching online for homes. Listing photos are going to look better if the home appears well maintained.  If the small things are taken care of, the assumption is that the bigger things that aren't visible have been taken care of too."

Zillow has selected five DIY projects recommended by agents that could help increase your home's value when it comes time to sell.  These home improvements are by no means the only projects a homeowner should consider before selling; previous Zillow research has offered advice for sellers considering more extensive renovations. While many of these projects are correlated with a sale premium or a faster than expected sale, they are not guaranteed to increase your home's sale price. 

Upgrade your Lights

• Good lighting can change the atmosphere in your home. Replacing old fixtures with new ones and adding dimmer switches will go a long way in setting the right mood. However, if you replace your fixtures with smart lights controlled by an app, you could save on your energy bill and sell your home faster. Zillow research finds homes mentioning smart lights in their listing description sold seven days faster than expected.
  
  Here's an easy guide to change a light fixture, but if you want a professional installer to do the job, Thumbtack finds the average cost is $380.

Replace your Faucets

• A shiny new faucet can elevate a bathroom or kitchen's style. Make it a touchless faucet for added appeal, as COVID-era buyers increasingly look for smart features that will keep their homes germ-free.
  
  No previous plumbing skills are required, but attention to detail is key if you want to avoid a flood. Here are the steps to install a faucet, but for a pro touch, Thumbtack finds, on average, you can expect to pay $205 to replace bathroom fixtures.

Landscape Smartly

• A Zillow survey from the Harris Poll³ finds more outdoor space is the top reason people say they would consider moving as a result of social distancing recommendations. That's why it's more important than ever to spruce up your yard and create the functional, beautiful outdoor space buyers want.
  
  If you don't have a green thumb or the right tools, expect to pay $2,600 on average according to Thumbtack for a professional landscaping business to clean up your yard, which typically covers mowing, pruning, weeding, planting new flowers or shrubs, and adding new soil, mulch or bark dust. Homes mentioning landscaping in their listing description can sell for 2.7 percent more than expected, according to Zillow research, so it's often an investment well worth making.

Add a Fire Pit

• Once you've landscaped, install a fire pit to create the ultimate family-friendly backyard oasis. Listings mentioning a fire pit can sell for 2.8 percent more than similar homes, according to a Zillow analysis - a higher sale premium than homes mentioning an outdoor fireplace or a chimenea. Here's how to build your own backyard fire pit in 7 easy steps.

Paint Your Front Door (and More)

• A glossy coat of exterior paint on the front door can amp up your curb appeal, but if you're thinking about resale, you'll want to be strategic about the color you choose. Zillow research finds homes with black front doors can sell for up to $6,000 more than similar homes.
  
  Take it a step further and paint the entire exterior to send a signal to a buyer that your home is well-maintained. In a survey of Zillow Premier Agents⁴, 77 percent recommended sellers paint their home. Thumbtack finds the average cost of exterior painting is $2,535.

"Taking on DIY projects can give homeowners a perceived sense of control during a time of uncertainty, but they come at the cost of time and effort. A pro may have the right tools and expertise to do the job faster and more effectively," said Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton. "This research finds the most costly projects are those that start as DIY and end up being completed by a professional."

"We help homeowners hire local professionals to maintain and add value to their most important investment," said Thumbtack pro engagement manager Hannah Siegel. "On Thumbtack, you can find help for pretty much anything from painting and landscaping to new flooring and bathroom remodels."

About Zillow
Zillow, the top real estate website in the U.S., is building an on-demand real estate experience. Whether selling, buying, renting or financing, customers can turn to Zillow's businesses to find and get into their next home with speed, certainty and ease.

In addition to for-sale and rental listings, Zillow Offers buys and sells homes directly in dozens of markets across the country, allowing sellers control over their timeline. Zillow Home Loans, our affiliate lender, provides our customers with an easy option to get pre-approved and secure financing for their next home purchase.

Millions of people visit Zillow Group sites every month to start their home search, and now they can rely on Zillow to help them finish it — with the same confidence, ease and empowerment they've come to expect from real estate's most trusted brand.

Zillow is owned and operated by Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:Z and ZG).  

About Thumbtack
Thumbtack (www.thumbtack.com) is a local services marketplace helping customers find and hire skilled professionals. Our app intelligently matches customers to electricians, landscapers, photographers and more with the right expertise, availability, and pricing. Since 2008, Thumbtack has helped millions of Americans get more done and hundreds of thousands of service providers build sustainable businesses. Headquartered in San Francisco, Thumbtack has raised more than $400 million from Baillie Gifford, Capital G, Javelin Venture Partners, Sequoia Capital, and Tiger Global Management among others.

¹ Zillow Group Population Science Survey on Time Spent at Home Conducted 7/16/2020 - 7/21/2020
² 2019 Zillow Group Consumer Housing Trends Report
³ This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Zillow from May 4-6, 2020 among 2,065 U.S. adults ages 18 and older. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact press@zillow.com.
⁴ Zillow Group partnered with independent market research and data analytics firm YouGov® to conduct a nationally representative, online quantitative survey that gathered information from 1000 sellers that sold a home in the past 6 months and 500 residential real estate agents. For more information visit zillow.com/report

SOURCE Zillow