When you’re getting ready to sell, it’s easy to start making a list a mile long. New paint here, a full kitchen remodel there, maybe even new flooring before the open house. But here’s the truth: not every update is worth your time or money.

At Front Door Design & Decor, we see it all the time: homeowners pouring energy into projects that buyers either don’t notice or want to change anyway. The goal isn’t to make your home perfect; it’s to make it appealing. And that often means knowing what not to fix before you sell.

Skip Major Remodels

It might surprise you, but big renovations like a full kitchen or bathroom makeovers rarely pay off right before listing. Buyers in the Hampton Roads area often prefer to put their own touch on these spaces.

Instead, focus on smaller refreshes:
● Paint cabinets in a light, neutral color
● Swap out hardware or add new lighting
● Declutter counters and let staging show off the flow

You’d be amazed at how much difference a few staging touches like fresh towels, a bowl of lemons, or the right wall art can make.

Don’t Rush to Replace Floors

If your floors are clean and in decent shape, don’t stress about replacing them. A deep clean, a few rugs, and the right furniture placement can make even older flooring look inviting. Our stagers often use area rugs and layout design to shift the eye toward a home’s best features and away from flaws.

Keep Landscaping Simple

We all want that beautiful curb appeal moment, but major landscaping projects can be expensive and unnecessary. Focus on tidiness and charm: fresh mulch, trimmed bushes, and a few colorful flowers near the front door. Buyers in Hampton Roads love seeing a well-kept yard that feels easy to maintain, not a high-maintenance garden that looks like work.

Avoid Over-Personalized Paint Colors

Yes, a fresh coat of paint can go a long way, but it’s not the time to experiment with navy walls or sage green kitchens. Stick to light, neutral tones that let buyers imagine their own furniture and style. When we stage homes, we use color through art and accessories instead of on the walls. It’s cleaner, more flexible, and feels move-in ready.

Don’t Replace Every Fixture

Replacing every light fixture, faucet, or doorknob before selling can quickly add up. If they’re clean and functional, leave them be. Good staging naturally modernizes the space so buyers will focus on how it feels, not whether the dining room fixture is trending on Pinterest.

Where Your Energy Is Worth It

Instead of over-updating, put your time and money into the things that make a true first impression:
● Deep clean every room. Floors, windows, baseboards, everything
● Declutter and depersonalize (yes, even that beloved gallery wall!)
● Add neutral staging to help buyers see the home’s flow and size
● Handle small fixes like squeaky doors, chipped trim, or broken blinds

These simple steps paired with professional staging can transform your listing photos and make your home stand out online, where most buyers fall in love first.

If you’re not sure where to start, that’s where we come in. At Front Door Design & Decor, we help Hampton Roads homeowners and real estate agents make confident choices about what to fix, and what to skip. Our job is to make your home look its absolute best without overspending or overthinking. Sometimes, the smallest changes make the biggest impact.

Ready to stage smarter? Reach out to Front Door Design & Decor today to schedule your home staging consultation. Let’s turn your “almost ready” into “ready to sell.”