The 2026 Spring Home Selling Guide: How to Attract Buyers and Sell for More

Key takeaways

• Polish up your home inside and out. Homebuyers expect a clean, organized, well-maintained home when they tour, according to Redfin agents. 
• Invest in desirable upgrades to attract higher offers. A kitchen renovation, a new roof, and a bathroom remodel are the most-desired major upgrades—but they’re costly.
• Make your home move-in ready. Buyers are more likely to make strong offers on homes with no major repairs and updated systems (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, etc).

Spring is here, and that means the housing market is entering its busy season. As people emerge from the winter freeze, more homes hit the market, more buyers start looking, and competition picks up. In fact, Redfin data shows homes tend to sell the fastest—and for the most money—between late March and April.

However, in recent years, the typically busy spring homebuying season has been more subdued. Since the housing market’s pandemic-era peak in 2022, high prices, elevated mortgage rates, and economic uncertainty have pushed many buyers and sellers to the sidelines. As a result, home sales have fallen to historically low levels over the past two years—even during spring. The market now technically favors buyers, but affordability challenges continue to limit activity on both sides.

So, how can home sellers win in today’s market? Redfin and Thumbtack surveyed hundreds of real estate agents, home professionals, and experts across the country to provide the answers. Their insights reveal how to prepare a home for tours, draw buyers in, sell for top dollar, and sell with confidence.

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1. Present your home in its best light

If you want to attract attention to your listing, it’s critical that homebuyers see your home at its best —and that it delivers on what they’re looking for. According to nearly 75% of Redfin agents, the first thing that a buyer notices when they walk into a home is its overall condition, followed by its cleanliness (64%) and layout (50%).

“Some of the most effective ways to elevate a home before listing are simple but can yield big returns,” said Tamara Mattox-Kabat, a Redfin real estate agent and interior designer in Denver, CO. “Decluttering, removing personal items, clearing out closets, having a handyman make repairs, and improving lighting are great options. The goal is to have a clean, inviting space that appeals to a wide range of buyers.”

Homeowners tend to understand what buyers want, too. Agents say that the most common update sellers make before listing their home on the market is interior painting, with 66% of sellers making this update before listing. It’s followed by decluttering (57%) and landscaping (48%)—all in line with what agents say buyers look for.

Your real estate agent will likely bring up the possibility of staging and suggest professional photography (if it’s not included in your agreement already). These are crucial steps to attract buyers online and help them imagine living there when they tour. 

“Preparing a home for the market is about helping buyers see its full potential, especially in a competitive spring and summer market,” continued Mattox-Kabat. “Clean, uncluttered spaces, good lighting, and a fresh neutral palette allow buyers to focus on the architecture and livability of the home rather than outdated features or the seller’s personal belongings.”

2. Maximize curb appeal

Selling a home means sprucing everything up both inside and out. Cleaning, decluttering, and interior touch-ups are vital, but equally important is how a home looks from the outside—commonly known as curb appeal. 

“Curb appeal is crucial to help your home stand out in the busy spring season,” said Nicole Stewart, a Redfin Premier agent and interior designer in Boise, ID. “Some simple steps could involve picking up winter debris, power washing the sidewalk, mowing the lawn, or cleaning the gutters. The more move-in ready a home appears, the better it will perform on the market.”

These updates don’t have to be expensive either. 

“One of the easiest things a homeowner can do to improve their curb appeal is to freshen up the mulch around the property,” said Bret Douglas, landscaping expert and owner of Ironclad Landscape Management. “A fresh layer of mulch instantly makes garden beds look clean and well-maintained. Avoid red dyed mulch; simple cypress mulch or pine bark mulch will give the landscaping a more natural, polished look.”

3. Increase your home’s value with in-demand upgrades

Sometimes, it pays to invest in your home before listing it. Beyond steps like repainting the walls or cleaning the carpets, larger renovations or updates can add a lot of value for buyers—if you have the budget.

According to 79% of Redfin agents, homebuyers place the most value on a remodeled kitchen, followed by a new roof (60%) and updated bathroom (60%).

Buyers tend to value larger improvements that improve functionality and increase the lifespan of the home. The more livable and move-in ready a home is, the more it’s worth in the buyer’s eye—and the more they may be willing to offer.

These renovations can be a significant investment, though. According to Thumbtack, typical costs include:

1. Kitchen refresh or remodel – $28,696 – $90,397
2. New roof – $9,504
3. Bathroom refresh or remodel – $200-$594 per sq. ft.
4. Fresh interior paint – average $700-$1100
5. New HVAC system – $11,862

But which features offer the most bang for your buck? According to Redfin data from February 2026, the features that add the most value are stainless steel appliances, a backyard, and vinyl siding.

4. Prioritize buyer must-haves

Beyond boosting the potential sale price, optimizing for homebuyer must-haves can also get more eyes on your listing. More than 76% of Redfin agents say that buyers most want a home in move-in ready condition, followed by zero major repair issues (60%) and recently updated electrical, plumbing, or HVAC systems (47%).

Homes that are in move-in ready condition—also known as “turnkey”—are ready to be lived in from the moment the buyer gets the keys. It generally means that appliances are updated and functional, there are no structural or systemic issues, and the home’s layout and overall appearance are acceptable. 

Getting a home to this level usually involves several steps, including cleaning, decluttering, making key updates, and getting a pre-listing inspection to catch major issues. But what matters most is the first impression.”

“You don’t always need a full renovation to make an impact,” noted Kristin Sanchez, a Redfin Premier agent and interior designer in Nashville, TN. “Fresh neutral paint, updated light fixtures, pressure-washing the exterior, and simple landscaping can completely change a buyer’s first impression—and first impressions drive offers.”

Final thoughts: Showcase your home, invest in popular upgrades, and sell with confidence 

The housing market has remained slow and expensive in recent years, creating challenges for both buyers and sellers. Many buyers are priced out or unwilling to negotiate, leading more sellers to pull their homes off the market after failing to attract offers.

As a result, preparation and pricing matter more than ever. Redfin and Thumbtack experts recommend that home sellers present their home at its best: invest in in-demand features, spruce up what they can, and appeal to what buyers want most. 

Pricing right from the start is also crucial today, since buyers are picky and often have options. Many of today’s home sellers are dropping their asking price, and those who do are typically doing so by 10%. Work with your agent to price competitively to reduce this risk. You can also check out Thumbtack’s spring home playbook for more expert guidance.

If you’re ready to sell, your first step should be to connect with an agent and plan a strategy for listing your home, including pricing and visibility strategies. Then, prepare your home for tours, highlight its best features, attract offers, and sell worry-free at a competitive price.

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