7 Overlooked Home Features That Can Make or Break a Sale

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Feb 23, 2025

When you’re selling your home, you’d be forgiven for assuming it’s the big-ticket upgrades that will make it more buyable. A kitchen renovation or a new roof can add tens of thousands of dollars in terms of value. However, it’s often the small details that make the biggest impression. Here are seven overlooked features that buyers notice (but sellers sometimes forget). 

Mismatched or Old Windows 

    Photo by Ian MacDonald on Unsplash

    Buyers pay attention to windows. They have a big impact on a property’s overall aesthetic and are also important considerations regarding energy efficiency. If your windows are drafty, thin, visibly aging, or mismatched, it’s time to upgrade. You may already have heard this from door-knocking agents using high-pressure sales tactics. 

    For many homeowners, this is offputting, which is why they delay modernizing their windows. Luckily, plenty of companies now use a consultative approach, like these experts in replacement windows Greensboro NC residents are raving about. 

    Outdated Light Fixtures 

      Have you ever noticed how your selfies look amazing when the light source is in front of you as compared to the shadows you get when the light is behind you? That’s because good lighting is everything, and the same goes for your home. Dim or harsh lighting can make even the most beautiful space feel unwelcoming. A quick fix is to swap out old light fixtures for modern LEDs with a warm, cozy glow. Pendant lights, recessed lighting, and statement fixtures can also instantly upgrade a room’s ambiance. 

      Worn Out Door Handles 

        Polish up old handles to bring back their shine, or if they’re old and damaged, use this opportunity to fit new matching ones throughout the house. While you’re at it, a new coat of paint on internal doors helps hide scuff marks and gives a more sleek, fresh finish, too. 

        Lack of Smart Home Features

          Smart home features are no longer a luxury. Modern buyers expect things like video doorbells, app-controlled lighting, and smart thermostats to be integrated into a property’s digital management system. These small upgrades can play a big role in how ready-to-move-in your home feels. 

          Dingy Baseboards 

            The baseboards and trim frame a room, but often go unnoticed since they’re not at eye level. However, a discerning buyer will be checking elements like this, so it’s wise to get ahead of the game. Go around with some bright white paint to instantly make your interior feel cleaner and more polished. 

            Neglected Storage Spaces

            This is one of the most important factors for homebuyers, yet many sellers overlook it completely. Try organizing your closets with built-in shelving and better lighting. This quick, simple, and pleasantly inexpensive trick can help your property feel more spacious and functional. 

            1. Unfinished Outdoor Areas

            An unfinished yard gives the impression of wasted space. Something as straightforward as adding some outdoor seating and fairy lights can immediately lift the area, helping it seem more like an extension of your home. It also helps the buyer to imagine themselves living there, hosting friends, having a BBQ, or enjoying romantic evenings sitting on the deck, drinking wine and watching the night sky.

            Endnote

            While major renovations obviously help make your home more desirable, it’s the little things that make a property feel well cared for. Trying these simple updates can help you attract buyers and get the best price.

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