Renovating Before You Sell: 5 Trends Shaping the Market in 2026

When it comes to selling a property, more and more owners are asking the same question: is it worth renovating before listing, or is it better to sell "as is"? The latest data from the industry confirms that the right answer depends on the type of project — and that some small upgrades pay off far more than major renovations. Here's a summary of what the latest specialized reports show, and why having a multiservice team (renovation, staging, and property preparation) can be the difference between a slow sale and a successful one.

1. Exterior upgrades return more than major renovations

The 2025 Cost vs Value Report from Remodeling Magazine / JLC — which compares the cost of 28 types of remodeling projects against the value they add at resale across 119 U.S. markets — confirms a pattern that repeats year after year: small, visible exterior projects recover more of their cost than large interior renovations.

* Garage door replacement: recovers 268% of its cost.
* Entry door replacement (steel): recovers 216%.
* Manufactured stone veneer: recovers 208%.
* Minor kitchen remodel: recovers 113%.
* Bathroom remodel: recovers 80%.
* Major kitchen remodel: recovers only 51%.

The takeaway: before committing to a costly kitchen remodel, it's worth evaluating whether a facade change, new doors, or exterior paint make a bigger impact on first impressions — and on final sale price — for a much smaller investment.

*Source: Journal of Light Construction / Remodeling Magazine, 2025 Cost vs Value Report (jlconline.com/cost-vs-value/2025)*

2. Home staging still influences the buying decision

According to the National Association of Realtors' (NAR) 2025 Profile of Home Staging, 83% of agents agree that staging helps buyers "visualize the property as a future home," and more than a quarter (26%) say it changes most buyers' perception. Even so, only 1 in 5 seller's agents stage every home before listing it — leaving a clear opportunity for those who do it consistently.

The most frequently staged spaces are the living room (91%), primary bedroom (83%), and dining room (69%) — precisely the rooms that carry the most weight in a buyer's first impression.

*Source: National Association of Realtors, 2025 Profile of Home Staging (nar.realtor)*

3. Personalized kitchens and bathrooms, not "off-the-shelf"

The National Kitchen & Bath Association's (NKBA) 2025-2026 trends report notes that buyers no longer want generic kitchens and bathrooms, but personalized spaces that reflect a lifestyle: kitchens with distinct functional zones, and "spa-like" bathrooms that are larger, brighter, and better organized. The trend toward outdoor kitchen/living spaces also continues to grow as an extension of the living area.

Source: National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), Kitchen & Bath Design Trends (nkba.org)

4. Technology is entering the process — as a tool, not the star

Without replacing physical design and renovation work, some rendering and AI tools (such as virtual staging) are already being used to show a buyer what a renovated space would look like before a single dollar is spent on construction — especially useful for vacant or under-construction properties. It's a complement to multiservice offerings, not a substitute for actual renovation.

*Source: Inman, coverage on virtual staging platforms (inman.com, Tech Review section)*

5. The opportunity for an all-in-one service

The common thread across this data is that most property owners don't have a single provider to handle renovation, staging, and property preparation before a sale — they end up coordinating on their own between contractors, designers, and the real estate agency. An integrated multiservice offering (renovation + staging + sale preparation) solves exactly that friction point, and the data suggests that the right improvements — well chosen, not necessarily the most expensive — do translate into a faster sale at a better price.

Looking to renovate or prepare your property for sale?\
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At Makom, our multiservice team helps you identify which upgrades are truly worth the investment before you sell.