How much should you spend on fix-up before a sale?

Rather than spending your money on improvements for your house's next owners to enjoy, focus on showing your home in its best light. Let's look at some common renovations and their immediate benefits, as well as other ways to make the most of your sale.

For example, an outdoor deck not only creates a good place to entertain, but can also improve your backyard's look and make it more inviting. It's one of the most cost-effective renovation projects you can do (average cost $10,601, recoup value $8,676), but you'll still only see about an 82 percent return. And since you won't be there to enjoy it, you're spending around $1,925 on another family's enjoyment [source: Remodeling Magazine].

By staging the backyard in an inventive and practical way, you can save money and add to value at the same time. How about laying down fresh sod and grass seed? By installing a small birdfeeder, you can create a point of visual interest. Inexpensive bistro furniture can create that outdoor-living feel at a fraction of the price, and you can take those props with you to your next home!

An average bathroom remodel cost $15,899 in 2010, with a recoup value of $11,857. That's only a 74.6 percent return on your investment in a bathroom you'll never get to use [source: Remodeling Magazine]. Instead, increase your sale value by styling the bathroom in a way that's inviting, luxurious and simple. Updated drawer pulls and fixtures, and tiny touches like fresh soaps and freshly folded towels can help a sparkling-clean bathroom appeal to buyers every bit as much as a newly installed toilet.

If you're thinking of renovating a spare bedroom, turn it into a guest room. All you need is a bed frame, an inflatable mattress and some luxurious bedding. Turning that room into another comforting environment will make the whole house seem bigger!

Put yourself in your buyer's shoes to make sure you have everything covered. A home inspection before you put out the for-sale sign will run you $200 to $300 but could save you a lot if your buyers discover something before you do -- and you can bet their inspector will find it. Heating, air conditioning, water, electricity, plumbing and gas should all be in good condition before you think of putting your house on the market. Don't forget to check for mold in the basement or signs of termite damage.

If you have any home projects you've been meaning to finish, now is the time. The National Association of Realtors suggests that buyers will automatically subtract double the cost of any unfinished projects when they make an offer. Think of these unfinished issues as repair problems with the house, and deal with them accordingly.

Whatever improvements you do make, double-check that they're in line with your neighborhood. Research shows that projects and renovations made too much higher or lower than the neighborhood average won't make back their investments, and they could scare off potential buyers who expected something different from the area. Visit other open houses nearby to get a feel for what's normal in your area.

Remember that you want your buyers to imagine themselves in the house. You want it to be both comfortable enough to seem like home, and just generic enough that it doesn't feel like somebody else's personal space. While high-tech kitchen or bath amenities are a nice touch, they don't make the decision for your buyers: The overall look and feel is what makes your property memorable as a place for buyers to start a new home.

The first and most important rule of thumb when it comes to updating your home before a sale: Only invest in improvements -- whether renovation, upkeep or home staging -- that will add at least twice their cost to your home's value. As we saw above, that limits or rules out major projects. So what's left? The magic of home staging, which presents your home's bare bones in the best possible way, can have unbelievable effects on your house's sale speed and final price.

Home staging can improve your sale price by an average of six percent, and you could sell up to 50 percent faster [source: Home Staging Resource]. The less time a house is on the market, the better the sale will be -- and the less time you'll be in limbo. By spending the time and money now to make sure your house is the most attractive it can be, you'll reap benefits in both the short and long term.

But how much should you spend? Well, there's no limit to the amount of elbow grease you can put in while your home's on the market. And you will put in a lot! But as far as finances, plan to budget one to three percent of your asking price for staging [source: Tracey]. That includes props, rentals and services (power washers, lawn care, deep cleaning), and possibly engaging a professional stager.

Staging services themselves average $400 to $600 nationally, depending on the market and your square footage. Add this negligible expense to the money you'll make: According to a 2007 survey, homes that spent $5,000 to $8,000 on staging and home improvements averaged a 150 percent return on that investment [source: Gopalakrishnan].

Every home, market and buyer is different, and buyers are looking for the best possible house for their needs. But by using staging techniques and being clever with your improvements budget, you can keep your asking price high and save money that would otherwise have gone toward renovations. That's money in your pocket that you can use to make your next home even more perfect for you and your family.