*photos via realtor Kelli Miller Compass*

Case Study: How a Light Refresh Turned a Tired Rental Into a $300K Over-Ask Sale

Pre-sale projects can be tricky — especially when a home has spent years as a rental and carries all the wear-and-tear to prove it. This property was no exception. The style leaned heavily Tuscan (think dark tones, heavy finishes, ornate details), and the renters hadn't exactly treated the home with love. My client’s initial instinct was to remodel the entirehouse, top to bottom.

But my job isn’t just to make a home look pretty — it’s to guide clients toward smart improvements that actually bring a return.

And in this case, a full remodel wasn’t the right move.

The owner wanted one thing:
Top dollar on the sale.

That meant every decision had to be strategic and ROI-driven, not emotional. While Tuscan isn’t today’s trend, the truth is: there are buyers who still love that style, and a full contemporary remodel would never get the right return in this neighborhood.

She trusted my advice — and that trust paid off.

What We Did Instead

Rather than gutting the home, we focused on impactful, cosmetic updates that elevated the property without erasing its core style or overspending.

✔️ Exterior Refresh

Painted the faded, weather-damaged garage door
Completely repainted the exterior for instant curb appeal

✔️ Interior Updates

Entire interior repainted to lighten and freshen the space
Installed new carpet upstairs
Swapped outdated light fixtures and ceiling fans
Added new closets for better storage and presentation

✔️ Repairs & Fixes

Repaired the deck with water damage
Fixed items that had been thrashed by renters
Deep cleaned every inch of the home

These were strategic updates — nothing unnecessary, nothing overdesigned, and nothing that jeopardized her return. Just the right improvements to make the home feel well-cared-for, clean, and move-in ready.

The Result

The transformation was simple but powerful.

The house sold for almost $300,000 over asking price.

My client was thrilled — not only with the financial outcome, but because she trusted the process instead of sinking money into a full remodel she would never have recouped.

This project is the perfect example of a truth I repeat to homeowners all the time:

You don’t have to renovate everything to win. You just need to renovate smart.