Will I get my money back out of upgrades?

Upgrades can help the house sell before a similar house listed for the same price, but you probably won’t have a dollar-for-dollar return on upgrades. Buyers don’t normally pay more than the market value, even with the upgrades. So if you want to prepare a house before selling, invest the money in sprucing it up—a little paint, cleanliness inside and outside, a pleasant smell—can go a long way.